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RAG QUILT TUTORIAL

This rag quilt tutorial uses fabric squares pre cut with the 8 ½ inch fabric square die and the 6 ½ inch batting square die,

on my Accuquilt Studio Cutter. The same die size is available in the Go system too. The nice thing about cutting your

squares this way is that you don’t have to clip all the edges of your squares until after the quilt is assembled. It saves the

wear and tear on your hands and shears.

This quilt goes together quickly and is very straight forward. When you are finished and give it a wash and a dry, it

comes out so cute and soft, that I think you will be very pleased and ready to snuggle under it or give it as a wonderful

gift to some lucky person!

This quilt finishes with 49: 6 1/2 ‘’ finished squares that, after a wash and dry, ends up approx. 46’’ width X 44’’ length.

You can make a rag quilt any size you choose, just add more squares to the width and length to achieve your desired

size.

Seam Allowance: 1 inch (your stitching will align approx. ¼ inch from the clipped edges)

Stitch length: 2.0 setting on your machine which is a bit smaller than the 2.5 default settings on most machines

NOTE ABOUT FRONT AND BACK OF BLOCK: The layouts with rag quilts can be endless and the number of different prints

and solids can be many varieties! The backs can be the same or completely different. You can use regular cotton front

and flannel for the back or vice versa. You get the idea! Whatever design you love, you can do! On this quilt I did an

“around the world” pattern, keeping the same fabrics on the front and the back of each square. I have three different

prints, using flannel for the front and back with a Hobbs 100% cotton batting (about 1/8’’ thick) for the middle. I love

how this turned out.

Here we go!

Step 1-Each Block has a front and back fabric square with a batting square for the inside of the block sandwich. If the

fabric has a directional pattern, make sure that both sides are facing the same direction. See how my cute little polar

bears are all facing up!

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Step 2 - Flip your fabrics over so the wrong side is showing and place your batting square centered in one of the 8 ½’’

fabric squares, then take the other fabric square and flip it over on top of the batting square. You now have your first

block ready to mark and quilt!

Step 3 - Use any removable marking pencil that works for you and make an X from corner to corner. This helps to make

a nice straight line. I used a clover pen style Chaco liner. The little rolling device marked easily on the fabric and washed

out fine. If you feel like just eyeing it from corner to corner you can skip this step.

Stitch across from corner to corner along your marked line. I recommend using a walking foot if you have one as it really

helps keep your block sandwich together without shifting. A regular foot can work fine too, just use a few pins next to

the center and on the corners to keep your fabrics and batting from shifting. I used a 2.0 which is a bit smaller than most

default stitch widths of 2.5. This will give you a nice secure stitch. A little backstitch at each end of sewing will ensure

that your stitch doesn’t unravel when you are laying out and stitching together all of your blocks.

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Step 4 - Stitch one line on all of the squares of one print, then stack them up again and stitch the second line on the

same prints. I repeated this process with each of my three different fabric prints that are in this quilt. This picture

shows the start of the second line of stitching being started on the striped block.

The above picture shows a block with both lines of stitching. Keep chugging along on your remaining blocks!

Step 5 – At this point you should have 49 individual quilt blocks with cross stitching on each of them. You’re ready to lay

them out and begin stitching rows together! My method is to lay them out on the floor in my chosen pattern, and start

sewing pairs together in one row and then group pairs and any remaining individuals and stitch those together. I lay

that down in its position on the floor. As the quilt grows this helps me keep everything in it proper place. Whatever

organization method that works best for you is great!

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Here is the layout for your Winter Magic Quilt Kit

Step 6 – Your seam allowance for this quilt will be 1 inch.

One nice way to follow the 1 inch seam allowance is to measure an inch from your needle and lay down some blue

painter’s masking tape (easily comes off without residue) the lengthwise way of your sewing. I also placed them

horizontally front and back at 1 inch to see where I should start and stop at the corners for a backstitch. Then I would

just continue off the edges with my stitching to make it easy to continue sewing onto the next block.

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Step 7 - After sewing your blocks into rows, press your seams open and flat (not to one side, so that the fringes lay

correctly at the corners). Next, sew row to row in the same way. I pinned securely at each seam intersection so the

seams would intersect nicely. And you are now almost finished!

Step 8-Washing and Drying. The method you use is your own preference.

I followed one suggestion of putting the quilt in a pillow case, folding over the top opening and pinning it with safety

pins. One pin every 4 inches worked fine. Wash on gentle cycle. Virtually all fiber shreds were left in the pillow case. I

shook out the fiber from the quilt and pillowcase over a trash can outside, and swept up any remaining leftovers that fell

on the patio. Next, put the quilt in the dryer on medium heat and be sure to clean the lint trap, which will be quite full,

about every 5 minutes. Do this about three times. Repeat this step, washing and drying the quilt a second time. With

each wash the fringe will look softer. The process is easier than reading it in the paragraph, so don’t feel intimidated.

Some quilters prefer to use a Laundromat for rag quilts and not use their own washer and dryer. Remember to keep

checking your lint trap for the fuzz that sheds!

That’s it! I hope you enjoy making your rag quilt!!

Email me (Kerri) with any questions and send a picture with your finished project as I would love to post it on my site!

admin@foreverpatchwork.com subject: Rag Quilt