Recently I have been on a baby blanket making spree, and my new favorite is this “3 Hour Rag Quilt”. I love it because it’s so simple, it’s soft, it’s cute, and it only takes 3 hours.
Supplies *contains affiliate links*:
-A piece of batting that is 40.5″ x 42″
-1.5 yards flannel
-1.5 yards coordinating flannel.
Start off by using a rotary cutter and a self healing mat to cut nine strips of batting into 4.5″ wide strips. It will need to be the length of your coordinating fabric, probably about 42″.
Then cut your flannel into 9 strips that are 6″ wide.
Take your 1.5 yards of coordinating flannel and cut it into nine 6″ wide strips.
Then make a sandwich of your two flannels (pattern side out) with the batting in the middle.
Find a pretty stitch you like (or a straight stitch) and run a line all the way down your fabric sandwich. I hate pinning things so I just hold the sandwich together while I run the line. I liked this curved/zig zag stitch for this quilt. Do this to all nine of your sandwiches.
Then stack together two sandwiches with the prints facing the same direction (for example on mine it’s flowers up, swirls down). Then using a straight stitch sew them together with about 3/4″ seam allowance. For this part I try to ensure that the batting does not show outside of the stitch.
Continue to do this opening your quilt after every seam and continuing to place the patterns facing the same way until you have sewn all nine strips together.
Then using your rotary cutter and cutting mat, cut a straight edge around the entire quilt to clean up the edges. Then sew a seam all the way around the blanket with a 3/4″ seam allowance. When you are done one side will have all of the seams on it and the other will look like a finished quilt.
Then take your good sharp scissors and make tiny cuts along all of the open seams. Be careful not to cut through the stitching. For this part fold the quilt so that the seam is out and you do not have to use the tips of your scissors but you can hold the scissors closer to the fabric without worrying about cutting the blanket.
If you make this quilt with nine 6″ strips the finished product is about 38″ wide by 43″ long.
After cutting it still will not have the fuzzy curled up “rag” look until you wash it. I have been warned that it leaves a lot of thread in the washing machine and has been known to clog washing machines and flood laundry rooms. So… I always do the initial wash and dry at the laundry mat. I figure the $5 of quarters is not worth risking it over.
Fold it up, tie it with a bow, and send it off to a friend for her new baby girl! To see another rag quilt with some additional tips head to this post here. To learn how to make a rag strip doll quilt head here.
**4/6/15 Update** Many people have asked if you need a unique sewing machine to sew through the thick layers of the flannel and batting. You don’t, but if you’re unhappy with your machine I am in LOVE with mine. After three years together I am still in love with my affordable Brother machine!
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Just an idea or suggestion, i haven’t yet tried taking this type quilt, but it IS my next one, and this is the first I’ve seen someone mention the threads clogging the washing machines, what if you put the little Quilts on a pillow case or a laundry bag and washed? I know on every tutorial they say you really NEED to wash and dry several times to get the “rag” effects, thanks so much
Mine have always gotten a nice ragged look after only one washing. I love the idea of the laundry bag. I wish I would have thought of it sooner! I have a nice big one, I’ll try that next time!
I square up fabrics before cutting them out, also, I stitch TWICE around entire quilt, have never had a problem, also, if making square blocks, I start in at corner of batting, (not at edge) and sew each block with a locking stitch at beginning X this holds the layers together, makes it easier to snip around where blocks join together.