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How to Make a Rag Quilt (EASY Beginner’s Guide)

Learning how to make a rag quilt is easy!  Rag quilts are a wonderful for a first time quilting project. They’re simple to make!  This rag quilt uses cuddle or minky fabric for extra warmth.  The combination of flannel and cuddle is wonderful to touch.  This tutorial is geared towards beginners, with several videos that break down the steps to make it easy to follow.

For this project you will need:

2 Packages of cuddle strips – cut to squares like this one.
(for the size in the example  used two packages,  this can vary with the block and size of quilt you make).

3 Yards of Flannel (again this can vary – you will need to calculate this to fit the quilt you make)

Thread

Scissors

Ragging Shears (Optional, but highly recommended)

Rotary cutter, ruler and mat (available here)

Walking Foot

Sewing Essentiatls

 Fleece Fun has over 60 FREE patterns – and many come with a video tutorial.  See the Master list here.

How to make a rag quilt (easy beginner’s guide)

Basic Overview Video Tutorial Here, More Detailed Videos Below:

Step 1 – Prepping the fabric


How to make a rag quilt a beginner's guide step 1Since we’re combining the flannel with a fabric that doesn’t shrink (minky), wash and dry the flannel then cut into 10 inch squares.

When making a quilt that is only flannel, you can just get started and not worry about washing it – you’ll do that later.

Step 2 – Assemble the Rag Quilt Block


How to make a rag quilt a beginner's guide Fleece Fun 7Minky / fleece Sandwich Rag Quilt

Assemble the blocks to the rag quilt you desire. In the pattern example I’m making a block that is cuddle on the top and bottom with two layers of flannel between.

Minky / Fleece One Side Rag Quilt

For a lighter  quilt you can have minky on one side and have 2 layers of flannel on the other.

Flannel Only Rag Quilt

In another version quilt you can have flannel on one side and have 2 layers of flannel on the other.How to make a rag quilt a beginner's guide Fleece Fun 6

For a warmer or heavier blanket you can also place a piece of batting between the layers of fabric.

How to make a rag quilt a beginner's guide Fleece Fun 5
Pin or safety pin your blocks together.

Tip on how to make a rag quilt: For easy and quick assembly make the block the same color on the top and the bottom. Also double check the nap of the minky to make sure it’s going the same way on both sides of the block.

Step 3 – Prepping the Quilt Blocks


How to make a rag quilt a beginner's guide Fleece Fun 4Sew each individual block to the rag quilt together with a diagonal seam across the block forming an x. When learning how to make a rag quilt – take your time on this step until you get the hang of it.

You can draw and x on each block using a ruler and a washable pen to help keep you lines straight.

Design your quilt by deciding on the order/ layout of your blocks. In the example my rag quilt is 4 blocks by 5 blocks. 

Step 4 – Sew the Blocks into Rows 


How to make a rag quilt a beginner's guide 3 Fleece FunSew each row of the blocks together. For the large blocks of a rag quilt I prefer a ¾ inch seam allowance. Double check the nap to make sure that it’s all going in the same direction on the rag blanket.

Step 5 – Sew the Rows Together


Sew the rows of blocks of the rag quilt together. Using the same seam allowance as you used on the blocks, sew the rows together. Be sure to fold or press on the seams out for best results when sewing through thick layers. With thick blocks ( like the one in the example) a walking foot and a longer stitch is best .

Step 6 – Snip the Seams to the Rag quilt


Time to cut up all your hard work. Using scissors or ragging shears snip the seam allowance about a quarter inch to a half inch apart.  Try your best to keep it even, but it doesn’t have to be exact.

Step 7 – Wash the Rag Quilt

Wash your cuddle quilt to complete the ragging process.  Throw in some old towels to help with the agitation.  Do not use liquid fabric softener as that will gum up the ragged edges and the minky fibers.

Other Beginner Quilting Tutorials for you to enjoy:

More Fleece Blanket Tutorials:

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I love this tutorial. Each step has a video to walk you through it - perfect for beginners! Rag quilts are so great to snuggle under. This makes quilting and sewing look easy.You May Also Like:

how to make a self binding blanket

The self binding fleece blanket.  Warm and easy to make!  Get the video tutorial here.

Have some leftover flannel?  This adorable Rag baby bib on Creations by Cara would be perfect to use it up!

YOu can find a quick start guide to rag quilts here.

What fabric do you use for a rag quilt?

Flannel is what is traditionally used as it frays nicely giving the fussy edge to it. Flannel can often be combined with fleece, minky or jersey knit to add more warmth and texture, but these materials do not fray.

What is the best size of squares for a rag quilt?

This depends on how you want your rag quilt to look and feel. In quilting the traditional block sizes are 3″, 6″, 9″, 12″ and 15″. The smaller the block, the more blocks you will need to complete your rag quilt and the more “fuzzy edges” you’ll have. In this tutorial the block end up being 8.5″ ( taking away the 3/4 seam allowance from 10″). The truth is you can make the blocks any size you want under 12″. Anything larger than 12″ and the rag quilt doesn’t look as nice.

How to you wash and dry a rag quilt?

Wash as recommended for flannel. Be sure to toss in a few old towels with the quilt to help with balance and agitation. Do not use liquid fabric softener as this will cut up the ragging and make it less fluffy. Dry as normal, again with old towels to help agitation of the frayed seams.

How many squares do you need for baby rag quilt?

A baby quilt is typically 30″ by 40″. Traditionally smaller squares are used for a baby rag quilt so 4″ work well. If you use a half inch seam allowance, You would want 140, 4″ squares to make a baby size rag quilt.

How many yards of fabric do I need for a rag quilt?

If you make larger squares your will need less fabric than if you make smaller squares as the smaller squares requires more seam allowances/ frayed edges. Also depending on how much fabric you choose to sandwich between each layer. 6 Yards of colorful fabric (exterior) and 3 yards of interior/ plain fabric should cover your needs for a traditional throw is 50″ by 65″.

Are Rag Quilts Easy?

They do require basic sewing skills and knowledge.  But yes as a quilt they are very easy to make!

How many layers do you need for a rag quilt?

It depends on the thickness and fluffiness you desire. Most rag quilts consist of 3 to 4 layers some with a piece of batting in-between all the material.  Because of this thickness a sturdy sewing machine is needed to sew through all the layers.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim says

    Thank you for a great quilt will be making this for my grand kids who are moving to Alaska. And where can I buy this fabric at?

    Reply

    • linda Channell says

      what are cuddle cakes and where do you get them i just purchased three yards of fleece in 4 different colours/patterns. what size blocks should i make and can i use fleece for the front and the back?

    • Angel Hickman Peterson says

      Cuddle cloth is more like minky. Fleece and cuddle cloth are like cousins – as they are both synthetic and have similar stretch and knit properties. You can make this blanket out of fleece if you desire.

  5. Stacey says

    I can find the “girly girl” kits on Amazon but not the kit with the paisley pattern. Did they quit making the paisley kit?

    Reply

    • Angel Hickman Peterson says

      Hmmm, looking at Shannon’s website the kit has the paisley pattern in it. So I’m not sure why the kit you found doesn’t have it. 🙁 I’m sorry I know that doesn’t help. My recommendation would be to ask the seller to confirm whats in the kit. If it is Shannon’s kit, the paisley should be in there according to the description on their website.

  7. Norma Scott says

    I have a question, I would love to make one of these Rag Quilts, I have been collecting Material with owls on it, for a very long time now, but none of them are Flannel its the novelty print material from joann;s will making a rag quilt out of this Material work?
    thank you Norma

    Reply

    • Angel Hickman Peterson says

      Regular cotton doesn’t fray as nicely to the soft edges that people expect from a rag quilt. I can work and rag – but it won’t be as soft as the flannel and it won’t rag as nicely. So it’s reaally a matter of taste and what you want.

  8. Brianna says

    I just got done making my first quilt and ill tell u its a lot of work! But these rag quilts are so cute and they seem easier and a little quicker. I bet ill make one for my niece!

    Reply

  10. Cassia says

    I want to try this for my daughter who is due in 2 weeks(Dec 10th). Is this fabric your using stretch in any way? We bought some fabric to make her crib and we got the dotted minky. We decided to go with a pack and play instead of a crib and have all this fabric left over, I’m afraid that the cotton and minky won’t go well together and I’ll just make a huge mess of it. Just curious if this is stretch fabric

    Reply

  11. Brittany says

    Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I don’t sew a lot. How do you line up the fleece with the flannel so perfectly??

    Reply

  13. Kim Neff says

    I have made several flannel rag quilts but, trying something new with cotton. Please tell me it will work!? I realize I won’t get the
    same finish but, the material was so darn cute I couldn’t resist! Suppose I could have made a regular quilted one but, not that confident yet! Also- can u use cotton & flannel together in a rag?
    Thanks…LOVE your tuts!

    Reply

  15. Dawne says

    I purchased 100% cotton fabric and flannel to make a rag quilt for my king sized bed. Do you think it will work okay? I am planning on filling the squares with cotton batting not going all the way to the edges. 10″ squares and 8 1/2 inch batting.

    Reply

  16. Suzanne says

    You do beautiful work, but I don’t understand why you would put any kind of fabric softener on this because the fabric is already soft. Everything I’ve read of fabric softener is that it remains in the fabric and gums it up and I didn’ t like that next to my children’s skin. Then someone, who ran a cloth diaper service, told me they use vinegar in the rinse cycle to remove all the junk that builds up on the fabric. I have not used anything else since.

    Reply

  18. Wendy says

    Someone else mentioned this same thing, but I do not add any sort of sheets or softener to our laundry and haven’t for years, due to skin irritation issues. I merely use vinegar in my final rinse in my washer, helps to remove static and that’s the purpose of softener originally.
    Another option is to make fabric squares and soak in a mix of half vinegar, half water with several drops of fave essential oil, add one of these fabric sheets to the dryer, these are the fabric dryer sheets I use and they don’t impede the absorption properties of towels and help reduce static cling from the dryer.

    Reply

  19. Allison says

    Hi’ya.
    Great tutorial! I’m completely new to rag quilts and I love your sewing machine. Mine is vintage and looking for a more modern one. Can you tell me which one you use? Thanks.
    Allison

    Reply

  20. Marisol Cuellar says

    Just watched your tutorial… I am so going to try and make this… I bought a simple sewing machine 2 days ago… never sewed in my life!!! Well I started by making a minky blanket with the simple inside sewing. I cant wait to try this rag quilt!!! going to purchase my material tomorrow… Thank you again!!!

    Reply

  21. Rachel says

    I want to make one of the quilts the tutorial was super easy to follow…Here is my question…I am using T-shirts for the outside and wonder if using standard on the inside would turn out an ok product? I have lots of fleece on hand but all my flannel is patterned and I hate to use that. Trying to use up stuff on hand but don’t want to do all the work then it not work out. I did a few squares like this but am concerned about after washing? And should I wash the flannel before use?

    Reply

  22. Hannah Lee says

    Hi! Please reply!! Did you use a quilting machine or a regular sewing machine for this project? Love it!

    Reply

  23. nadia Milling says

    Hi Angel, I found this on Pinterest and can’t wait to get started on this for my girls. I was thinking is it possible to do this with another fabric besides minky and cuddly and make it more quilt-like? I’m a complete newbie at this and love it.

    Thank you

    Reply

  25. linda channell says

    this would be my first quilt. just purchased 3metres of fleece in 4 different colours, what size squares should i cut. and what are cuddle cakes?

    Reply

    • Angel Hickman Peterson says

      Hi Linda!
      Cuddle cakes come in pack of 20 that are 10 by 10 inch squares. Which is about 25.4cm. We’ll round down to 25cm to make it easier. So Cut 25 by 25 cm – you will need to determine the size of blanket you want to make from there. Good luck!

  26. Stephanie says

    Rag quilts are so easy to make and come out so cute! The cutting part is a huge pain, even with a pair of really sharp snipping scissors. I accidentally sliced through one of my squares in several places while cutting the seams, and I don’t have any more fabric to replace that square! What do you advise to do?

    Reply

    • Angel Hickman Peterson says

      Hi Stephanie!
      I’m so sorry – that’s really frustrating. Hmmm… Re sew the seam again across the places you snipped – perhaps even do it twice. Then hand stitch the cut that is past the seam allowance shut so it won’t fray more. That’s my best guess/ advice in that situation.
      – Angel

  27. Judy Fox says

    Great help, still need help, I’m working my first and I didn’t wash any of it. Do I need to take it apart or will it be ok? I’m washing all of the next one, do I have to iron it?

    Reply

  28. Jeanie says

    Just wanted to ask, I think I know the answer but just wanted to make sure. Do the ragged edges show up on both sides of the quilt? I didn’t watch all the videos since I am on limited data here. Do you have a pd i can print out with directions?
    We live in a rural area and the internet is slow and no high speed or cable, only satellite 🙁

    Reply

  29. Carroll Swager says

    Hi! I just cut all the pieces for my first rag quilt for my upcoming grandson. My first question was thread color since I have 4 colors and a 5th for the back. Does it matter if I use white? (Light blue, blue plaid, yellow, navy, and a slightly different shade of blue for the back) I have been told medium grey to beige? For sewing together I think white will be okay. When I fan the seams is that nesting the seams, this term sort of confused me. Thanks for your response.

    Reply

  32. Carole Dube says

    Thank you for sharing! My mom give me all the tool needed to make one. I just need to buy material!

    Reply

  33. Andrea says

    I saw this tutorial a year ago last August and it was the first quilt I had ever sewn. The only thing I had sewn before that was a pair of pj pants. Almost a year has gone by and I have won a 1st place award for one of my rag quilts and I have gifted so many. Thank you so much for this tutorial it has inspired me to love quilting and I just taught my daughter how to quilt and yesterday she made her first rag quilt for her bed. Thank you again!!

    Reply

  35. Dorothy Oxley says

    Relatively new to quilt making and I was just wondering do I do a small back stitch at the start and end of the big cross in each square and each seam. Love the tutorial and video.

    Reply

    • Angel Hickman Peterson says

      HI Dorothy! what I did was a single long row of stitching diagonally across the blanket. So I back stitch where I started at the edge of the blanket and locked the seam at the other end. The truth is because I machine stitched the binding I technically didn’t need to lock the seam, but it made me feel more secure. 🙂

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