How to Make a Rag Quilt (Beginner Sewing Tutorial)

Steps

1. 1. Cut 10-Inch Squares from Flannel

   Pre-wash and dry the flannel before cutting so it shrinks before assembly. Use a rotary cutter with a quilting ruler to cut 10-inch squares from the flannel.

   Tip: Stack three or four layers of flannel together and cut them all at once. The rotary cutter goes through several layers cleanly with one pass.

   

2. 2. Layer Each Block

   Build each block in this order from bottom up: cuddle square, two flannel squares, cuddle square. Four layers per block, with the soft cuddle on the outside and the flannel as the inner batting.

   

3. 3. Sew an X Through Each Block

   With the four layers stacked, sew a diagonal seam from one corner of the block to the opposite corner, then a second seam across the other diagonal to make an X. The X locks all four layers in place so they can't shift while you assemble the rows.

   

4. 4. Lay Out the Quilt Design

   Spread all your assembled blocks on the floor or a large table in the layout you want. The example is four blocks wide by five blocks tall (20 blocks total).

   

5. 5. Sew the Rows Together

   Sew blocks into rows using a 3/4 inch seam allowance. Important: orient the seams so the seam allowance ends up on the OUTSIDE of the finished quilt - that's the part that gets snipped and fluffed into the rag finish.

   

6. 6. Snip the Seams and Wash

   This is the fun part. Use ragging shears or sharp scissors to snip the outside seam allowances every quarter to half inch, all the way around every block AND around the perimeter of the quilt.

   Tip: Ragging shears have spring-loaded bent handles that make hundreds of small cuts much less painful on your hand than regular scissors.