When I had my first baby, my cousin made him a rag quilt and we totally adore it. It’s so soft and durable. I love the shabby chic look, so I figured out how to make one for another cousin. I have to say, mine is pretty easy, because I made it two layers thick, and didn’t do any quilting top-stitching. Top-stitching looks nice, but with small squares, it isn’t necessary to hold it together.
I drew my pattern out on paper to get a visual of what I wanted it to look like, then counted how many squares I needed of each fabric. I made a simple pattern using white, with every third square having a different print. To make it even simpler, I would recommend matching the bottom square to the print of the one on top of it. I hope that made sense.
I made a small quilt, 6×6 squares, about 33.5×33.5” in finished size.
Here’s what you need:
2 yards of flannel fabric (may need more depending on the pattern you make)
thread
How to make your Rag Quilt:
- Draw out your design.
- Wash and dry your fabric.
- Press if needed, to get it to lie down for cutting.
- Cut 72 six-inch squares.
- Lay squares out on table the way you want them sewn together.
- Add the squares that will face the other side, by lying them behind your top squares, wrong sides facing. You will have lots of little stacks of two squares each.
- Take your first stack and lie your second stack on top of it, top sides facing, with the right edge of the first aligned with the left edge of the second, like closing a book. Now you have a little “book” (two squares).
- Sew that side together, with ½” seam allowance.
- Open back up and place back in its place on your table, with seam allowances facing up.
10. Take your third and fourth stacks and do the same.
11. Do the same with 5th and 6th stacks, and the same with the next row, and all other rows. Now, you should have 18 little “books.”
12. Now, take that first book in the first row, and lie the first book in the second row on top of it, top sides facing, with the bottom edge of the top row aligned with the top edge of the second row, also aligning the seams, and sew a ½” seam allowance on that side. Now you have a little “quad” (four squares).
13. Open back up and place back in its place on your table, with seam allowances facing up.
14. Take your second book in the top row and second book in second row and do the same.
15. Do the same with the third in first and second rows, and all other rows. Now, you should have nine little quads.
16. Now, take your first quad, and lie the second quad on top of it, top sides facing, with the right edge of the first quad aligned with the left edge of the second quad, and sew with ½” seam allowance. Now, you have a little “8 pack.”
17. Open back up and place back in its place on your table, with seam allowances facing up.
18. Now, take your “8 pack,” and lie the remaining quad in that row on top of the right quad area of your “8 pack,” top sides facing, with the right edge of the “8 pack” aligned with the left edge of the remaining quad, and sew with ½” seam allowance. Now, you have an “egg carton” (12 squares).
19. Open back up and place back in its place on your table, with seam allowances facing up.
20. Do the same with the next row of quads, and the last row of quads. Now, you should have three “egg cartons.”
21. Now, take your first “egg carton,” and lie the second “egg carton” on top of it, top sides facing, with the bottom edge of the first “egg carton” aligned with the top edge of the second “egg carton,” and sew with ½” seam allowance. Now, you have a “24 pack.”
22. Open back up and place back in its place on your table, with seam allowances facing up.
23. Take your “24 pack,” and lie the remaining “egg carton” on top of the bottom “egg carton” area of your “24 pack,” top sides facing, with the bottom edge of the “24 pack” aligned with the top edge of the “egg carton,” and sew with ½” seam allowance. Now, your pieces are all together!
24. Open back up and place back in its place on your table, with seam allowances facing up.
25. Now, grab your scissors, turn on a good movie, and snip your seam allowances about ½” apart. Be careful not to get too close to your seams.
26. Wash and dry your blanket and you’ll have the shabby to go with your chic!