Making a Rag Quilt
Rag Quilts Provide Easy Project For Beginners, Fresh Approach For Pros
If you are a beginner quilter looking for near-immediate gratification or an old pro who wants to create a different look, why not try making a rag quilt?
Frayed seams are a characteristic of rag quilts. Fraying the edges give a rag quilt a soft, vintage look simply by clipping the seams and washing and drying the quilt. 
Rag quilt patterns can be adaptations of traditional quilt patterns or, totally new designs that will be accented by the frayed edges.
Rag quilt patterns do not need to be expensive. As a matter of fact, many rag quilt patterns are available for free on the Internet. Use your favorite search engine to find "rag quilt patterns."
If you've already been exploring the Internet, chances are your favorite quilt sites also have rag quilt patterns available, or links to some. The best "how-to-quilt" websites offer rag quilt information as well as patterns.
Variations of the Nine Patch are popular rag quilt patterns. Strips are another popular rag quilt pattern. Keep in mind that while intricate designs could be converted into a rag quilt pattern, the fraying might distract from the quilt pattern.
The biggest challenge is getting accustomed to sewing backwards
It's possible to complete a rag quilt in a weekend! The biggest challenge is getting accustomed to sewing "backwards." In traditional quilting, we generally stitch the right sides together then turn them so the seams will be hidden on the underneath side.
With rag quilt patterns, the seams are sewn to the top so they can be clipped and frayed.
When assembling your rag quilt, you will make a fabric sandwich: place the first piece right side down on your table. The middle layer will be a piece of flannel or batting, and the top piece will be your fabric, right side up.
Once you have all your fabric sandwiches ready, you will sew the block together, again keeping the right sides up. So, instead of sewing with the right sides together, your rag quilt pattern will be sewn with the wrong sides together.This will keep your seams on top of the quilt.
Uneven seams are invisible on a rag quilt
Unlike traditional quilting, having uneven seams won't be noticed once your rag quilt pattern is complete. So, even if you can't sew a straight line with your sewing machine, you can make a gorgeous rag quilt!
That's another reason rag quilt patterns are so popular. They can be sewn together rather quickly using your sewing machine. The machine stitches will lock in and add stability to the quilt.
Since the blocks are sewn with the seams on top, there is no need for additional quilting of your rag quilt pattern. That makes rag quilt pattern projects move along at a nice speed!
Completing your rag quilt will take a little patience once all the sewing is complete. To "rag" your quilt pattern, you will need to clip the seams.
Clip straight down the seam (perpendicular to the stitches). You will need to make these cuts about every quarter of an inch. Your hand will get tired! To avoid hand cramps and blisters on your cutting fingers, you might like to use a pair of spring loaded scissors as you complete your rag quilt patterns. Spring loaded scissors automatically pop open after each snip has been made. They also usually are made so they are held on the outside, rather than putting your fingers inside scissor holes. If you don't already have a good, sharp pair, expect to pay $15 or more. If you plan to do much rag quilting in the future, it might be a good investment!
Once your seams are snipped all around your rag quilt pattern, throw it in the washer on a delicate cycle. It's not necessary to add soap, but it's okay if you do choose to do so. After the wash cycle, give your rag quilt a double check to make sure you've snipped all of the seam allowances. If you find a place you've missed, this is the time to add snips. Once you are satisfied with the snipping, toss the quilt into your drier. Once it's dried, your rag quilt will be complete!
Penny Halgren ~ TheQuiltingCoach.com
Penny Halgren is a quilter of more than 27 years who enjoys sharing her knowledge of quilting with those who would like to learn how to quilt or just improve their quilting skills.
Article provided by articlesbase.com
Teach Yourself to Rotary-cut
Click on product link or image for more info and current price
Whether you’re an experienced or a new quilter, you’ll want to keep this valuable guide on hand. Learn to cut your quilt pieces with precision and speed using the essential technique of rotary-cutting. Clear instructions, helpful step-by-step photos, and a beautiful collection of rotary-cut quilts are sure to inspire you. Starting with basic strips and squares, and progressing to triangles, using templates, and the more advanced techniques of fussy cutting and squaring up blocks, this collection of timeless projects contains all the information you need to get started. Projects include: * Feed-Sack Patches * Hole in the Wall * Round the Twist * 25 in 25 * Bow Tie * Pinwheel Panache * Twist and Shout * Independence * Tipsy Trees * Building Blocks (3 pillows) * Scrappy Maple Leaves * Heading North * Streaks of Lightning * Snow Stars * Jane’s Kaleidoscope * Town Square Picnic * Slice and Dice
See More Rotary-cut Quilting Books Options
The Quilting Zone - Making a Rag Quilt
Log Cabin Quilts Unlimited:
The Ultimate Creative Guide to the Most Popular and Versatile Pattern
Click on product link or image for more info and current price
Quilters can explore the creative possibilities of the most popular and adaptable patchwork pattern. Log cabin is the quintessential quilt block, at its most basic strips sewn in order around a square center. Generations of quilters have been fascinated with the limitless variations possible by changing the central shape, the widths of the strips, the arrangement of blocks, and the interplay of lights and darks. Log Cabin Quilts Unlimited provides everything a quilter needs to design and create an original log cabin quilt: options for block construction, 18 block styles with many variations, setting options, photographs of outstanding quilts from primitive to contemporary looks, and a workbook with full-page diagrams. This is the ultimate guide to the ultimate quilt block. Patricia Cox is the former director of the International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska and the author of American Quilt Classics. Maggi McCormick Gordon's previous books include The Ultimate Quilting Book and 1000 Great Quilt Blocks.
See More Log Cabin Quilting Books Options
The Quilting Zone - Making a Rag Quilt
Hawaiian Quilting: Instructions and Full-Size Patterns for 20 Blocks
Click on product link or image for more info and current price
Hawaiian Quilting - Instructions and Full-Size patterns for 20 blocks is a very user friendly reference book for those wishing to commence their journey into Hawaiian quilting. It includes detailed instructions, 20 full-size quilting blocks (each 18" square) for creating exotic floral motifs: orchid, waterlily, hibiscus, and 17 others. Author Elizabeth Root takes her time to bring you up to date with interesting background about the origins and history of this fascinating art form. For those who have always found it quite difficult to understand the instructions for folding your pattern paper into eight, Roots's instructions are so straight forward and easy to understand you'll wish you'd come across this publication much sooner.The general instructions clearly outline the steps for creating a Hawaiian quilt, specifically - cutting the pattern, laying and tacking the pattern to the background, and appliqueing the design. Consideration has also been given to the presentation of the 20 patterns. Each pattern is on its own page, with a blank page behind it so there is no chance of chasing the incorrect line when tracing.
See More Hawaiian Quilting Books Options
The Quilting Zone - Making a Rag Quilt
Japanese Quilt Blocks to Mix and Match
Click on product link or image for more info and current price
Modern Japanese quilting blends Eastern and Western techniques to create quilts of extraordinary style and beauty. Using designs borrowed from a rich decorative arts heritage, and often incorporating traditional kimono fabrics, Japanese quilters have developed a distinctive style based on unusual motifs and striking color combinations. With Japanese Quilt Blocks to Mix and Match, any quilter can create exquisite and unique works of patchwork art in the Japanese tradition.
The book presents more than 125 different block patterns, each with complete instructions and a color photograph, representing a variety of pattern sources: kamon (family crests), hakone yosegi (parquetry) and traditional textiles, such as kasuri weave. Each 9-inch block includes a full cutting guide and fabric palette; suggestions for use, either mixing and matching or adapting to an all-over design; and icons indicating techniques and skill level. The blocks on each spread are related in design and technique.
In addition to the Block Directory, Japanese Quilt Blocks to Mix and Match features an Inspiration Gallery, showcasing examples of finished quilts from leading quilters. Using these examples, author Susan Briscoe explores such topics as color ideas from traditional Japanese textiles and quilts, motifs, and recommendations for combining fabric patterns and block designs. An extensive section on technique, as well as several pages about the fabrics themselves and a listing of suppliers and organizations make this volume as practical and informative as it is beautiful.
See More Japanese Quilting Books Options
The Quilting Zone - Making a Rag Quilt
Sew Easy Rag Quilting
Click on product link or image for more info and current price
Rag Quilting is sweeping through the quilting world. And with good reason. It's fun, fast and fabulous! There is no batting, no binding, and often, no quilting. When the quilt top is finished, the whole quilt is complete. Results are satisfying for quilters of all skill levels. Easy enough for beginners, this book includes twelve projects based on five different designs: Simplicity, Allegiance, Cottage Row, Honeycomb and Flamingo Flurry, which is featured on the cover.
See More Rag Quilting Books Options
The Quilting Zone - Making a Rag Quilt
easyfuncandlebiz.com ocnsignal.com walking101.com
wicksworks.com wordwooze.net