This is an Easy Rag Quilt Pattern without cutting blocks! YAY! FINALLY! I love giving raq guilts as gifts but sometime I just don’t have time to cut all the blocks.
This easy rag quilt can be done in under an hour, so you can sew a baby rag quilt fast enough to have it with you when you meet the little one.
If you want to learn how to make a rag quilt the normal way click here.
Easy Rag Quilt Pattern: Step One
Choose two different flannelette fabrics for your blanket.
For a rag quilt with rectangles like the green rag quilt I made for this tutorial, use a yard and a half of fabric per side.
For a rag quilt with squares use a yard of fabric per side.
If you want to add batting into the blanket make sure it is cut the exact same size as the rest of the fabric. This will make sure all the squares are sewn together before trimming excess batting from the seams.
Step Two
Place both fabrics together, wrong sides facing in. Then trim around the edges.
If you are doing batting place it in between the two fabrics at this point.
Step Three
Choose what side will be the side you want to see the ragging. and make sure all your folds happen on that side.
Fold your fabric in half and sew a one inch seam along that fold.
Step Four
Cut along the loop you have created.
Step Five
Create a seam along both sides of the center seam. This is best explained in my video tutorial. and then sew along both of these folds.
Step Six
Once sewn cut along these two loops as well. Then press all three of these seams open.
Step Seven
We will do this all over again on the opposite side. Fold for a center seam. Keep the previous seams open before folding. Then sew a once inch seam once again.
Step Eight
Fold and sew the next two seams on either side of the center seam you just sewed.
Step Nine
Sew a one inch seam around the entire easy rag quilt pattern you just created.
Step Ten
Clip all the edges, making sure the closer together the clips are the better the ragging will end up looking.
Rejoice! You just made an easy rag quilt pattern!
And you now have a rag quilt baby blanket to give at your next baby shower! Whoo hoo!!!!
Please comment below if you make this easy rag quilt pattern. I would love to hear how it goes for you and if you have any other lovely tips to share.
Happy Rag Quilting!
Hi Tamara – thank you SO much for sharing this. I made a large rag quilt 30+ yrs ago, the traditional way and man was it a LOT of work. One of my daughters still has it and uses it but it’s getting very worn. She asked me to make her a new one and I was dreading all that cutting, plus I’m a perfectionist and no matter how careful I am, the backside’s squares just don’t ever line up exactly. This new way is cures that problem. I made a baby sized one as a trial and it’s adorable. I’m waiting for fabric I ordered to come so I can start on a Queen size. Thanks again, so much! You young’ins really have it going on!
I hear you! I love making these quilts as they are so nice and fast. Something that may help you with matching up seams is if you use a walking foot. I have yet to invest in one but I keep meaning too because I can totally relate! I have linked it in the “helpful sewing tools” section of this post. Happy Sewing.
Hi Tamara,
Thank you for your rag quilt tutorials. I haven’t tried this method yet, but I assume you could do four of these 1 yard blankets and then sew all together to make a large rag quilt, correct?
Also I can’t wait to try your new border method!
Rebecca
So glad to hear from you! Absolutely you could make this as small as a baby blanket and as large as a queen. Just consider how much fabric you can fit in your washing machine so you don’t make it too big 🙂 A twin size blanket would be adorable! Happy Sewing!
How would you sew the two one yard pieces together to make a larger quilt
Lay them so the backs are together and sew a seam along the edge. Making sure the seam is the same depth as the rest of your seams so you can rag this edge the same as the rest of them.
Plush Fleece just seems too thick to work wthis pattern…. Any tips or tricks?
Tamara,
THANK YOU! I made one this morning and I love it. Question for you… how many times do I have to wash the thing before it’s safe for a baby… I’ve washed (or rinsed in machine) 2x and dried 2x and still getting lots of lint when I shake. I’m nervous a little one might swallow some of that…?`
Hi Morgan, I am so glad to hear you made one! As for how many times it needs to be washed it will take a few more washes to calm down. I like to wash them with old towels as I find they pull some of the lint away as well. But in the end it will depend on the fabric and washing machine. Check this tutorial out for more washing tips: https://youtu.be/PNK88ChVQNA As far as a baby swallowing the bits. I have never had that problem so I am not sure what to suggest for safety there.
So much easier. Unless the person wants more than 2 colors/patterns. But, I really going to try convince them to just go with 2 pieces of fabric. Thank you so much.
I agree! it is a nice way to start making rag quilts for sure. Good luck getting them to agree to only two fabrics 🙂
I love this look. This will be my next project.
I think this will be much easier and the strip one I made. Thanks for sharing.
I hope it goes well for you! I loved making mine.
Love this idea. Looking forward to many more from you.
Thanks so much Dawne! I share a lot more of my tutorials on youtube these days. But when I get a chance I try to also add a blog post tutorial as well 🙂
Love Your Quilts! I’ve made 3 or 4 already, smaller ones, each slightly different. My Older G-Kids want one too. They want them fairly large. What is the best way to make them 60 inches wide, Sew 2 pieces together to make the width in each layer then put them together. How can I be sure to get the seam in the right place once I start to sew the seams for ragging?
Just finished 4 individual ones that I want to join together to make one large quilt. I know I just match seams and sew them together using a 1″ seam before snipping. How do I handle the outside edges? Do I just snip or do I need to bind? Thank you.
I am looking forward to making my next rag quilt with your method. Would love to know where you got the western fabric (green).
I am glad to hear that Heidi! I hope it is an enjoyable process for you. As for the fabric, I wish I could tell you where to get it but I found it years ago at my local Fabricland. I haven’t seen it since. BUT if you are looking for some fun prints to use, often quilt shops will have a section of flannel fabrics that have really nice prints on them. Happy Sewing!