How to Sew a Simple Rag Quilt

This simple rag quilt by Sew Yeah is one of my favorite projects I have made this year. It’s just cozy and lovely. You can definitely use your scraps for this pattern if you have tons of them – it’s a great scrap buster! Read on or watch the video below for full instructions.

Materials

• layer cake or 3 3/8″ yards
• 3 yards of backing
• 1 1/2 yards of batting

Note: This project is a quilt as you go. Use a 1/2″ seam allowance.

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Instructions

Step 1:

Start by dividing your layer cake into 2 sets with 21 pieces on each stack. For the first pile, it should have all the dominant colors. Trim them into 9″ x 9″ squares. For the second pile, cut them into 84 pieces of 5″ x 5″ squares.

Step 2:

Cut the backing fabric into 6 pieces of 9″ x WOF strips, then sub-cut into 21 pieces of 9″ x 9″ squares. Cut the remaining backing fabric into 11 pieces of 5″ x WOF strips, then sub-cut into 84 pieces of 5″ x 5″ squares.

Step 3:

Cut the batting into 5 pieces of 8″ x WOF strips, then sub-cut into 21 pieces of 8″ x 8″ squares. Cut the remaining batting into 11 pieces of 4″ x WOF strips, then sub-cut into 84 pieces of 4″ x 4″ squares.

Step 4:

Mark all of your layer cake fabric with a vertical line from corner to corner, making an X.

Step 5:

Get a piece of backing fabric, and lay it with the wrong side up. Next, place a corresponding piece of batting in the center of the backing fabric. Place a layer cake right side up, then align it to the edges. Sew a diagonal line from corner to corner in both directions to make an X and lock your fabric sandwich together. Do this for all 21 of the large fabric sandwiches and 84 of the small fabric sandwiches.

Step 6:

Lay the 84 pieces of 5″ x 5″ sandwiches into 21 four-patch squares.

Step 7:

Get the top 2 squares and place them with back sides together. Sew with a 1/2″ seam allowance on one side. Repeat for the bottom 2 squares. Sew them together with back sides together with a 1/2″ seam allowance. Your raw edges should be facing up towards your layer cake fabric.

Step 8:

Lay out your design using 7 rows of 6 blocks. Alternate the large sandwiches with the four-squares ones.

Step 9:

Sew each row first, then sew all the rows together. Make sure to nest the seams. Once done, sew a 1/2″ seam around the outer edges, on all four sides. To make the raggy look, snip all of your seam allowances/raw edges. Do not snip through the seams. You can space your snips about 1/2″ apart. In areas where your blocks intersect, snip about 1/4″ on either side of the seam.

How to Sew a Simple Rag Quilt