The Easiest Way to Make a Baby Rag Quilt

Rag quilting is one of the easiest and most beginner-friendly ways to create a beautiful, soft quilt for a baby. Whether you’re making one for your own little one or as a thoughtful handmade gift, this guide will walk you through the entire process!

Why Choose a Rag Quilt?

• ✅ Perfect for beginners—no precise quilting skills required!
• ✅ Soft, fluffy seams make it extra cozy.
• ✅ Quick to sew—great for last-minute gifts.

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Flannel fabric in 2-3 coordinating colors.
• Sharp fabric scissors or rotary cutter.
• Basic sewing machine.
• Thread and pins.

Step-by-Step Instructions

 

1. Cut your fabric into squares. You choose the size of squares and quantity depending on the size of quilt. To determine how many squares you need minus 1 inch from the size of square you are using and divide it by the size of quilt you're wanting. (5" squares and a 40" square quilt gives you 10 squares by 10 squares {5-1=4. 40/4=10})
2. Layer two squares together and stitch an X across them to secure.
3. Join squares with a ½” seam allowance, leaving edges exposed.
4. Once the quilt top is assembled, snip along the raw edges every ¼” to create the rag effect.
5. Wash and dry the quilt—this softens and frays the edges beautifully!

Looking for More Quilting Inspiration?

 

Check out our full collection of Baby Rag Quilt Patterns to find even more beautiful designs!

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Have you made a rag quilt before? Comment below and share your favorite fabric combinations!

Using a Butter Knife While Making a Quilt? Weird...Nope!

Rag quilts are a popular style of quilt that feature exposed seams that are frayed to create a soft and cozy texture. While many quilters choose to fray the edges of their rag quilts by washing and drying them multiple times, there is another method that can be just as effective: using a butter knife.

 

Here's how to use a butter knife to fray the edges of a rag quilt:

1. Start by clipping the edges of the quilt so that they are all even.

2. Take a butter knife and run the blade along the edge of the quilt, pressing down firmly as you go. The goal is to loosen the weave of the fabric so that it will fray easily.

3. Once you have run the butter knife along the entire length of the edge, use your fingers to gently pull the loose threads away from the quilt. You may need to go over the edge with the butter knife a few more times to get all of the threads to loosen.

4. Repeat this process on all four sides of the quilt until you have the desired amount of fraying.

   Watch as we butter knife a quilt block over on our youtube channel
   

One advantage of using a butter knife to fray the edges of a rag quilt is that it allows you to have more control over the amount of fraying that occurs. With washing and drying, it can be difficult to predict exactly how much the quilt will fray, but with the butter knife method, you can choose to fray the edges as much or as little as you like.

Also, if you miss clipping a seam, and notice after washing, just use the butter knife instead of laundering again. 

Another advantage is that it can be quicker than laundering the quilt multiple times. While laundering the quilt is certainly effective, it can be time-consuming and may take several cycles to get the desired amount of fraying.

In conclusion, using a butter knife to fray the edges of a rag quilt is a simple and effective  

Check out more sewing tips on our blog

 

Jelly Roll Rag Quilt Pattern Ideas

Jelly roll rag quilts are a fun and easy project that can be made with a pre-cut jelly roll or by cutting your own strips. The ragged edges give the quilt a cozy, rustic look that's perfect for snuggling up on the couch. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the best jelly roll rag quilt patterns that are sure to inspire you.k.

Visit each pattern by clicking on the pictures below

Rail Fence Jelly Roll Rag Quilt The rail fence jelly roll rag quilt is a classic design that's easy to make and looks great in any color scheme. You'll need one jelly roll and some flannel to make this quilt.
 

The easy peasy rag quilt pattern is the perfect quilt pattern to use your jelly roll and fat quarter bundles together.

Sew girl rag quilt pattern uses a few jelly rolls which is a great quilt project to use up your scraps!

The rag quilt purse uses a few large blocks, but also some jelly roll strips too. Perfect for those random jelly roll strips leftover from other projects.

 

 

Chevron Jelly Roll Rag Quilt turned into a bag! Can be used to make a quilt as well.  The chevron jelly roll rag quilt is a modern take on a classic design.

 

Scrappy Jelly Roll Rag Quilt The scrappy jelly roll rag quilt is a great way to use up your leftover jelly roll strips.

 

 Jelly rolls on point rag quilt is a really fun scrap buster project. With quilted large squares for your to embroider, applique, or quilt your favorite designs.

In conclusion, jelly roll rag quilts are a fun and easy project that can be made in a variety of designs and color schemes. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced quilter, these patterns are sure to inspire you to create your own unique quilt. So gather your materials and get started on your next project!

 

Make sure to visit our blog for more Rag Quilting information including all of the basics you will need to know to complete your first (or 50th) rag quilt. 

Sports Rag Quilt Pattern on AVTRBoutique.com

If you're a beginner in the world of sewing and looking for a project that's both simple and versatile, the Sports Baby Rag Quilt is an ideal choice. With its instant download pattern, this quilt can be easily stitched together in just a few hours. Not only is it a great learning experience, but it also provides room for creativity, allowing you to create various sizes from doll quilts to king-size quilts.

This Sports Baby Rag Quilt Pattern - Instant Download blanket is so easy to sew and a great blanket for the beginner. It can be whipped up in just a few hours. This is one of my favorite patterns to sew because I can use the same basic building block in this quilt to make anything from a doll quilt to a kind size quilt and everything in between.

How it's made:
Sport Baby Rag Quilt Pattern - Instant Download...You simply cut squares, rectangle, and appliques; sew the applique onto the quilt (very simple, I promise), sew the the fabric together, and then clip and wash for your rag quilt!

 The Sports Baby Rag Quilt pattern is an excellent choice for beginners due to its simplicity and adaptability. With this pattern, you can create a wide range of quilt sizes, from doll quilts to king-size masterpieces. By following the step-by-step instructions, you'll be able to sew a charming sports-themed quilt that's perfect for gifting or for adding a touch of personality to any room. Enjoy the process of creating this versatile and beginner-friendly project. Happy sewing!

Pattern available at several locations for your convenience

Etsy

Kindle 

AVTRBoutique.com

More rag quilt pattern ideas on our blog

 

Favorite 10 Rag Quilt Patterns

Rag quilting is a fun, and unique way of creating a quilt. 

 

The quilt top, batting (optional), and quilt back are all sewn together at the same time

 

Sports Rag Quilt Pattern

Here at A Vision to Remember we love to design new patterns. 

I love creating patterns that are out of the box

Different

and fun!

Easy Peasy Rag Quilt Pattern

Not only do we make quilt patterns, but also apron patterns!

So much fun and different

Apron Rag Quilt Pattern

They are also quick projects. Create an entire quilt in an afternoon!

Addy Mae Rag Quilt Pattern

Sewing is therapy and helps me to use my creative powers to make something that brings joy

Log Cabin Rag Quilt Pattern

 

Rag quilts can bring a big punch.

Ruffle Flower Rag Quilt Pattern

 

All of the quilt patterns are available in our shop AVTRBoutique.com

Star Rag Quilt Pattern

Our newest released rag quilt pattern uses 10 inch squares

10 Inch Square Rag Quilt Pattern

Even flags can be created using a rag quilt pattern

Flag Quilt Pattern

Even free patterns!

Strip Rag Quilt Pattern

 

Click on any of the pictures for a direct link to our shop
 

Baseball is America's Sport. Or so I've heard. 

 

We just got finished up with baseball and softball for our kiddos

 

So baseball is on the brain and we wanted to share with you our favorite baseball baby blanket and how it was sewn.

 

 

Our favorite classic quilt for boys would have to be the sports rag quilt in navy blue and gray, but we love just as much when we have a special request to change the colors

 A quick video on how to sew the Easy Peasy Rag Quilt Pattern by A Vision to Remember. It also includes a fun variation on the pattern by adding raw edge appliqued baseballs, baseball mits, and baseball bats.

 

Rag Quilt with Batting

Typical quilts are made by first creating a quilt top, then by making a quilt sandwich that includes the quilt top, batting, and backing. Rag quilting short cuts the quilt top assembly and creates the quilt top while sewing the backing and batting pieces at the same time.

You have several different options for the middle layer.

Warm and Natural Batting

Warm and Natural batting will give your quilt a really nice weight. If you choose to use this as your middle layer, you will need to cut the batting pieces 1'' smaller than the bottom and top layers so that the batting doesn't show in the exposed seams on the top of the quilt.

You will not be able to use batting for patterns like the Flying Geese, the Hourglass Pillow, or the Arrow Quilt because as you are assembling your quilt you will be cutting sewn pieces, and then sewing them again. Your batting would show in the exposed seams.

If you use Warm and Natural for your middle layer, you must quilt each and every one of your fabric sandwiches. If you don't, the batting will move around and ball up in your quilt when it is washed. One easy way to quilt the sandwiches is to sew an X in the sandwich from point to point. But you can quilt the block using any quilting technique.

Examples of sewing squares together before sewing the quilt together: 

X from corner to corner

Quilting like on a quilt over entire block 

 

Straight line quilting

Flannel Fabric for Rag Quilt Batting

For the middle layers in my quilts, I prefer a coordinating layer of flannel. The flannel will add color to your quilt in the exposed seams, while still adding weight.

Cut the middle layer the same size as the bottom layer. This middle layer works well for the quilt assembly method where pieces are sewn together and then cut to make different shaped blocks. Quilts like Flying Geese, the Hourglass Pillow, or the Arrow Quilt will be perfect for flannel middle layers.

Another reason I prefer flannel for the middle layer is that it keeps the cost of the quilt down. Flannel costs about half as much as Warm and Natural batting.

Below is a quilt I made with black flannel batting, red flannel back, and kids pajamas as the top of the quilt. I loved how it turned out.  It was very warm and snuggly!

 I used the easy peasy rag quilt pattern for the above quilt. It can be found in our rag quilt pattern shop on etsy.

 

Rag Quilt Seam Allowance

Seam allowances and rag quilts are a funny topic among avid rag quilters. There really is no right or wrong answer when it comes to answering this age old questions.  But there might be a right answer for you!

 

Let me help you decide which seam allowance is best for you.   

  

How to Determine the Best Rag Quilt Seam Allowance

1.  Fluffiniess vs hiding fabric - the width of the exposed seam allowance will partially cover up the fabric underneath it. But rag quilts are also known for the fluffy exposed seams. If using a small block, reduce the width of the exposed seam (the seam allowance) to allow for the block to be more visible (for example a 5 inch block with a 1 inch seam allowance will only show about 3 inches of the block. Versus a 5 inch block with a 1/2 inch seam allowance will show 4 inches of the block)
2. Clipping the Seams - the width of the clipped seams also lends to the how fluffy the exposed seam is. Clip 1/8th inch apart from each other for a very ragged effect, or clip 1/4 inch apart as the picture above is. 
3. Type of Fabric - if using 100% cotton fabric, the exposed seam will really fluff up a lot. Cotton frays, which is exactly what is wanted for rag quilts. A wider seam allowance will be great with 100% cotton fabrics. If using polyester, minky, or other fabrics that don't fray as well, a smaller seam allowance will be best. 
   

I personally use (and prefer) a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Especially because of the skinny rectangles I most often use in quilts. It allows for more of the rectangle to be visible. 

I also prefer it over a wider one, as that is the perfect width for the scissors that I use to easily open up to, the clip the next spot. 

These are the scissors I personally prefer (and a post about all the ones I have tried)

In 2021 alone, I sewed and clipped over 200 quilts for A Vision to Remember (also known as avtrboutique.com)

  

For all of the majority of those quilts, I used the Easy Peasy Rag Quilt pattern with a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

I also use a simple little straight edge magnet and place it on my seam allowance line on the plate on the sewing machine.  This helps me to create a consistent seam allowance every single time without guessing. I have also used this little trick with my 13 year old that has become a wonderful seamstress. Check out these magnetic seam allowance guides on amazon

 Check out all of our Rag Quilting Basics here on our blog!

As always, please let us know if you have any questions by emailing me at Bobbie@avisiontoremember.com

Flannel Rag Quilt Without Batting

A Vision to Remember got its start with creating rag quilts. We've been doing it for over 12 years. Many more if you count that my first quilt that I made was while I was in junior high!

We've sewn many quilts with batting and many quilts without batting. 

Easy Peasy Rag Quilt Pattern

 

The vast majority of quilts we sell in our shop are made without batting. But for those that are looking for batting, look no further! We did an entire blog post about making rag quilts with batting and how to choose the type of batting to be used. 

But for those of you looking for a flannel rag quilt without batting, we've got you covered. These are our favorite types of rag quilts. But first let me give you a lowdown on our process.

Sports Rag Quilt Pattern

We typically use a mixture of cottons and flannels for the fronts of quilts. It is so hard to find the prints we want in flannel fabrics. So we use a quilting cottons if we are unable to find the flannel print we're on the hunt for. But every single quilt we make has flannel in it. Without the flannel the exposed seams would just not be..well...fluffy!

Easy Peasy Rag Quilt Pattern

That's the entire reason for making a rag quilt, right?! We're looking for the cozy fluffy seams

When making a flannel rag quilt without batting we stick to 2 layers of fabric. The top, as we mentioned, is a combination of flannels and cottons, and the back is solid flannel fabric. This is the case for us 99% of the time.

Easy Peasy Rag Quilt Pattern

As always, leave a comment or email us with questions about all thing rag quilting!

Bobbie@avisiontoremember.com

 

Nautical Baby Crib Bedding for Baby Boy in Lime Green, Navy Blue, Grey

So excited to show you all the newest crib set! This crib set is all about the Modern Nautical Baby Boy with this Nautical Themed Baby Crib Bedding for Boy made in Lime Green, Navy Blue, and Grey...

Or is it Gray.....

I never know.

lol

The Baby Boy Crib Quilt with Applique Anchors and 2 different anchor fabric prints

Anywho...back at the crib set.  It features crib bumpers with applique anchors.

And a cute mini anchor print crib sheet

My favorite part.....

The peekabo pleated crib skirt with anchor print and the bright lime green shining through. 

Whats your favorite part of this Nautical Boy Crib Bedding?

This crib set is ready to ship and can be purchased in the AVTRBoutique.com shop