Oh...I guess I should back up. Today's One Good Thing is this very cool DIY Baby Rag Quilt from Do It Yourself Divas. I saw it on Pinterest (where else?) a few weeks ago and immediately thought...now THAT'S a quilt I might be able to do!
Since my small town doesn't have any fabric stores where I could go purchase some cute material....I decided that for my first ever quilting attempt I would just make do with whatever I could find at Walmart. There really wasn't a whole lot to choose from...but I did manage to find a couple of STAX of flannel, each containing about 5 different flannel fabric pieces. I had to get really creative to make these work...but somehow I did and here is the result! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out for my very first ever quilt!
The cost of the fabric turned out to be around $14.00 and the flannel that I used for the "batting" was from an old flannel sheet I already had.
I'm actually looking forward to making another one very soon! There's just something about the piecing and the sewing together that puts me in a sort of "zen" state of mind. It's actually very relaxing!
After you have cut out the pieces...it's like a jigsaw puzzle to figure out where they are going to fit together. The best thing is there is no "right" or "wrong"...it's totally up to you! :-)
You can make the fronts and back match...or I decided to make them different...giving it even more of a patchwork "feel". It does make it a little more challenging though. I did a fair amount of rearranging to make sure no fabrics were the same right next to each other.
Even that was fun though. :-)
Each piece of the quilt is made by making a "sandwich" of material. Two "right sides" facing out, with a piece of white/neutral flannel in the middle. Another thing I really like about this
project is the pieces don't have to be PRECISELY the same size. It's a very forgiving quilt for us
first-timers because all the edges are going to be snipped and frayed anyway.
After each "sandwich" is assembled, sew a seam lengthwise down the middle of each one. Next you will sew the pieces together, right sides together, lengthwise.
(I guess I forgot to take a picture of this step.)
(I guess I forgot to take a picture of this step.)
And now the FUN part (albeit, somewhat time-consuming)! Take your seam ripper and "rip" little strips in all the seam allowances, essentially making fringe!
Here are the seams after being "fringed". I also did the same treatment to the outside edges. The original instructions call for binding the edges...but this was MUCH easier and I really like the look!
Toss the whole thing in the washer, then the dryer.
(Make sure your lint trap is empty...there will be lots of little strings!)
When it comes out of the dryer all the seams will have "poofed" up
(for lack of a better word) and it will be soooooooo soft!!!
(Make sure your lint trap is empty...there will be lots of little strings!)
When it comes out of the dryer all the seams will have "poofed" up
(for lack of a better word) and it will be soooooooo soft!!!
Since there are no babies in our house right now...I am going to donate this one to the Children's Justice Center in town. My goal is to be "in the process" of making one of these to donate to charity at any given time...kind of an ongoing project. I'm very excited about it. :-)
If you haven't tried a quilt before and really would like to...
I highly recommend giving this one a try!
Trying a new challenge...like QUILTING... is today's.....
How funny, I just finished one for my grandson's birthday. Quick and easy and fun! I just did various sizes of strips (copied from pinterest) Loved the flannel in between layers instead of the other type of batting. It makes a wonderful, soft quilt. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis turned out SO lovely! Great job!
ReplyDelete: )
Jaimee @ Craft, Interrupted
This is the only kind of quilting I do. I love that these "quilts" come together so easily. I don't use a batting layer- 2 layers of flannel seems plenty warm to me. I've done lots of these for babies and a few bigger ones for adults. I'll often buy flannel sheet sets when they're ridiculously cheap (usually on Black Friday). Also, if you plan on making these regularly, I suggest buying rag quilt snippers- use a coupon! (http://www.joann.com/fiskars-softouch-spring-action-8-1-2-rag-quilter-snip/prd29163/)
ReplyDeleteI have been reading your blog for a few months now and absolutely love it. Thanks for all your great posts!
Did you finish the edges or just fray them also?
ReplyDeleteElizabeth...thanks for asking...I totally forgot to add that part. (I was a bit sleep-deprived when I posted this! lol) I decided to just fray the edges too. Binding the edges would look nice, but I was going for "simple". :-) I like the way the edges turned out!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jaimee! You bolstered my fragile, first-time quilter confidence. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAmber...thank you. I'm so glad you like the blog. Great suggestions! That snipper thingie is definitely on my list! Because I really do want to make more of these. It was so fun!
Looks great! You also might want to check your lint trap midway through the dryer cycle... I made a large frayed edge quilt that was great, but required a service call to unclog the dryer vent afterwards!
ReplyDeleteJill,
ReplyDeleteWONDERFUL blog . . . Thanks for all you do. I've wanted to quilt but have been intimadated. This is absolutely doable! Thank you to Amber as well for the tip about the special scissors. We all know the value of having the right tools to do a job. I'm motivated and excited! Thanks all! To the sewing machine!!!
I made twin sized quilts for my twins last year. I did fleece backed and flannel front. Super-duper warm. Those little spring snippers were a godsend.
ReplyDeleteJill,
ReplyDeleteThank you again for another great tutorial.I can't wait to try this, it came out so cute. I love your blogs. You keep it simple, practical, and the photos help so much, too. Thank you for sharing.
What a sweet idea! I wish I had thought of this earlier. I ended up using all of my boys' old flannel blankets as rags.
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness!! I LOVE what you have done! BEAUTIFUL! I am so glad that you like our tutorial! What a wonderful idea to donate such a lovely quilt! Just fantastic. I just might have to do the same thing! Take Care!!
ReplyDelete-Megan
http://doityourselfdivas.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-baby-rag-quilt.html
There are actually scissors made just for the "ragging" part that makes this much much easier - especially if you are using cotton! Good job - it's really cute.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing your post this morning I decided I had to make one. When I went to the store I got the fabric, and my finished quilt is currently in the washer. Can't wait for it to be dry so I can see it all frayed. Hoping it is something my baby will love. Thanks so much for the idea!! BTW mine is an infant size, only one yard of cloth for the backing.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother made one for me when I was just a baby. I still keep it since it represented her love.
ReplyDeleteMegan and Stephanie! thank you! That means a lot coming from the EXPERTS!! Thanks for the great tutorial. I honestly can't wait to make another one! :-)
ReplyDeleteWow Elizabeth! You are fast! That is awesome. :-)
Hoe...that is so sweet! thanks for sharing.
I made one with a jean top and flannel back (no batting at all, just the two layers). It is so warm! But I suggest you check your dryer vent about every twenty minutes or so, especially if your quilt is larger. Mine is King size (with about a foot hanging over on each side, so 8' x 7') and I had to dry it for over 3 hours at the laundromat using one of the HUGE dryers. The amount of fuzz was unbelievable! I still get fuzz every time I wash and dry it (about every month or so) and I have been using it on my bed for almost 2 years now. Albeit a LOT less than I did the first wash or two.
ReplyDeleteI made mine just using 61/2" squares of flannel and same size pieces of old jeans with holes in them (the jeans had holes, not my squares). I find depending on the size of jean I can get anywhere from 15 to 20 squares from one pair. Some of them I buy from thrift shops - always go for the biggest pair possible to have more fabric - and I also let all my friends know that I am saving jeans. It's amazing how many people will give you their old ripped, stained jeans. (the stains just make the quilt more interesting!)
Ok I have never quilted and it is definatly something I want to do! I love the look of these!! Great tutorial! Does anyone have a pic of what the back side of the quilt would look like?? I am just not understanding.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah