Rag Quilt Instructions:

• Cut your fabrics into enough squares to make whatever size quilt you desire. Finished size of each square will be about 1.5 inches less than the beginning size.
• Cut an equal amount of batting squares 2 inches smaller than the fabric squares.
• Center one batting square inside two fabric squares and secure with pins. Machine stitch, using a small tight stitch, across all three layers from corner to corner to form an X. Start and stop your stitching about 1/2" from the raw edges. Do this on all your squares.
• Sometimes a walking presser foot can be helpful when stitching your X but if you don't have one of these, just pin tightly and lift the presser foot from time to time as needed to keep the layers from sliding.
• Begin stitching the layered squares together in rows, making a 5/8 inch seam. Be sure that the batting is encased INSIDE the squares and does not extend into the seam allowance.
• Then stitch the rows together, matching up the seams on each row.
• When the squares are all pieced together, stitch around the outer edges of the quilt or throw about 5/8" from the edges. Clip all the seam allowances about 1/2 inch deep and about 1/2 inch apart, including the outside edge. Be VERY CAREFUL not to clip into the stitching! This is a good TV night project.
• Wash in a washing machine in cold water on gentle cycle to work the strings loose. A liquid fabric softener will help. Before drying, take it outside and shake well. Many of the strings will shake loose at that point. Stop once during the dry cycle to remove lint from the lint trap. Shake quilt again after it's dry. Some people prefer to do this washing and drying at a public laundry facility to keep all the strings out of their washer and dryer. We use a standard washer/dryer set.
• A few strings will continue to work loose over time, but the stitching will stabilize the seams. A rolling lint brush will help pick up any remaining loose strings.