"How much fabric do I need to make a rag quilt?"
I get asked that question a lot, so here's your answer!
You will need the following information:
1. What size of squares are you going to cut?
2. How
many different fabrics are you going to use?
3. How
large do you want the quilt to be?
4. How
wide is your fabric?
For our example, here are our answers:
1. What size of squares are you going to cut? 6-inch (This is a pretty standard size. If you use bigger squares, the project will be easier
and go faster.)
2. How many different fabrics are you going to use? three fabrics
3. How large do you want the quilt to be? 35” x 40”
4. How wide is your fabric? 43”
Now for the calculation!
Step 1: How many squares will
you need?
Due to seam allowances, the finished quilt will have squares
that are one inch smaller than what you cut. For example, since we are cutting 6-inch squares, the
finished quilt will show 5-inch squares.
The additional one inch is in the fringe.
Our finished quilt is 35” x 40”. That means it will have 7
squares in each row, and it will have 8 rows.
 |
| Figuring out the number of squares needed for your quilt. |
Step 2: How many squares of
each print will you need?
Draw a picture of your quilt and label where you will use each fabric. I chose a very simple design for this example, but you be as creative as you want. Then
count up the number of squares for each print. Don’t forget to multiply by 2
for the back of the quilt.
 |
| Calculating the number of squares needed for each fabric used. |
Now you need to figure out how many squares you can get out of the width of
your fabric.
Our fabric is 43” wide, and we are cutting 6” squares. That means we can cut 7
squares out of the width of fabric.
In other words, for every 6” cut of our fabric, we can get 7
squares.
We need 38 squares of each print, so we need seven 6” strips of each of our fabrics. That is 42” of each of the three fabrics.
There you have it!
Do you have additional rag quilt questions? Leave a comment!
I've never made a rag quilt, but that one is so cute it makes me want to do one. I can follow the above for the number and amount of fabric, but now what happens. How much seam allowance, how do you get the fringe? Please help.
ReplyDeleteSue - schuster@enter.net
Sue - To answer your specific questions...I use a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Once your squares are all sewn together (with all of the raw edges facing up), you clip the raw edges about every 1/2 inch. Then you wash the quilt to make the fringe.
DeleteThere is a decent rag quilt tutorial here: http://www.knitandtonic.typepad.com/SimpleRagQuilt.pdf.
I am going to do a full rag quilt tutorial in the near future. I don't have it ready to go quite yet. Stay tuned!
i want to make a queen size rag quilt, how much fabric will that take?
DeleteMargaret, you will need to decide how big your squares will be, how many fabrics you will use, and how big the quilt needs to be. Then you can plug in those numbers to figure out the amount of fabric needed.
Deletecheck out this site it will help with any calculations:
Deletehttp://www.fabricsnquilts.com/uploads/Rag_Quilt_Calculator.pdf
Awesome thinking on making a chart for the amount of fabric needed!! Never would have thought to do something like that!! :) I just always buy fabric's a yard or more at a time as I make a lot of the rag quilts to donate to the local NICU where my daughter stayed. You can check us out!! https://www.facebook.com/FortheLoveofGrace06
ReplyDeleteA chart on how much yardage I need would help those of us that just cant do the math. You have helped a lot already. Thank you.
DeleteIf I use your instructions of 3 prints and 6 inch squares and other measurement, how many yards of each fabric would I need? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I have looked at several tutorials for rag quilts and not one person ever said how much fabric you will need. This is so very helpful.
ReplyDeleteThis is so helpful thank you so much for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat kinds of fabric do you need to use?
ReplyDeleteYou can use flannel , cotton , or fleece. However the fleece does not rag like the others do , it more like curls. Remember that if you want the back of the quilt to match the front ( just won't be ragged ) you will need double the squares. I am having a discussion on rag quilting in my blog right now at wwww.lookyoucan.com come on over and check it out,, questioned will be answered
DeleteYou can use flannel , cotton , or fleece. However the fleece does not rag like the others do , it more like curls. Remember that if you want the back of the quilt to match the front ( just won't be ragged ) you will need double the squares. I am having a discussion on rag quilting in my blog right now at wwww.lookyoucan.com come on over and check it out,, questioned will be answered
DeleteWhy would you need double the squares ? I'd like to do one with rag on one side only
DeletePeggyskold@yahoo.com
When making a rag quilt the front and back squares are sewn together first, before sewing them together into rows. This allows one side to have a ragged edge and the other side to have normal seems. You do not have to uses the same fabric or pattern on the back....this is just the option she chose. Just be aware that the fabric from both sides will show up as part of the rag edge.
DeleteI'd like to make a queen size rag quilt-are the sizes for just the top of a mattress or how far down the side do you go?. how many different fabrics would look good and what size squares? If you want the squares, say 6" you would need to cut how much larger if using 1/2" seam allowance. how many layers of flannel do you use? Middle layer? looking forward to the anwer. Mail to jbt@hartcom.net
ReplyDeleteWould you use a batting for a rag quilt? I live in Texas and I am afraid it might make it too heavy.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally new to this art but I've been reading a ton and as far as I gather you can use batting or flannel or fleece😊
DeleteI do not put any batting in. It does make it hot and heavy.
DeleteI tried to go to several links published here but got an error message. I'm looking for very easy tutorial (preferably not video) on putting together a rag quilt -- I've cut 8 " squares and have three fabrics- I'd like to do a large throw or full . I'd like o do solid color on back side -- I get how to do the front I think but I'm not sure on doing he back side? Thanks so much
ReplyDeleteHave a look on you tube ... you should find something there ...
ReplyDeleteI found one at massouri star quilt co
Do I really need 14 yards of fabric for a twin size quilt?? How many yards total did you use?
ReplyDeleteI am making a twin size rag quilt using 6 inch squares. how many squares will I need for top and bottom? I need help figuring this out!!!! thanks Lucy
ReplyDeleteHi. Thank you for the great info. It doesnt look like you sew an X on each square. If you are cutting the batting so it doesnt appear in fringe, what keeps the batting in place?
ReplyDeleteIf you do not put batting in you do not need to place an x in each square. That is to hold the batting in place.
DeleteThis is going to be my first quilt. I need to know if I can use both denim and cotton for top of the rag quilt,flannel for middle, and denim and cotton for backing.
ReplyDeleteSara math is not my forte.. I am wanting to make a queen size rag quilt with 8 or 10 in squares (which ever is easiest to calculate). I would like to use 4 different prints.. how much yardage of each fabric will i need if the width of yardage is 42 in. thanx in advance joni
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