Rag quilt questions

16 years ago

I got a great deal on a whole stack of yellow chenille king-size pillow shams a couple years ago. I bought them thinking that they would be pretty in a quilt, and since then have seen the rag quilts. I also have a large variety of yellow and blue flannel-- prints and solid.

Can I use chenille in the making of a rag quilt? Also, I have already pre-washed the flannel, so do I need to iron it before I use it?

I would prefer not to have to use batting in the quilt, so would it work if I just use an extra layer of flannel?

Also, does anyone have any recommendations on what size I should cut the squares? And is it better to sew the "x" in each square, or would it be okay to skip that, since I'm not sure how the chenille will look with the "x" in it.

Thanks for any advice!

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Comments (6)

gillian_41
16 years ago
Sweettart!! as for your questions about chenille I,m sorry I cannot help having never sewn with it. I have just started making "rag quilts" 2 finished so far I used thin cotton batting in one and flannel in the middle for the other, I put the X on all the squares and had 1/2" seam, I cut my squares 6" but by reading patterns some have up to 8" squares, right now am making another one with batting in the middle the next one will try muslin. Hope the girls here can help you with the chenille question.
Gillian
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redpenny
16 years ago
Sweettart,
for your questions about chenille I have used it to make rag quilts you do not need batting using chenille to heavy and to hard to sew..... I also put the X on all of mine and I have used various shades of chenille from white to yelloe to pink and it always looked okay. you could also do a star or a heart it is your choice.. With the chenille squares I used 8" amd 1/2 inch seam.
As far as ironing your flannel I guess it depends on how wrinkle it is but I also don't know if it would make the flannel stretch?....I never wash my flannel first but that is my choice...
Red
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toolgranny
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I never wash my flannel first as it makes fuzzier seams after washing the finished piece if you don't. I use flannel as the batting and also do the X. I've never used chenille but I imagine the bulk would be a challenge. I wouldn't iron the flannel as you normally wash a rag quilt after it's done anyway to soften it.
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jennifer_in_va
16 years ago
I think the hole point of sewing the 'X' is to keep the batting in place since it doesn't get included in the seam allowance. So if you're not using batting, and you make any 2nd layer of flannel part of the sandwich, then I don't think you need the 'X'.

I also think chenille would add great texture to the quilt.

So, cut 3 layers of whatever sized square you want. I'd probably pin them together until sewn so they don't shift. Then do your sewing (usually with a 1/2" seam allowance). And go from there.

Be sure to share pictures when done!!
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SweetTart
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks so much for the advice. I think I'm ready to give it a try. I wish that I hadn't already washed the flannel, but I was afraid that it would shrink differently than the chenille. Oh well, hopefully it won't make too much of a difference.

I will post a picture when it's complete.
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miss_chanterelle
16 years ago
I just finished a denim and flannel rag quilt today..never tried chenille.One thing I learned was to buy a pair of those heavy duty rag scissors to snip the seams ..trying to snip all those layers with regular scissors was a real chore! Hope it turns out well for you, I had fun working on mine!
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