How to Make a Rag Quilt? No Sewing Needed

Last Updated on October 11, 2019

If you are a DIY enthusiast like me, then you know how satisfying it feels to create a new product out of old materials.

In this post, I’d like to teach you how to make a rag quilt without sewing! You can use this quilt for yourself, or you can gift it to friends and loved ones. You can even customize it by choosing fabrics that will complement your recipient’s personality. The finished product will feel comfortable and will look amazing.

How to Make a Rag Quilt

For those who do not know how to sew, you’d be thrilled to learn that this rag quilt project does not need any sewing—just a lot of patience and creativity. You can even use this as a weekend activity that you can do with your kids!

Step 1: Choose a Fabric

Rag quilts have exposed seams and a frayed look. Those are the two most common trademarks of a rag quilt. For that reason, you would need to choose a fabric that will fray after each washing. The more it’s frayed, the softer the rag quilt is.

The first thing that we need to do is select the kind of material we want to use. Do you want the softness of fleece or flannel? Perhaps you’d like the more popular cotton fabric? You can also use a combination of both materials.

There are different kinds of fabric that you can choose for your project. There is no right or wrong choice. You have to be creative in choosing the designs of the material so you get an impressive combination of your finished rag quilt. You can even customize the design of the rag quilt if you plan to give it to someone special.

Step 2: Prepare Your Supplies and Materials

Before we start with the actual procedure, let us first prepare the supplies and materials that we need for this project. These materials are for a quilt that measures 60 by 70 inches.

For the fabric:

Two feet each of six different fabric designs
Two yards of plain fabric for the back of the blanket

For the supplies:

Rotary cutter or scissors
Ruler
Washable marking pen or a chalk

Step 3: The Procedure

The first thing we need to do is to cut the fabric into squares measuring 12 by 12 inches. You should have at least eight squares per fabric design. It is best to cut all the material first before heading to the next step. In this way, it will be easier to proceed.

After cutting all the fabric, you can now sort them either by design or by how you will be combining them according to your planned design.

Once you have individual squares, the next step is to cut strips on the edges. Cut out the corners of each square first by measuring a 1 x 1-inch tiny square on each of the four corners.
When you finish cutting all the corners of each square, you can now start on the strips. Mark each side of your fabric with ½-inch wide vertical lines. Cut along the marked lines to make strips that measure one inch tall and ½ inch wide.

Do that procedure for all the squared fabric. You should come up with 20 sections on each side of the square. The uncut part of your material should measure 10 x 10 inches.

If you think that a one-inch strip is too small for tying, then you can add another ½ inch to the measurement. If you do that, each section will now measure 1 ½ x 1 ½ inches. You will only have 18 strips on each side, and the uncut part will be at nine by nine inches.
Once you have completed cutting strips into each square, you can now start assembling your rag quilt. Layout the fabrics according to the design you have in mind. Once you have decided on how you want your quilt to look, then you can start tying double knots on each strip until you have connected each square to the next one.
After tying all the squares together, you can now add the back part of your rag quilt. Lay the top side of the knotted squares on the two yards of fabric you intend to use as the back part. Cut the excess fabric so that it measures the same as the rag quilt. Then, cut strips along the edges of the fabric underneath your quilt.
Once done with cutting the strips on the backing fabric, you can start doing the same tying procedure we did with the quilt. Do the double knot on each section until you have entirely tied the two parts together.

You now have a “new” rag quilt without sewing anything! Your rag quilt should have seven rows of six squares.

How to Care for Your Rag Quilt

Your rag quilt will last a long time if you know how to care for them the right way. Below are some tips and regular rules on how to do it properly to make sure that it will last for years:

Machine wash in either cold or warm water using mild laundry detergent.
Do not use bleach on your rag quilt.
Use medium heat when you tumble dry your quilt, especially if it’s fleece fabric.
Clean the lint trap of your washer and dryer before washing your rag quilt.
It is normal to see some fraying on your rag quilt after washing. The frayed edges will add softness to your quilt and it’s meant to look like that.
You can also use dryer sheets in place of fabric conditioner for those with sensitive skins

Enjoying your quilt

That concludes another DIY idea you can try in your own homes. Wasn’t that easy?! You now have an idea on how to make a rag quilt even if you don’t know anything about sewing. Just follow the steps we have shared with you and add some creativity, and you will have an impressive-looking rag quilt.

Also, know that you do not need to spend on fabric for this project. You can use old clothes or unused material. The more random fabric design you use, the more unique your rag quilt is.