Tuesday, October 21, 2008

how to make a ragged squares quilt

Last week Jeanie asked me how to make a ragged squares quilt. Several weeks ago I had also gotten a request to show the basics of assembling a quilt top, so I'll try to incorporate both of these in this tutorial. This would be a great beginner quilt, but fun for any skill level.

select your fabrics: I used 13 fabrics in my quilt. (some were fat quarters and some were half yards.) 14 are shown, but I omitted one along the way.

cut 30 squares of each size:
3", 6" and 9".
for the 3" squares I cut a few extra just to help with the randomness.

take one 9" square, lay a 6" square on top, just centering it by eye, no measuring necessary,
and then lay a 3" square on top of that. pin.

using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew around the perimeter of the 3" square

then sew around the perimeter of the 6" square
you will leave the raw edges exposed.

and now your squares should be attached.

the center square is a little crooked, but no worries.

I think most people would cut out the back of the squares at this point to reduce bulk, but I don't bother. a bit of the polka dot showed through on the flower print in this block, but it's barely noticeable, so I just leave it as is. plus, I like the extra weight of the quilt by leaving the multiple layers in tact.

attach the squares on all 30 blocks.

once your blocks are assembled,
layout your blocks in a pleasing arrangement,
5 blocks across and 6 blocks down.

at this point, take a digital photo and view your quilt on your camera screen to look for any color clumping. re-arrange squares if necessary.

now,
using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew your blocks together to make 6 strips.

press the seams in every other row to the right....

and the seams in the alternating rows to the left.


place 2 long strips together and line up the seams. the seams should be pointing in opposite directions. they should sort of notch together.

first pin at all the seams where they notch together, then place a pin in the middle of each block.
sew one long seam (again using 1/4")
open and press the seam to one side
at this point it doesn't matter which way you press the long seam
now you can see the bottom two rows are together.

repeat the process until all rows are attached.
and your quilt top is done.
next, baste your quilt (there is a tutorial here)
and you are ready to quilt.
this quilt is easy to quilt because it is on the smaller side and you are just doing straight line quilting...no marking required.
using a walking foot, stitch in the middle of the center (6") block, and quilt a square. back stitch a bit at the beginning and ending of the seam.
quilt another square in the largest (9") square
and quilt a little square in the smallest (3") block.
in this photo the center square is the quilting, the next line is the stitching that attached the 3" square to the 6" square. the next line is quilting, and so on.
repeat this quilting for all the blocks. so in the end you will quilt 90 squares. 30 quilted squares in the large blocks, 30 quilted squares in the middle sized blocks and 30 little quilted squares in the smallest blocks.
here it is all quilted....
but, then I washed and dried it....
and had some strings to trim....
so it looks all tidy....
and here's the back. many thanks to Frieda for sending me this fabric. it was perfect for this quilt!
and it's complete!

if you have any questions, I'll try to answer them in the comments. and if you make one of these quilts, I'd love to see it!

211 comments:

1 – 200 of 211   Newer›   Newest»
Amy said...

what a perfectly lovely beginners quilt idea! Love all those pinks!

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

This is such great information, thanks so much for sharing! I'll be linking to this.

Lauren The Artist said...

Lovely. Your quilting lines are so straight!! Great tutorial.

Anina said...

Very cute of course. It's PINK!

Denice said...

I LOVE the pinkness of it all! I am teaching my two little girls (8yo) to sew this year. Trying to instill the love of quilting in them too. I can see that this is the PERFECT quilt to get them working on - after they finish the pillow cases and pajama pants, of course

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

I love it - your lines are wicked straight.

Islandsparrow said...

That is so pretty!

I'm such a beginner - tell me what you mean when you say sew it on a block - is that like a lining underneath?

I'm excited!1 It looks like something I might be able to do.

Laurie said...

Adorable quilt!!! Could you let us know how much fabric we need of each color in order to make a quilt the same size that you made? Thanks!

MichelleB said...

It is so wonderful. I have to say (which I've mentioned before), even with two girls, I've never made an all pink quilt. Having recently finished one in pink and turqoise (which I now sleep with every night), I'm dying to make an all pink one. I didn't quite understand the fabulousness of pink quilts - which you make all of the time - until I made one. Now I need more.

Jenn said...

Perfect timing! I've been stressing about how to find the time to put together a baby quilt for a friend who is due in December and totally forgot about the ease of these quilts. I have a whole bunch of bright kids flannel that should work great for this project! YEAH!!! I love when stress can become excitement :)

Love the pink. My girls would go crazy over this quilt! The new babe is going to be a boy so no pink for him :)

Unknown said...

Wonderful quilt! Definitely a great beginner quilt. I love it in the pinks, very appropriate for October breast cancer awareness month.

lera said...

I love this idea. And I love the pink, too! You really make it seen do-able! Sometimes I think that I can do it, too!

Linda said...

I love this one done in pink! I can attest to what a nice weight this quilt method makes. I love mine!

Heather - Dollarstorecrafts.com said...

Very nice! Thanks for sharing all the photos & your process!

I am Arizona; a person, not a place. said...

Cute, cute, cute! I really love the look of this quilt. And it seems like a quick quilt to make...a good thing when you want to be able to say you actually FINISHED a quilt you've started! LOL!

Toby E. said...

I have been wanting to try my hand at a quilt for a while now. I'm just getting going with my sewing. This looks like the perfect thing for me to start with. And I love that you don't have to be perfect with it (Something I worry about too much). Would I be able to do this on my little basic machine, or do you need one with the long arm to be able to do it?

Jackie's Stitches said...

Love the quilt! I think with a bit more practice making my blocks match up I could do it! Super cute!

Tutorial is very easy to follow along and is very complete. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to try this quilt! Thank you!

Kathi Thompson said...

Great tutorial for a fun quilt. You do a great job with your tutorials.

Mama Urchin said...

I've seen this done with the center being a heart or a star and that was really cute too.

Anonymous said...

Oh this is wonderful - just my kind of quilt! Thank you for your detailed instructions.

Jodie said...

This quilt is gorgeous!!! I can't wait to give it a go. I'm thinking of making it in blues for my nephew this year for Xmas. Thanks for the inspiration.

Jodie :)

Plum Blossom Lane said...

That is gorgeous! And such lovely colors of pink! That looks like a quilt I might be able to make. Thanks for the idea. You did a great job!

Anonymous said...

um, this is awesome. i saw a "shappy chic" quilt at a shop one time and have always meant to play with the idea. this quilter used wonky-circle-shapes stacked on each other to make a...flower of sorts. one flower per square and they also appliqued some leaves nearby. it was pretty cute, but this is far more do-able time-wise.

thanks again for your blog. it inspires me daily!

Karrie said...

I am not a quilter, but I do want to make my daughters matching/coordinating quilts for their beds. This looks perfect- I've done the shabby look on my baby's crib bumpers. And since I'm a beginner, this looks doable. Been lurking your blog for about a month now and have added to my reader. Thanks for the ideas!

Krista said...

This looks like I could do it! You are so good at matching up your fabrics. My niece asked me to make her a quilt with pink butterflies & purple flowers, but I can't seem to come up with enough "matching" fabrics. Any suggestions?

Jodi Nelson said...

Oh gosh that's adorable! LoVe it.
;o) ooxx`jodi

The Demanding Doll said...

I'm on a binge to use up my scraps and this is a great way to do just that. Easy and quick for beginners and just plain fun for all.

Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

How much of each fabric did you start with? How big was the piece for the back too. I am so going to make this with American Jane fabrics, it will be SO CUTE! Thanks for the tutorial!

Celeste Creates said...

Thanks a million. I have been wanting to do a simple one and even have the fabric (some charm squares and a cream background for a simpler one), but was unsure how to tackle it. You are great and I love the pink!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

This is a very pretty quilt and thank you for the detailed, well written tutorial. I admire bloggers that give so generously!

KZK said...

Totally cute! Great job on the tutorial!

Di~ said...

Very Nice. Thank You. Love that quilt, pink is wonderful. I've made 4 pinks quilts. I've used the method shown here in circles, the Bullseye pattern. It's fun. I'd like to try the squares now!

Karen said...

Absolutely inspiring;) Wonderful directions, as usual. You are so inspiring;)
Thanks

Emily said...

Thank you, thank you for your wonderful BLOG. I can't wait to make this quilt for my sons baby quilt! I am just getting into the quilting world, and appreciate your detailed directions! It makes it do-able! Thanks again

jan said...

Beautiful, as always! Thanks for the tutorial, too!

Dawn said...

I love this quilt! Thanks for sharing...I can't wait to get started! I have a question...how much of each fabric do you need? Thanks again!

Amanda Jean said...

for the fabric requirements:
I used half yards and fat quarters....some of each.

WoolenSails said...

Wonderful idea for a quilt for the younger generation, my daughter would love something like this. I am thinking a fussy cut for the middle with designs she would like.

Debbie

3Ms +1N said...

That is gorgeous! I've been watching your blog for a little bit now and am totally inspired by your beautiful quilts. I think with the lack of 'tidyness' this quilt offers, I may just have to make one for my son. :) Thank you for the many tutorials. I also hope to make some fabric baskets . . all in due time. .
Your blog is wonderful.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to know how much of each fabric you used to make this quilt. I know with 13 or 14 fabrics, you may have gotten by with a fat quarter of each but wanted to be sure. Also, can you suggest an amount you used for the backing?
Are there certain fabric weights you'd avoid for this project? And, did you pre-wash and press all your fabrics to prevent shrinking? Or, do you use as is and love the bunched look any shrinking might make?
I am a wannabe quilter but this looks like a great project and fun way to make my two girls matching quilts! And, a fun Christmas surprise for them too!
Thanks so much for sharing your talents!

Tine said...

It is adorable! I love those squares on top of squares! I am always worried how much you can wash one of these quilts, but I guess I just have to try it to see... This is certainly a beauty! But so much quilting!

Katie said...

Thanks for the tutorial. I think that this might be the perfect Christmas present for my Grandmother. Very quick and easy!

Dorothee said...

Great tutorial, that's how I'll use up the left-overs from a christening quilt I made this summer!

Bee said...

What a cute quilt and it looks so cute in pink:) Thanks for being so generous and sharing this tutorial.

Amy Jo said...

Again, beautiful job!! I might have to try this one - I love the random-ness of it!!

Abby and Stephanie said...

Pretty! I did a square one using 1930s fabrics several years ago. And I did a round one using pastel florals. Both were gifts. Such a quick projects!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Nicely done! love that wrinkly feeling after it's washed!

Barefoot Quilter said...

I love it. I have never made a rag quilt. This looks so sipmle and really cute. I think I'll try one as soon as my list dwindles down a bit!

Anonymous said...

This is such a beautiful quilt! Thanks for the tutorial!

Jessica Christensen said...

Thanks so much for putting this tutorial on here. I was looking at your quilts and had decided to make this one (the blue and yellow), so I'm glad you put a tutorial on here. I was thinking of just piecing the large squares together first and then stitching/quilting the smaller squares on with one shot. Do you think that would be a bad idea? Do you think it needs both stitching lines to make it more stable? Just wondering. I think I was being lazy. Anyway, I love the pink version too, and I think I'll have to make that one as well.

Unknown said...

Unbelievable. Your work is so fabulous. I think you should call this one " Pink Lemonade" so yummy looking.

Amanda Jean said...

kim in az,

I used some half yard cuts and some fat quarters. I don't prewash my fabric, so it shrinks up after washing. I would stick to 100% quilting cottons for this project.
for the backing fabric 1.5 yards of 44" wide fabric should work. it might be a bit tight on each side when you are basting your quilt, but you should be able to squeeze by.

aj

Amanda Jean said...

jessicachristensen,

you could assemble the quilt top that way, but it would get really bulky to work with. by assembling the little squares first, it allows you to move the fabric much easier.

as far as the quilting goes, if you were to omit any of the quilting, i would leave out the quilting in the center (smallest) squares. but i would recommend quilting at least 2 times in each block. it really doesn't take that long to quilt it for a baby quilt.

aj

Amanda Jean said...

worm's woman,

this quilt could definitely be done on a beginner machine. make sure you do the quilting with a walking foot, if your machine has one. (or is capable of adapting to one.)

aj

Amanda Jean said...

krisintn,

if I am having trouble finding enough coordinating fabrics, I usually throw a whole lot of white into the mix. that seems to be the easiest solution. otherwise you may want to look for some Kaffe Fassett fabrics. he uses a lot of pink and purple and that might be the perfect thing to tie all your fabrics together.

aj

Lynn said...

Thank you so much for this tutorial - I started one right after reading your post last night!

Mary said...

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I've been planning a doll quilt for my niece for Christmas but haven't chosen a pattern yet. This is so simple, I think she will get a matching one for her bed too. I love it!

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

Thank you so much for that tutorial! It just seems so easy. I am putting this on my list of things to try!

Jen :)

Anonymous said...

Wow, I have been quilting for many years now and it never even dawned on me to just sew one piece of fabric on top of the other. Thanks for making it soooooo simple. Lizzie

CherryBlossomMJ said...

So cute! I want one. It looks so simple too. I think that could be done in a day, what a fun project this would make. Now I just need the fabric...

cherryblossommj.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this perfect tutorial! You put it so easy and fun!

Anonymous said...

I like the idea of this a lot, but one previous poster asked about how it wears over time. Do the raw edges get to be a problem if the quilt is well loved and washed?

Amanda Jean said...

tine and anonymous,

part of the beauty of this quilt is that the ragged edges get better over time...with use and washing.

aj

Amanda Jean said...

kim,

a yard and a half of 44" wide fabric should be sufficient for the backing.

aj

Amanda Jean said...

islandsparrow,

I'm not sure I understand your question. what you do is layer a 9" a 6" and a 3" block. sew two continuous seam lines in squares(one on the 6" block and one on the 3" block), and that completes one block.

I hope that helps.

aj

Rebecca Maples said...

I love this. I have to use my Amy Butler fabric I just purchased to do this. I can't wait. Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca

Donna said...

Pretty in pink! Your quilt is as cute as can be, and perfect for a girl. I was going to say perfect for little girl, but actually, it would be perfect for any girl!) :-)

trelly said...

Thanks a lot!!! I'll try it soon...kisses

sheila said...

Such a pretty quilt. Everything you do is so charming and so inspiring!

Deb C. said...

You are my quilting hero! You have given so many of us such great ideas that are quick and DO-ABLE lately and they are SO appreciated. Thank you.

Philigry said...

thank you, thank you. i will be making a quilt like this someday! i love the way it turns out after it has been washed! it looks so cozy!

Jane said...

You know I am going to make one! I can't resist your quilt tutorials. Can. Not. Resist.

Karen said...

I love this quilt and plan to make it...maybe after the 1st of Jan. as I have too many UFO's now.
Hugs, Karen

John said...

Sometimes I think you must be a psychic! My cousin is expecting a baby girl in December and I already have a stack of FQ's that I want to use, but I haven't found the perfect pattern yet that's QUICK and EASY. And I think you just gave it to me. I'm excited to start it now! Thanks ... as always ... : )

M said...

That quilt is beautiful and pretty easy. I see myself trying this. :D

Anonymous said...

Such a lovely quilt. Thanks so much for the tutorial. Awesome!!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for all the work you did getting the instructions on here. I think I just might be able to do this quilt. I can't wait to get started.

Unknown said...

Super cute and so simple! love those fabrics :)

Busy Little Quilter said...

I love all the pinks mixed with red. It's beautiful! I love to raw edge applique. It makes things go so much faster!

Amanda

Rebekah said...

this is so cool! I've never seen anything like it and would love to try it. Thanks for the detailed tutorial :)

Emily said...

Cute, Cute, Cute! I love that it already looks well loved with the ragged edges!

Liana said...

love it!

Fran said...

Thank you so much for this tutorial, it looks so easy and fast! This is one that's deffinately going on my to do list.

~~Fran...:c)

Regi said...

Oh this is wonderful! thank you for the instructions.

Barbie said...

Thanks for the tutorial. I bought my fabric today.. I am going the pink/purple route... I can not wait to get it all cut and pieced together. Thank you for the measurements; it makes it alot easier to purchase fabric. Loving your quilts and your blog.

Hanberg's said...

love this tutorial, and love your blog! i plan on making this as soon as i finish up a few other projects. thanks!

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Fantastic as always a brilliant tutorial....this is on my list...
thankyou so much.

Puglette said...

That is a great tutorial. Thank you for sharing!
Puglette
:o)

Anonymous said...

I love your pink quilt. Thank you for sharing, great pictures!
Millie

melissa said...

oh, man. you've done it again - this in incredible. and now i really want to make one! :)
thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.

Anonymous said...

I love this quilt! I have a ton of baby quilts to make in the next few months and I think this would be a great pattern. Thanks for your blog & all your ideas; I love reading it each day. (I might even try it with Christmas colors for a great present!)

Cheryl Arkison said...

Great tutorial. And I love the simple construction... this idea is a keeper.

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for answering my questions above in the comments - I am excited to get some fabrics picked out and try to make matching quilts for my little girls (maybe for Christmas)! Thanks again! Great tutorial and great helpful comments as well! :) Love your blog!

sulu-design said...

Cool! This kind of quilt is one that I could see myself being able to do, since a little wonkiness gives it character and appears intentional. You are the master!

Anonymous said...

I took a quick blog tour and WOW! You have made some really cool stuff---I LOVE your quilting style! Awesome tutorials, I'll be stopping back often! Thanks! kristina

Clair said...

Cute. Kind of like my heart quilt.

Katherine said...

Pinkalicious! You're the best Amandajean. Thanks for another great tutorial.

Liz said...

Beautiful The only raw edges I've ever worked with was denim... This looks much cuter.

G'G'ma said...

Wow, thanks for the great idea. I've made the French Roses ragged blocks. Never entered my mind how easy squares would be. What a light bulb experience!!! Love the ragged look.

If you have time stop over...I have a drawing for my 100th post.

Elizabeth said...

Love it!

Di said...

Wow - I love this idea! I have always struggled with the idea of making a quilt because of all the sewing required but this way seems to reduce the amount and the result is stunning!

julochka said...

what a great tutorial! i was just browsing around for an easy quilt and this looks like just the ticket! fabulous! thank you so much for sharing!!

:-)
/julie

Toby E. said...

Do you have a tutorial for binding the quilt? And what brand/type would you recomend for the batting. I've picked out my fabric and am getting excited to finish up my current sewing project and getting started on this.
Thank you!!

Amanda Jean said...

worm's woman,

I don't have a tutorial for the binding yet. i plan on putting one together sometime soon though.

I like to use warm and white cotton batting. it's my absolute favorite batting.

aj

Anonymous said...

I love looking at your photos for the pink ragged edge quilt. I've made this quilt, and still your photos and words were wonderful..clear and precise. I'm anxious to look at all your finished quilts. Love your blog...

Marit said...

Thank you so much for sharing! I had to try this right away. I'm still working on it, but I have posted some pictures on my blog, if you want to drop over and have a look...
And, I have to tell you - love your blog.

Michelle said...

Thanks for this tutorial! I can't wait to give this method a try - the quilt turned out beautiful!!

Anonymous said...

What do you use to finish the sides of your quilts?

Michelle said...

Thanks for this! It's being tagged for future reference!

wyndesnow said...

I love it! I was with my mom this weekend and she told me that my nieces need new blankets to carry and cover with. I told her I had seen the perfect one and would have to work on them for the girls for christmas. Thanks for sharing!!

The Titmi said...

I would love to do this for a twin size bed- Would I just up the squares from 5X6 to 7X10? Would you still use 14 colors or should I use more?

Amanda Jean said...

ethel,

I use binding to cover the edges of the quilt.

aj

Amanda Jean said...

the titmi,

I would make the quilt 9 x 11 for a twin size. it will be a little on the large size, but when it's washed and dried, it should shrink up to about the perfect twin size quilt. you could use 14 fabrics, but more fabrics would make it a little easier to make it random.

aj

Alice Grace said...

I am always amazed at your expertise! This is a beautiful quilt! I will love making this one, and I love the pink! Gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing your talent and your knowledge!

Gretchen said...

I couldn't help myself... I'm hoping to finish one today!

Anonymous said...

It's wonderful... :)

bingo~bonnie said...

what a great tutorial! I love the pinks... and you are right this would be great for a beginner to pactice their 1/4" seams... and not have to be so focused on perfection.

is this also what is called reverse applique??? Love from Texas! ~bonnie

Jane said...

I made one!!
http://janeswanson.blogspot.com/2008/11/rag-quilt.html

Thank you!!

~jane

Andi said...

Love this quilt. I'm not a beginner but this is an ideal quick quilt for those times you just need to throw something together.
Thanks,
Andi :-)

Anonymous said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you. It is so beautiful. Now I have to stop sleeping...
I have made the blocks and are now juggling them to make it kind of random.
www.tittei.net

Anonymous said...

My quilt is finished. I washed it in the machine, but it did not turn out anything like yours. Not ragged at all. Can I wash it on higher temperature and throw in a pair of jeans?
I do not have a tumble dryer, maybe that is what it needs?

Amanda Jean said...

tittei,

I think the tumble dryer makes the difference between fraying and not fraying.

aj

The Titmi said...

I am using dark blues, light blue, light green, red, etc and the back is light blue. I am having a hard time picking a thread that won't stick out when sewing down the smaller blocks. Do you suggest the clear non cotton thread for the whole thing?? Help- I am done organizing and ready to sew and I am nervous!

Amanda Jean said...

the titmi,

I'm not sure what thread color to suggest. if you use clear thread, make sure to use cotton thread that matches your backing fabric in the bobbin.

otherwise, I wouldn't worry about the thread color sticking out. if you use a thinner cotton or polyester thread, it will blend better with the quilt.
hope that helps and good luck!

aj

Mary said...

Amanda, thank you so much for the great tut for this quilt and doing the binding. I just completed mine and blogged about it ( http://thejacksonmonologues.blogspot.com/2008/11/first-snow-of-season-and-some-random.html ) My squares are not quite as perfect as yours, but thankfully I like the wonky look. Thanks again for sharing it!

Anonymous said...

Tumble dryer did it! Now my quilt is finished. I love it. Thank your again for the tutorial and advise.

Love, Tittei

www.tittei.net

daisiesnlilacs said...

I finished mine! I only did a 5X5 but I think it turned out okay. I should not have used gold thread because my backstitching to secure the stitching shows up big time. Oh well, though! Got to have some mistakes somewhere! You can see it at http://daisiesnlilacs.blogspot.com/ on my Dec 8th posting. Thank you so much for being so creative and willing to share!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE this quilt! I love your whole blog and have spent hours and hours reading it. Your work is amazing and VERY inspiring! Thank you for all the great tips, tutorials and info. I'm a novice quilter and this is all so valuable.

Looking forward to reading more and participating in your next quilt-along.

Very best wishes!

Anonymous said...

Hiya!
I finally posted a picture of the quilt I made using your tutorial. I added a 12 inch block to the mix to make it a little bigger and only used 1 pattern for the main blocks, but I love it. Thank you for the excellent tutorial!
Here's mine:
http://thehunsickers.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-christmas-mom-dad.html

Susan in SC said...

Oh dear! Another quilt that I must make!!! Thank you for the tutorial.

Karin said...

Not sure where I should comment. I found your blog a month or so ago when i was looking for ideas for a quilt for my brother. And I am loving it! Thanks for all your tutorials. Your quilts are so lovely! And I love the time estimates I've seen on some posts recently. Anyway, I don't think I've actually left a comment anywhere for you yet, but I included a link to this tutorial on my blog tonight and so I quickly wanted to at least "say hi" over here. Oh, and your "storage cubes" are on my to-do list for Jan 09. Thanks again for sharing all this. So nicely done!

Tara said...

Wow... I LOVE this quilt... so much so that I went out today and bought my 14 different fabrics to make it with (I went with mostly purple and a splash of blue)...

One question though... I am a little worried that some of my darker fabrics are going to bleed on the lighter ones when I wash the quilt for the first time... Is this an issue? I'm kind of scared that I will go to all this effort and then it will get ruined by the dark purple bleeding all over the white or something... eek...

Anonymous said...

Hi! I want to thank you for this quilt idea..it got me motivated to make the quilt for my grandson for Christmas. He just loved it.

Unknown said...

I made a Christmas quilt using this tutorial. Thanks for posting this! This is a super easy quilt that looks complicated and intricate.

http://quiltingadd.blogspot.com/2009/01/ragged-edge-christmas-quilt.html

Sonja Threadgill Nelson said...

This is a great idea, & a quick way to bust your stash!

Anonymous said...

I love this quilt! And I LOVE your blog! I just discovered it and I'm in the process of looking back at all your past posts. Very nice!

I'm all ready to start making this quilt. Two versions, for my twins: a pink one for my girl and a blue/seagreen one for my boy. They will use them in the their toddler beds. I'm super excited to start. It's my first time making quilts!

For the backing fabric, you suggest quilting cotton... What is your opinion on using flannel cotton for the backing fabric? And what do you think of the minkie fabric for the back? (Maybe too hard to quilt?)Thank you!

Lift Up Your Hearts said...

The only quilts I have made thus far have been simple squares, but I am emboldened to kick it up a notch after reading this! I'm making a quilt for a baby named Olivia - how perfect is this quilt, resembling little Os? :-D

Noel said...

What a beautiful quilt! I've been looking for a quilt project to do with my 9/10 year old daughter. She's never quilted and this looks perfect :) Can't wait to start!

Anonymous said...

Okay... I'm a beginner quilter, but I've been sewing for a little while. When you sew the squares on, there is no traditional hem that I see (the fabric is not tucked behind to hide fraying). Do you simply hem a quarter inch around and leave the edge of each fabric square out? Doesn't it unravel to the stitching? Or is that the idea?

Other than those questions, this quilt looks simple and fun. We can't wait to get started. Thanks for showing pictures, also. When quilters describe a procedure, they tend to use technical terms that comepletely overwhelm us beginners.

Blessings!

Amanda Jean said...

kristen,

yes, you simply hem a quarter inch around and leave the edges raw. the idea is to have the edges of the squares fray, and it should just get better over time. have fun making the quilt! :)

aj

teeceebug said...

Hello! I'm about to make my first quilt ever and am looking around on the internet for hints and tips. I love your ragged squares quilt and am leaning towards this type of quilt. My dilemma: I want to incorporate my daughter's baby clothes, which obviously have been "prewashed." (My daughter is 25 now and expecting her first baby!) I read in your FAQs that you don't prewash, and I can see the benefit to that "rule." However, when I mix the baby clothes with newly purchased fabric, I anticipate some problems... Do you have any suggestions?? Thanks for your generosity in posting your instructions, photos, etc. You've taken the fear out of making my first quilt!

Amanda Jean said...

teeceebug,

i think that if you mix the pre-washed fabrics with the new fabrics, it should be just fine. older fabrics fray, too, right? if you wanted to do a smaller scale (like a doll quilt or something) you could try it out that way before attempting a baby size (or larger). i hope that helps!

aj

Monica said...

Great tutorial! I have a quick question from a beginner (I only sew shabby quilts). How do you sew the edges together?

Amanda Jean said...

monica,

i'm not sure what you mean by the edges. the edges of the blocks are left raw, so they fray. the edges of the quilt are bound with a traditional quilt binding. you can check out the binding tutorial on my sidebar for instructions to finish your quilt. i hope that helps!

aj

Andi said...

Thanks for this great tutorial.
I have just finished making my own version.

http://patchandi.blogspot.com/2009/03/not-that-she-needs-it.html

I hope you approve.
Andi :-)

tisme said...

Wow, great tutorial!! I just finished a string quilt, and this looks like it might be inline for my second full size quilt.
Thanks so much.
I found your blog through CyberQuilters, I am a member there too.
Tammy

Kitty said...

Love love love this quilt, this will be my first attempt at a quilt, and I feel pretty confident!
Just a quick question:
How much of the 13 fabrics do I need?

Anonymous said...

Hi AmandaJean,
I love your blog and your quilts! I've got my quilt sewn but am trying to quilt it (a first). I also have a few questions. Do you use a walking foot? and how do you quilt it? Do you do each square separately or do you do the sides of the squares in each row and then turn the quilt and do all the other sides of each square in each row?(hope that makes sense). Do you use a regular sewing machine? Sorry, I guess it was more than a few questions! : ) Thanks for your help!
Vanessa

Amanda Jean said...

vanessa,

for quilting i used a walking foot (yes, on my regular sewing machine) and i quilted it in squares, (each square separately) so there was a lot of stopping and starting, but i really like the effect of that kind of quilting on this type of quilt. i hope that helps!

aj

Honey said...

I love this tutorial. Thanks for sharing.

Tammy said...

Thanks for sharing this...I think I will be using this in the near future. I have always wanted to make a quilt and this looks like a very easy quilt to put together. Perfect for me! :-)

Julie said...

I made one! http://julieethompson.blogspot.com/2009/05/more-quilt.html

Thanks for the instructions, it turned out wonderful. Now what to do with it?

THE LEWIS' said...

so i want to try this quilt out and had a few questions. How big is the finished product and also how much of each fabric should i get to be able to make this quilt. thanks and i will let you know how it goes.

Sarah said...

I just bought fabric to make this quilt! I'm very excited!

Anonymous said...

I just finished this quilt top, I will have to get some batting before I finish it up. I used 8 fat quarters in 4 colors and a yard of a fabric that tied the colors together. One of the squares in each block is the multicolor fabric, it turned out really neat. Thanks so much for all of your tutorials, they are so helpful!

Keri said...

I convinced my mom to make me one! Thanks for the tutorial. http://sewincrediblycrafty.blogspot.com/2009/05/ragged-squares-quilt.html

Noel said...

My daughter and I used this quilt as the inspiration for making her very first quilt. Fabrics are a little different since she's into horses and brown colors. The only trouble I have is the actual quilting part. My quilts tend to turn out lumpy,not smooth and flat. Any suggestions??

Check out our progress at bloomwhereyouareaplanted.blogspot.com :)

Linda T said...

Thanks so much for your tutorial. I used it to teach a friend how to make her first quilt. We each made baby quilts; Krista made it for her baby, and I made it for my newly adopted nephew.

Here is a picture of it if you'd like to see it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24466477@N08/3616809230/

Once again thanks so much, not only for your tutorial but also for your inspiration! One of these days I will get to trying free motion quilting!

ltenhage@gmail.com

Sarah said...

I made one! My first quilt ever, thanks to your simple steps!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30576882&id=1178127853&ref=nf#/photo.php?pid=30576883&id=1178127853&ref=nf

Anonymous said...

This quilt is so perfect!!!!

I am BRAND new to quilting - just had someone give me a sewing machine. It is SO very hard to sew an even quarter inch seam. The first time I tried to line up two rows of the blocks I had sewn together my husband came in and said 'are those supposed to match up?' I got mad (of course) and told him if he thought he could do better to have at it (he couldn't). :-)

I am still working on this and maybe one day I will be able to sew straight enough to have it all come together. I am so envious of people with such talent!

Unknown said...

I finished mine! My very first quilt! I love it. Thanks so much for the tutorial. I'm less intimidated now and am working on 2 other quilts! I think I'm addicted.

check out my blog to see it
http://takealonghardlook.blogspot.com/2009/07/ragged-squares-quilt-finished.html

Brandi said...

How big is this quilt? I am just wondering if I should make it a little bigger or a little smaller...I want a twin size quilt when I am done. Also how much fabric did you use? I have some fabric already cause I was going to make a different kind of quilt, but this one looks way more fun! I just need to know if I have enough altogether! :)

Thanks so much!

Amanda Jean said...

brandi,

this is just a baby quilt...you would need more fabric for a twin size quilt.

aj

Quilter_Momma said...

I'm in the process of making a quilt similar to this one.

My littlest squares measure from approx. 1" to 1 1/2". My middle squares measure 3", while my largest measure 4".

I'm using all different kinds and colors of fabric, cause I'm trying to use up some of my scrap.

I'm also using different thread colors to change it up a bit...

I'll put up some pics later.

Laura said...

I finished this quilt and I LOVE it. follow the link to see pics!
www.babystepsboutique.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Love your quilt, ? how much fabric did you use for each print for the front? and what is your finished size?

Day before Michelle said...

I finished a pink one as well...Thanks for the Tute!!

http://sidhedesigns.blogspot.com/2009/10/blogging.html

tarabu said...

I cannot hack the circle quilt at the moment, and I cannot work my brain around the randomness necessary for ticker tape - but this - I am SO on it!
Thanks, crazymom!

Anonymous said...

Great tutorial!!!
Thank so much from Italy!

Deb said...

Thanks much for this great tutorial! I made one in greens and blues, and it's my first quilt.

http://annofone.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/ragged-squares-quilt-part-5-finished/

Anonymous said...

thank you so much for a great tutorial!! i bookmarked it over a year ago, and i've finally made my quilt (well, i pieced most of the blocks, then had a friend finish it!). i LOVE how it turned out!!!

http://www.facebook.com//photo.php?pid=760419&id=1475467624#//photo.php?pid=760420&id=1475467624&fbid=1275025523822

Tara said...

Thank you so much for your detailed and thorough tutorials. You really take the mystery out of quilting. I can't wait to make a quilt!

Mariella said...

Hi! I made one of these quilts... kinda you can see it on my page http://darlingdesignstutus.blogspot.com/2010/01/baby-quilt.html thanks for the detailed instructions!! :D

The Jenkins said...

Thanks for the tutorial! I finished it and about a week and a half! Here's the finished product.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4042422&l=75de6f4819&id=500925823

Emily said...

I'm making one now! Thank you SO much for the tutorial!
Here's a post about mine.. http://mylifebelongstohim.blogspot.com/2010/02/quilting-project.html
I'll come back and comment again when I've finished it and posted about it :D
Thanks again!!!

erika said...

wow that would look great in green my aunt is haveing a baby

Shelly said...

Beautiful quilt! I'm going to add this to my to do list. I think this project would be a good one for my daughters to try too. Thanks for sharing!

Irina said...

Oh, I love this one!
I'm trying to get some ideas to use up the left over from the quilt I'm making at the moment and this looks great.

Faye said...

thanks a lot! i have 3 WIP and i had sworn that i wasnt going to start another till i finsihed well now i HAVE To do this. i know this is not a new post but its new to me..

i will post pics WHEN i am done! lol

Sara at Keeth Ink said...

Wow! As a beginner, I was wondering why a "wonky square" quilt had to be pieced, and you've solved the mystery for me— IT DOESN'T! I'm so excited about this applique technique. :)

Pink Passion Flower said...

Thank you for this informative tutorial. I have been dying to make my first quilt, but they all seemed too hard... until I found yours.
My sister is pregnant and I will make this as a present. Was so excited to do all pinks and just found out she's having a boy! Am off to the fabric store to buy some blues.

Hil said...

I just created my first quilt using this tutorial. Thank you so much for the inspiration and guidance!

ohiomom said...

I don't know if you read all of these, but I have to say 'Thank you'. I've been wanting to learn to quilt for so long, and you just gave me the confidence to start. Everything else has looked so complicated, but you made it seem very simple to get started. I can't wait to finally make a quilt :)

mommashelley said...

I am so inspired to try this project. Have never quilted anything before, but this tutorial is so detailed and the comments give me faith that I can do this. I am wanting to make it for my daughter/guest bedroom which has a queen size bed. I know that I will almost have to double this but my concern is how to do the backing with minimal seams??? Any suggestions? I am so excited to get started, again thank you for sharing your beautiful work with us all.

Brandon and April said...

finally finished mine!
thanks for the detailed tutorial!!

http://brandonandapril.blogspot.com/2010/11/in-over-my-head.html

Laurel said...

ok... picked up fabric this morning, going to start working on it this afternoon. i've only made three tiny quilts before, so this is actually a good bit bigger than anything i've tried. i'm just going to start making squares, and if i'm not burned out after 30, i'm going to keep going and see if i can do all 99 for a twin quilt!

suemac said...

That is such a great idea and so easy. I really don't have much in the way of pink or blue fabric so this will give me an excuse to look for sale fabric at my LQS.

Kelly said...

Thank you so much for this pattern. I made one for my little girl, she wanted one in bleu and I tied it on the corners of each block with bright red yarn. It's just darling!

Jordan said...

Love the quilt! Just wondering whats the difference between sewing the fabrics onto one another and then going back and "quilting" them?

Thanks

Cant wait to try your cute project!

Megan said...

Hi, sorry if you already answered this but there are a lot of comments to read through on my phone! How did you finish the edges on this quilt? Thanks for the great information! It seeems really easy to do with your help!

Keeley said...

This was the perfect quilt for me to accomplish in the short time I had available to me to make my daughter's first quilt!
Thank you so much for the tutorial!
Here is my quilt:
http://housepoorhazards.blogspot.com/2011/07/all-done.html

Celeste said...

For a baby-sized quilt, 5 by 6 blocks, do you think that 8 fabrics would be sufficient, I don't really care if there's a lot of repeats, but I'm concerned that it won't look good. This is my first quilt in case you couldn't tell lol

Jennie said...

This is simple and beautiful, Amandajean. My son wants his own quilt (understandably- the little guy is 4 and I haven't found the "perfect" pattern- until now!) and he chose a bunch of yellows, oranges, and blues...I think those will look pretty good in this quilt! I'll post a pic when I finish it. (That could be awhile!) Thanks for all the hard work you do with this blog! I've been reading for years- constant inspiration!

Anna Hall said...

I am attempting my first quilt, and am using this pattern and tutorial. I have wanted to start quilting for a while but have been too intimidated at the thought of triangles, stars, and free hand quilting. Thank you so much!!

Jane said...

How did you do the borders or edges, I can't seem to find it in the tutorial

Anonymous said...

Ive just started quilting and finished my very first and realised all the places n ways Ive gone wrong! Now I see what I should have done and am so eager to start this ragged quilt!! It looks amazing and has given me hope that mine will look like a pro has done it!!!

RobbieJoy said...

I just can't tell you how much I love this quilt. I look at it over and over. I am not a person who usually likes pinks, but I am seriously contemplating doing one like this. I think it's so beautiful. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us.

Theburchgang said...

love this quilt and would like to try to make for my grand daughters.. how much fabric of each color do i need and what is the finished size..

Anonymous said...

I have the same question. How did you do the borders or edges, I can't seem to find it in the tutorial?

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