My Second Winter Project Is Finished

homemade, Rag Quilt, Reflections, Sewing

It’s been a couple weeks since I finished my second big winter project. I have just been negligent in blogging about it. This project is a rag quilt that I made for our bed.

This quilt was more involved than the t-shirt quilt I made for my daughter because for her quilt she supplied the t-shirts and selected the flannel that it would be backed with. Also our bed is queen size so this quilt is larger than the one I made for her.

For our quilt I started with selecting the materials. It took several trips to the fabric shop before I had all that I would need. Our bedroom is done in blues and browns so I decided to stick with (mostly)those colors.

Fabric for quilt topside
Fabric for quilt underside

One of the reasons it took so many trips to the fabric store is because I didn’t really have a plan. So I took so measurements then drew it out on graph paper.

I decided to do an on-point design (the squares line up on a diagonal) and to use 12 inch squares. Once I knew how many squares I would need, 72 squares for each layer, I finished buying fabric. The quilt would be three layers but for the middle layer I planned on using an old flannel sheet set that I had so I only needed to buy enough fabric for the top layer and underside.

It wasn’t until I had purchased all of my fabric that I added the colors to this chart determining the actual pattern. This project actually involved a lot of math. You’ll notice some of the squares have different colors in them, these were changes that I made in the design and the inner most color was the correct one.

This chart was my road map throughout the cutting and sewing process. I would have been lost without it.

When cutting the fabric I layered the three fabrics together then made my cuts.

After I had all 72 squares (x three layers) cut it was time to start sewing. I sewed the layers together by stitching and X across each square.

Then I began piecing and sewing the rows together according to my chart.

In the above photo I was almost at the halfway point.

When the sewing was finished (above) it was time to start clipping the edges as in the photo below.

Clipping the edges was probably the longest part of the project with most of the edges having six layers of fabric to clip through (the outside edges had three layers) but the task was made a bit easier by using these small snip-type scissors that I purchased on one of my trips to the fabric store.

Once all of the clipping was finished it was time to wash and dry. This causes the edges to ruffle. While the quilt was drying I stopped the dryer every 15 minutes to empty the lint filter. The first few times it definitely needed to be emptied. There was less lint the last couple of times I emptied it but still enough to clean it out.

I’m very pleased with how it turned out and my husband was wowed. He has commented several times on how much he likes it and how warm it is. 🙂

I like the design on the underside as well so reversing the quilt is always an option.

Thanks for visiting.

34 thoughts on “My Second Winter Project Is Finished”

  5. That is beautiful Ruth … so much time and patience went into this creation and it shows, right down to the reverse side. My great-grandmother used to quilt and growing up I can picture the two quilts in my parents’ and my bedrooms respectively. She did feather ticks as well. You have many skills Ruth.

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      1. Yes, I can remember the design, especially the red one which was a dark red with a white sunburst. The light blue one was different colors, like yours, and a lot of calico as I recall. The feather tick was in a gold-colored satin material. My great grandparents had a farm and the feathers likely came from their ducks or geese.

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  9. I agree with everyone else, it is beautiful! The technique reminds me of the one you used when you made a baby quilt for my grandson Braygen. (He loved it by the way.
    You are so brave to do these things. I get overwhelmed at the planning and it never seems to get done. You are truly a doer. Miss you.

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    1. I miss you too! The one I made for Braygen was the first one I ever made. Starting with the baby quilt and gave me the confidence to do bigger ones. If I had never done his I might not have done any of the others. I am happy he liked it. 🙂

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  11. Nicely done. I love the color choices. Its looks beautiful, comfy and warm. Its awesome the center layer was repurposed from sheets. On point is on of my favorites too. I’m agree with your husband, you did an amazing job!!!!

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    1. Picking fabrics was fun but challenging. I first picked the plaid that ended up on the back along with the denim. Then I fell in love with the robin fabric and bought the last yard that was available. I just couldn’t see the plaid and the robins together and I thought I need a little more pink to tie in the robin fabric so I chose the butter flies. I was happy that the dragonflies were a blue because I love dragonflies. In the end they did come together nicely both top and underside.

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    1. Thanks Anne. I was a little concerned that it wouldn’t be warm enough with only 3 layers because I’ve seen instructions some using 4 or more. This one is plenty warm and I wouldn’t have wanted to deal with any more fabric. 🙂

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