AboutAudrey Zohner Expertise I am an expert rag quilter. I have made over 100 rag quilts and would love to assist others with questions and methods. I don't know much about actual quilting like machine or hand quilting or applique. I am, however, the resident expert on rag quilting in my town. If you want to make a rag quilt, I am your woman.
Experience I have been sewing for 12 years and rag quilting for 4. I have experienced just about every pitfall there is in rag quilting. Check out my quilts at audreysragquilts.etsy.com.
Organizations ISU Craft Club
EtsyKids
Education/Credentials High school diploma
Bachelor's in Animal Science
Question My partner and I have a crafts website and we write and provide info on quilts. I had a visitor comment and ask for more info and more ways to create rag quilts. Here is what she is looking for: "Thanks for getting back to me. I would be interested in rag quilts of any style. However, something different from the plain squares would be nice. I teach 1st Grade and I am always looking for crafts that I can use in the classroom."
Do you have any suggestions? I have searched the internet, and have only found a few things that may be of help.
Anissa
Answer I have to admit that it is difficult to make rag quilts that are not in squares. I would suggest using a brick (rectangle) pattern or a triangle pattern. Have her google for a pattern called Zig-Zag Rag Quilt. This quilt is made with triangles.
I made a quilt the other day with denim and cotton bandanna prints. It was a square pattern, but I layered a bandanna print under the levi and sewed a star instead of an "X". I then cut the star out of the levi, leaving the bandanna print showing underneath. I would suggest cutting 1/4" from the inside edge so it doesn't fray out of the stitches. This looks really cute and you can sew/cut any shape and put any fabric underneath. She could trace her 1st graders hands onto a block, layer something underneath and then cut out the inside edge of the hand.
I would tell her that she can convert just about any basic quilting pattern into a rag quilt pattern by substituting a 1/2" seam instead of a 1/4". However, this takes a long time because she will have to refigure all her yardages and cutting layouts. I have done this a few times (Off-center log cabin and Pinwheel baby quilt) and I felt it was worth the work. It did take all night just to plan the quilts, though.
If she has any other questions, give her my email- audreyvzohner@gmail.com, or tell her to visit my blog- zohner.hopto.org, or my etsy shop-audreysragquilt.etsy.com. I love to answer questions.
