Rag Quilt Tutorials with Raewyn Stewart

One of the most common questions beginners ask is, “What do I need to start rag quilting?”

The good news is that you don’t need a room full of expensive equipment to get started.

My absolute basics are:

🧵 A sewing machine
I have three vintage Bernina machines. Everything I’ve made in recent years, including ruffles, has been sewn on these machines. You don’t need the latest model with hundreds of stitches. A machine that sews a reliable straight stitch and zigzag is enough.

✂️ Rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat
Some people will argue these aren’t essential, and technically you could get by with scissors and a ruler. However, they make cutting faster, more accurate and much easier, especially when you’re cutting lots of pieces.

✂️ Good scissors
For trimming threads, cutting fabric and all those little jobs that pop up along the way.

📌 Pins (and clips)
If you use them. Some quilters love them, some hardly touch them. It’s personal preference.

🪡 A seam ripper
Because nobody gets through quilting without one.

♨️ An iron
I press with an iron rather than finger pressing and I press creases as my X stitching guide.

✂️ Good ragging snips
This is one area where I wouldn’t cut corners. I use Heritage VP7 snips and they’ve served me well over the years.

That’s really it for the basics. The rest can be added as you go.

Have I missed anything?

R x

There was no handbook when I started doing many of the things I do today.
A lot of it was trial and error. Sometimes the trial worked. Sometimes the error was spectacular.

I’ve made rag quilts that taught me which fabrics behave beautifully and which ones have a mind of their own. Quilts that taught me that a tiny adjustment to a seam allowance or stitch length can completely change the finished result.

Looking back, I don’t regret the mistakes. They were often the reason I discovered a better way of doing something.

If you could give a beginner one piece of advice what would it be?

Fabrics and batting washed, cut, and ready to go!
I’m making the smaller stroller sized quilt using Meg’s upcoming tutorial, and I’m going to time myself too, because her method is a quick make.
The photos from this quilt will be added to the completed tutorial.
No pressure! R x

The inlay look has become one of the most talked about techniques in rag quilting and now you can learn how to create it yourself in a simple, beginner friendly way.

This step by step tutorial teaches you how to achieve a soft layered inlay effect using straightforward construction and fluffy rag quilt seams. An optional bulk reducing method is also included to help smooth out seam intersections.

If you can cut a square and sew a straight line, you can make this quilt.

Finished size approximately 28” x 35”

A wonderful technique to add depth, texture and interest to your rag quilting projects. 🍂 🍁