Another Quilting Project

After going to Phoenix and learning some new techniques from my Aunt, I decided to take on the task of making a "Dr. Seuss" baby quilt for my new little nephew. (anxiously awaiting his arrival in late September-early October) My Aunt showed me a tutorial on making a very simple "Rag" quilt, with top stitching. Now when I think of a rag quilt, I do NOT think of top stitching, because if you think about it, the top stitching would "hold down" or smash the "ragging". I know to some of you I am speaking gibberish, but just hear me out. This was the EASIEST. QUILT. EVER! The ONLY reason it took me so long to complete was because of my dear sweet 20 month old, Cody. You try staying focused on a project with a walking disaster mixing up all your fabric squares, finding your scissors (and the last of the only fabric that you NEED), whacking the dogs with your plexi-glass fabric rulers, and unraveling spools and spools of thread. It's very distracting. It seems he likes to "help" when Mommy is most focused. Sigh.
Here's my version of the "Simple Rag Quilt" Tutorial.
I cut all my fabric into big squares(7in x 7in) and little squares(4in x 4in). I cut double the amount to account for the front AND the back. These are just a few of my Dr. Seuss fabrics that I used.

Then I cut big and small batting squares.

After arranging everything in the pattern that I wanted (and numbering them to make sure they stayed in that order) I began top stitching big X's over the top of each (big and little) square. I used varigated thread through out the whole quilt, to showcase all the bright colors.
After finishing the top stitching on all the individual squares, then I sewed all the 4x4 squares into sets of two; and then each set of two sewed to one big square, making a new set of three.

Then I sewed the groups of three into rows, and then sewed the rows together.

*Normally when sewing, to make the seam invisible or unseen, you sew the fabrics "front to front" so that when you open the fabrics (like a book) the seam is on the inside and not seen. With this technique though, you sew the fabrics "back to back" so that the top side of the quilt has the seem showing and the backside is smooth.*
See? Front (seem showing)

Back (smooth)

Then it was time for the border. Again I followed the same technique from above, (1) 7x7 square paired with (2) 4x4 squares to make set of three. Sewed into row and attached on each side of the quilt.

When the border was finished, I sewed along all four edges of the quilt, twice. I did it twice to mainly just to reinforce the edge in case the "ragging" got out of control. :) I also added my own little "touch", a "Made With Love" tag.
(you can see the double stitching around the edge in this picture)

The last step was to snip/cut into the seems. You go along all the seems (on the top side and around the edges) and snip about half inch to inch apart into the seem. After washing the quilt, these little snipets will become the rags. But be careful that you don't cut too far down into the seem and cut the thread holding the squares together.
Here was the finished product BEFORE washing.
Back

Front

...And after washing it twice...(trying to get it to fray)

In the words of little Agnes (from the movie "Despicable Me") "It's so fluffy I could die!!"

No really though, it turned out so cute that now I'm not so sure I want to give it away. At least it's staying in the family.