I've allowed the classroom to participate and they have drawn on muslin with fabric crayons, I don't want to cover the art work up. I will be embroidering sayings, and the year, classroom teachers name and mascot etc... I'm just plain stumped... What do I do? Stipple around it? Do an outline on the artwork? Remember what I do will show up on the backside of the quilt if I sandwich everything. H-E-L-P....

The rag quilts we have been making are only stitched from corner to corner, "X" no other stitching or stippling on them at all.
Then each one is joined with the all the seams facing the same side, (right side), which are then snipped almost to the seam line. After washing this is what makes it into a rag quilt.

Open the link below and then click on the picture for a close up and you can see that stitching, as I have described above, hasn't detracted from the hand embroidered quilt blocks in the quilt.

Hugs n roses, Meganne

1 comment

by keeponsewing 27 Feb 2010

Thank you Meganne, I've made many rag quilts and ragged jackets, but with the kids coloring on them I didn't want to hid the art work on the solid muslin. I will take a look and see you sample. Someone suggest clear thread for the top which I might do also. I'm still contemplating. :) Takes a while for me to process it. hehehe... Thanks again

Another idea, you could also embelish with buttons...randomly sewn to the quilt through the 'sandwich'.

Or, crazyt quilt it like someone else suggested, but use verigated thread on the back to make it look like its really crazy.

Good luck

1 comment

by keeponsewing 26 Feb 2010

oh I like that idea with the varigated thread in bobbin. The buttons are a good idea also. I didn't realize I'd get so many ideas, now I've got to narrow it down and see what I decide on. I will post it when it is finished. :) Thanks again

Just stitch in a rectangle around the outside perimeter of the quilt block. Since it is a rag quilt, there isn't a need to stitch in the center unless you really want to. Although the X is the easiest, you can stitch inside of your "ragging". Read the label on your batting package and make sure that you have used a batting that says it can be stitched 6" or whatever your increments are.

2 comments

by keeponsewing 25 Feb 2010

Thank you for your response. I actually don't use batting but flannel as my batting, so that wouldn't be a problem. I thought about a stitch in the ditch or channel stitching. I will consider this. Thanks again.

by clawton 26 Feb 2010

I was going to suggest stitching around the outside edge to catch the batting but since you only use the flannel all layers should be fastened and nothing would be needed unles they are very large squares.

Are you doing square to square on this quilt or odd size squares? Maybe if the squares are bigger you could embroider somthing small like a butterfly or bee or ladybug, you know the mini ones threw all thickness after put togather. this way it will hold the quilt togather, but still not interfer with the kids designs.Maybe free style stitch over a design the kids did to high light one peice of that part of there block. Maybe sought of but not quit stitch in the ditch all blocks then cut it to rag it. How ever you do it I'm sure it will be BEAUTIFUL. And you will be the Kids ANGEL. Hugs and flowers to you all.

1 comment

by keeponsewing 25 Feb 2010

Thank you for the suggestion. They are square on square (10") which is why I feel the need to stitch something. But I like your idea of a small bug or something on them to keep them from shifting. I thought about the outline stitch around the children's art work also. The children have used muslin, but the filler squares are blue and yellow prints, (the school colors). Thanks again for your help.

You could still X with clear thread on the top. It won't cover any of the artwork. Sounds cute :)

1 comment

by keeponsewing 25 Feb 2010

Now what didn't I think of that. hehehheee...Thank you.

Maybe you could do it like a victorian crazy quilt,,, they are beautiful. This way you could show off all your embroidery stitches instead of just one. I'm very new to this site. I have only done baby quilts. I'm sure you will get many good ideas from cuties.

1 comment

by keeponsewing 25 Feb 2010

Thank you, now that is a great idea. measure in about 1.5" and use the different stitches. Then rag the edges. Thanks.