Blog
-
Ruffle from Shirley McDaniel
I’m always thrilled to see photos of Ruffle come up in my mailbox especially when they are as fresh and pretty as this one. Thank you for sharing this with us Shirley. R x
-
A little look behind the scenes
You might picture me tucked away in my little sewing room, happily sewing all day. I’d rather like that myself! At the moment, though, about 75% of my working hours go into the website and answering messages. My mornings begin with black tea and my laptop. First come the overnight Etsy messages. Sometimes it’s as…
-
Denise Valadez’s pastel Rosette
I love the selection of fabrics used in this gorgeous pastel version of Rosette. It’s always lovely to see how different fabric choices give the same design a whole new look. Such a beautiful finish! 🌸
-
Sweetheart ❤️
I love this photo. It was taken behind the scenes with my daughter Meg, while she was shooting her Sweetheart tutorial. In Sweetheart, Meg shows you how she layers fabrics to get the gorgeous colours you see here. Her tutorial also covers inlays, fluffy seams and perimeter ragging, all in one quilt. Can you tell…
-
Are Etsy finally addressing the increased use of AI on their platform?
I’m doing a happy dance this morning because Etsy finally seems to be recognising what the rest of us have been seeing for months. AI listings and images are taking over the platform. Rag quilts with completely unrealistic ragging are scattered through the listings, alongside kits that promise equally unachievable results. Then there are tutorials…
-
How I snip seam intersections
This photo shows how I snip my seam intersections, but it actually shows several things. You can see that I’ve snipped the ends of the X stitching so they don’t interfere with the ragging and I’ve backstitched across the seam to reinforce the intersection. My snips are about 1/8 inch apart, and you can also…
-
Snipping rounded corners
Rounded corners give a rag quilt a soft, pretty finish, but they do need a bit more care. Fabric on a curve is cut on the bias, so it behaves very differently from a straight edge. If you snip too close together on the bias, the ragging can break away completely, leaving corners that look…
-
Fabric Ripping video
Fabric Ripping Video from 2023 In this video, I’m ripping fabric strips, 6.5 inches wide for inlays and 8 inches wide for blocks. I also show why it’s important to tear off a small section first, as it reveals the true straight edge of the fabric. If ripping isn’t your thing, that straight edge is…
-
My rag quilt newsletter has a new home
Hello everyone, You may have received an email saying I’ve added you as a subscriber to my website. I wanted to explain—you’re already on my rag quilt mailing list, and I’m moving it from Mailchimp to my website. It’s still me, Raewyn, sharing rag quilt tips, inspiration and tutorial news. You don’t need to sign…
-
Why I Stitch the Inlay First and the X Second
When I make one of my Inlay rag quilt blocks, there’s a particular order I follow. I always stitch the inlay in place first, then add the X stitching. There’s a reason for that. The X is stitched diagonally from corner to corner across the block. This means I’m sewing on the bias of the…
-
Would You Cut Up a Vintage Candlewick Bedspread?
Would you cut this up? That was the question I asked when I shared a few seconds of this beautiful old candlewick bedspread gently blowing on the clothesline. And judging by the comments, there are some very definite opinions on the subject. 😂 I understand the hesitation. Vintage candlewick can be absolutely beautiful. Someone chose…
-
Why I still pin
I know clips are trendy right now, but for me, pins win every time. And I pin a lot. 😂 Rag quilting means I’m usually working with three layers of fabric, and quite often I’ve added an inlay as well. That’s several layers with plenty of opportunity to move, stretch or shift while I’m sewing.…
-
65 and still learning…
If you’d told me a few years ago that at almost 65 I’d be making reels, talking to thousands of people online and trying to understand algorithms, I’d probably have laughed at you. 😉 I certainly never set out to become a content creator. I just loved making rag quilts. I started sharing them online,…
-
Finding Vintage Chenille Feels Like Finding Gold
I’ve always had a soft spot for vintage chenille. Here in New Zealand we call it candlewick, and it holds a special place in my quilting heart.It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find, particularly the beautiful patterned varieties. Many of these bedspreads are decades old, and the patterned pieces are often the first to disappear when…
-
When to reverse stitch and when to save yourself some time…
When it comes to rag quilting, a little extra reinforcement goes a long way, especially if you want your rag quilt to last through years of cuddles, washing, and everyday use. One of the easiest ways to strengthen your seams is by reverse stitching, also called backstitching. In my own quilts, I always reverse stitch…
-
The Chenille Myth
When I first began making rag quilts, I called my label Candlewick & Roses. Here in New Zealand, “candlewick” refers to a textured, tufted cotton bedspread, usually vintage. I had collected quite a few over the years and loved using them in my quilts. The “roses” part came from one of my favourite flowers. What…
-
The question I get asked more than any other:
“How do you get your fluffy seams?” My answer has always been the same , and it’s surprisingly simple but it’s often overlooked while people search for the “secret.” 1️⃣ Use 100% cotton fabrics Woven fabrics like quilter’s cotton, muslin, and flannel give the best ragging. Synthetics don’t fluff. 2️⃣ Prewash your fabrics Prewashing gets…
-
How (and Why) I Tear Fabric for Perfectly Straight Quilt Squares
When I’m cutting rag quilt squares, I don’t start with a rotary cutter, I start with a snip and tear. Fabric is woven from two sets of threads: • Warp threads run the length of the fabric, parallel to the selvages. • Weft threads run across the fabric, from selvage to selvage. The weft threads…
-
Rag Quilt Seam Widths – Finding the Perfect Balance
When making a rag quilt, seam width isn’t just about holding your layers together, it’s a design feature in its own right. Because the seams are exposed and frayed, they become part of the texture and style of the finished quilt. Choosing the right width can make a big difference to how your quilt looks,…