Repurposed Receiving Blanket Tutorial - Raggy Style

This is a tutorial for turning old flannel receiving blankets into a cuter, warmer Raggy Style blanket. Now, the technique I've used for this blanket is like a rag quilt. You could Google instructions for rag quilts if you want, which is what I did initially. But I had these blankets to use as fabric and they didn't come in specific yardage, especially because they stretch and change shape a little as they get used and washed. I found it much less frustrating to just figure this out on my own. So this is what I came up with.

Grab four blankets. Trim them to 24 x 24 squares. Try to keep the scraps as long and even as possible if you want to use them to make another blanket (tutorial for Scrappy Quilt). Set two of the least stained blankets aside.



Cut each blanket into 4 inch squares. You should get 30 squares from each blanket.

{You don't need all these squares though, so if you would like to use the fabric for something else later, don't cut all of it. I planned to use the rest of the squares for something else. For this blanket you really only need 12 of each. Cutting the whole blanket into squares helps to pick out the stained squares. I just think it's easier this way, especially if you can use the leftovers for something else.}



Get out the two 24 inch squares that you set aside earlier. Decide which one you want to use as the backing and which one you want to use as the top. Set the backing aside.

Decide which color or pattern you want to be on the four corners. Take one square from that color, and pin it directly onto a corner of the top fabric (right sides up on both), matching the angles. Sew the 4 inch square onto the corner of the 24 inch square with a 1/4 inch seam.

{If you're pinning on your new dining room table top, make sure you keep your cutting mat on the table as protection, or Lucy is gonna have some 'splainin' to do when the Hubs gets home :P}

Now you're going to go get your trusty iron and blow all the dust off it, you know, because you have a really dusty house, not because it never gets used. Locate a seam on one of two sides that is not on the edge of the 24 inch square. Press it open (meaning, fold the fabric back over itself and press it so that the wrong side is up).



Lay a 4 inch square (the other color) next to the sewn square, overlapping the seam that you pressed open. Pin it secure and sew it all the way around with a 1/4 inch seam. Now repeat for all the squares until you completely line the perimeter. We'll call this piece the top from now on.



Now take that last 24 inch square that you had decided to use as the backing and sew it to the back of the top, making sure if it is patterned that the pattern is showing and not sewn on backwards.

{If you want, you can embroider or applique something to the backing BEFORE you sew it onto the top. I didn't think to do this until AFTER I had sewn it on. Phooey.}

At this point, grab your scissors and turn on the TV and sit on the couch while you cut all the seams into fringe.



And then you just wash and dry it to get the fringe to turn all raggy and scruffily and cozy and wonderful.



And there it is. A cute, warm blanket for your favorite kid, and you didn't have to spend a dime. Stay tuned this week for another tutorial using the scraps. We'll call this one the Scrappy Style quilt.