A.Q.~January Rag Quilt Squares

MAKE 3 ragquilt blocks for your 2 partners.(so u will be making a total of 6!!!) All fabric should be new, high quality 100% cotton. THESE Ragquilt blocks are made by taking a 9 inch square of solid fabric for the bottom (Back of the quilt) ...& then center a 6 1/2 inch square of batting (the type of flat batting that comes in a roll) in the middle... then center the top piece of 9x9 fabric for the block. This top piece should be made of patterned fabric. It may be pieced, appliqued, embroidered or decorated in some way with a design that is totally washable! Then you sew the 3 layered "sandwich" together by sewing around the square just inside the perimeter of the batting. A zigzag or any special beautiful stitch works nicely.Also varigated thread or a color that really pops against the background looks good on the front & back of the squares! ;-) Then inside that square you just did, sew or embroider or applique any design you like. If you sew around the design like you did the square it will show on the solid back piece so the quilt will have designs on the front and the back! Please check your partner's profiles so you will choose material patterns or colors that your partner will like! So check out those profiles!!! IT"S very important to leave raw edges and don't sew within 1 inch of the edges...the quilt will be put together by sewing the squares together in rows with the raw edges sticking up on the front. Then all your rows are sewn together so all raw edges are facing up on the front! Then they are snipped and freyed...a blossom rag quilt pattern is on joann's fabric web site...if u have any ?s please pm me EDITED 5/5/09...I HAD A COMPLAINT IN THE LAST SWAP THAT THE QUALITY OF FABRIC AND WORKMANSHIP WASN'T UP TO SNUFF! PLEASE USE THICK GOOD QUALITY FABRIC AND BE CAREFUL THAT THE EDGES LINE UP AND ARE STRAIGHT BEFORE SEWING SO THE BLOCK ENDS UP SQUARE...AND WILL BE LIKED AND USED BY YOUR PARTNER!!! thanx! EDITED 2012 ~ I have been told that a ziplock bag is a really good way to package & protect your squares before you put them in a manilla envie to mail. You may also put address label on it so if the envie gets messed up @ P.O. they will know where to send it! I usually tape around envies to help protect them too!