Rag Quilt Calculator
Choose the finished square size, the seam allowance you will fringe, and the layout. You get the cut size, how many squares to cut, and how much flannel to buy for each layer.
Rag Quilt Calculator
Pick the finished square size, the seam allowance you will fringe, and how many squares go across and down. The calculator gives the cut square size, the number of squares, and yardage for the top, the middle layer, and the back.
Formula: cut square = finished square + 2 × seam allowance; squares per strip = 40 ÷ cut square; yardage = strips × cut square ÷ 36
Results
Finished Quilt Size
50" × 64"
127 × 163 cm, including the fringe on the outer edge.
- Cut Squares
- 63 × 8"
- For the top and again for the back. 5 squares per width-of-fabric strip.
- Top Fabric
- 3 yd (2.8 m)
- Back Fabric
- 3 yd (2.8 m)
- Middle Layer
- 2 ⅝ yd (2.5 m)
- 63 squares cut 7" (finished size) so they stay out of the seams.
- Total Fabric
- 8 ⅝ yd (7.9 m)
- Split across as many prints as you like — the total stays the same.
Rag quilts are usually flannel, homespun, or denim with a ½"–⅝" seam allowance. Pre-wash flannel: it shrinks more than quilting cotton, so buy about 10% extra.
Turn a photo into a real pattern
Upload a photo or drawing and get an embroidery pattern for a name square or a memory block.
Open Embroidery GeneratorCommon Rag Quilt Sizes
With 8" cut squares (7" finished) and a ½" seam allowance, fringe included.
| Quilt | Squares | Finished size |
|---|---|---|
| Baby | 6 × 7 of 7" | 43" × 50" |
| Lap / throw | 7 × 9 of 7" | 50" × 64" |
| Twin | 9 × 13 of 7" | 64" × 92" |
| Queen | 12 × 14 of 7" | 85" × 99" |
How Rag Quilt Math Works
A rag quilt is sewn with the seams on the front. Each seam allowance is left wide — usually ½" to ⅝" — and snipped every ¼" so it frays into the soft, ragged edge after washing.
The cut square is the finished square plus two seam allowances: 7" finished with ½" seams means cutting 8" squares. You cut the same number of squares for the top and the back. If you add a middle layer of flannel or batting, cut it to the finished size so it stays out of the seams and does not make them bulky.
The outer edge is stitched and clipped like the inside seams, so the finished quilt keeps one seam allowance of fringe all the way around.
Picking Fabric
Flannel frays best and gets softer with every wash; homespun, denim, and minky backed with flannel are also common. Quilting cotton works but frays less.
Flannel shrinks more than quilting cotton. Wash it before cutting, or buy about 10% extra if you want the crinkled look from washing after sewing.
Rag Quilt FAQ
Related Tools and Pages
Quilt Calculator
Finished size, backing, binding, border, and batting from block size and layout.
Quilt Backing Calculator
Backing yardage, seam direction, and panel lengths for any quilt top.
Hexagon Quilt Calculator
How many hexagons fit your quilt, their size, and the fabric to cut them.
On Point Quilt Calculator
Diagonal, block count, and setting and corner triangle cuts for on-point layouts.
T-Shirt Quilt Calculator
Layout, finished size, interfacing, sashing, and backing for a memory quilt.
Charm Pack Quilt Calculator
How many charm packs, layer cakes, or mini charms a quilt size takes.
Embroidery Pattern Generator
Turn a photo or drawing into an embroidery pattern for a quilt label or a memory block.