Over the years I have spent a lot of time in hospitals with a spinal disease which caused bad back problems. Whilst spending 2 weeks at a time in traction, flat on my back and unable to move at all, the days would drag out so slowly and my thoughts would naturally turn to home.

In the morning, I would look at my watch and note that it was time for my children to be getting ready for school and I would wonder if their father or grandmother had everything under control and if the children were buying their lunch at the school canteen or taking a cut lunch. Were they missing me? I missed them. Terribly. And as I felt my eyes fill, I knew that I would give anything to be with them, looking after my own household.

Now this was a strange thing to think because I have to be honest and say that I often had suffered from a dislike of homemaking in my younger years and I can remember saying on occasion that I would rather be working outside the home than being trapped there, doing endless loads of laundry and changing little bottoms, wiping little noses and washing floors!

But as the long weeks dragged on, punctuated only by bedpans and meals, I realised that life has a way of making us think of those things that truly matter. And as I watched the nurse close the drapes, heralding another long night of snoring patients and torchlight visits by nurses checking on my legs and feet, my heart would almost break longing to be home in my own bed surrounded by my family.

I would fall asleep dreaming and planning of changes that I would make as soon as I got home- ways that I could be a better wife, mother and homemaker. And as soon as the nurse came in at 6am throwing the drapes apart and bringing in the morning medications, my mind would turn to planning new homemaking schedules and better routines and I would find myself pining to be mistress of my home once again.

Sometimes I think God brings things into our lives so that we may learn from them. In my case, my enforced bed rest made me re-evaluate my life and realise that I had the best of life already. Until my back problems, I didn’t really enjoy my role as homemaker- I loved being a wife and mother- but housework- forget it! It took a few bouts of traction to get me to be still long enough to really consider that which is truly important.

And as I finally healed of the disease that ate away all the discs in my lower back, I not only regained my physical strength, but my spiritual strength. For God not only healed my back, but my attitudes. I resumed my homemaking duties with gusto and enthusiasm. I was thankful for the valuable lesson learned-that it is a blessing to be able to be the mistress of your own home- and that you never know what you have, until it’s gone!

© Glenys Robyn Hicks

Picture by Trisha Romance

by Wardeh Harmon

For my daughter Haniya’s 9th birthday, I planned to make her a rag quilt. My husband wisely remarked that while she would cherish what I made for her, wouldn’t she be much more excited about being able to make her own quilt? So, we instead gave her a rag quilt kit. I purchased four different fabric prints for the tops from the fabric store (shown below). For the middle layer and the backing, I used sheets from the thrift store — a big blue floral cotton sheet for the backing (shown in the above picture tying the kit together) and a pink gingham flannel for the middle layer (not shown).

Haniya chose this layout for her rag quilt.

I know you’ll love giving a Rag Quilt Kit to a young girl you know. This is such a doable and satisfying project for girls ages 9 and older. If you do put together a kit, won’t you share your experience and/or pictures of the kit or the finished quilt with me? You can reach me at wardeh@t2chk.org. I always welcome success stories, comments, questions, or suggestions.

Here’s my Haniya laying out her squares, choosing just the right layout for her rag quilt.

BUILD A RAG QUILT GIFT KIT

Recommended for young girls (ages 9 and above)

1. Find Fabric

You’ll need to find three types of fabric:

• Assorted printed or solid cotton fabrics for the top
• Flannel for the middle layer
• Printed or solid cotton fabric for the backing

Fabric can be purchased by the yard at a fabric store, or can be bought inexpensively in the form of sheets. Used sheets are readily available from thrift stores or you can purchase inexpensive or on-sale new sheets from department or discount stores, such as Wal-Mart, Target or JC Penney.

Purchase enough of each type of fabric to cut out (36) 11-inch squares. If you’re using a number of different prints for the top, you’ll need to buy enough so that the total number of 11-inch squares from all of them equals 36.

2. Cut Out Squares

• Cut (36) 11-inch squares of the top fabrics.
• Cut (36) 11-inch squares of the middle layer fabric.
• Cut (36) 11-inch squares of the backing fabric.

Make precise cuts using a rotary cutter and cutting mat, or a ruler and sharp sewing scissors. The more precise the cuts, the less frustration your young maiden will experience in piecing the rag quilt together.

Tie all the squares up prettily. Use raffia, a pretty ribbon, or an extra length of leftover fabric.

3. Prepare Directions

Cut and paste the directions (below, beginning with “Rag Quilt Instructions” and ending with “Enjoy your rag quilt!”) into your word processing software.

On a PC, highlight the text. While holding down the “Ctrl” key, press C once. Release the “Ctrl” key. In a blank word processing document, while holding down the “Ctrl” key, press V once. Release the “Ctrl” key. The instructions will appear in the new document. Save this document to your computer.

Fill in the descriptions of the three types of fabrics so the young girl who receives your kit will know which fabrics are for which parts of the quilt. These appear underlined in the “Supplies Included” section of the instructions. Remove the underlining.

You may wish to make some formatting adjustments before printing, based on your printer’s specifications or your own preferences. When you’re satisfied with the document, print a draft before printing the final copy on pretty paper. Include the instructions with the tied up fabric to complete the gift.

4. Give the Rag Quilt Gift Kit

Watch your young maiden’s face fill with delight!

Cut and paste the following instructions to include with the Rag Quilt Gift Kit:

Rag Quilt Kit Instructions

Finished Rag Quilt Size: 60 inches by 60 inches (or 5 feet by 5 feet)

Note: All the sewing will seem backward because you are going to sew stacks of squares together and the top squares will be facing right side out. All seam allowances are 1/2-inch.

Supplies Included

• (36) 11-inch squares of assorted (fill this in with a description) prints for the quilt top
• (36) 11-inch squares of (fill this in with a description) flannel for the middle layer
• (36) 11-inch squares of (fill this in with a description) print for the backing

Other Supplies You Will Need

• Sharp sewing scissors
• Thread to match or coordinate
• Pins
• Sticky notes
• Pen or marker
• And possibly… a parent or grown-up who knows how to sew and can help clarify directions or words that are confusing

1. Lay Out Quilt

On a clear floor space, lay out the 36 top squares in 6 rows of 6 squares each in your desired pattern. You may wish to make a pattern out of your squares, or you may wish to spread them out randomly. Take your time. Try to balance out the colors in the fabrics so that lights and darks are spread out evenly throughout what will become the top of your quilt.

Turn all top squares to the wrong side. Put one middle square, right side facing down, on top of each top square. Then put one backing square, right side facing up, on top of each middle square. Each stack, starting from the bottom, should now be in this order:

a. top square, right side facing down
b. middle square, right side facing down
c. backing square, right side facing up

Using the marker or pen and the sticky notes, label the stack of squares on the left of each row as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (1 being placed on the left stack of the top row, 2 being placed on the left stack of the 2nd row, and so on…). These sticky notes will not only label the rows, but they will also tell you which stack is in the 1st position in each row. For instance, the stack labeled #1 is the 1st stack of the 1st row, the stack labeled as #2 is the 1st stack in the 2nd row and so on.

If possible, leave the all the stacks of squares out until you are done sewing the quilt. If you need to clear the floor space, pile up the stacks in order in rows. The sticky notes will help separate the rows so you will be able to lay the stacks out when you are able to return to work on your quilt.

2. Construct the Rows

Set up your sewing machine on a clean work surface, such as a sewing desk or a dining room table. Thread the machine, making sure the bobbin is full. Ask a grown up to help you, if you need it. Set out your pins and sewing scissors so they will be available when you need them.

Set the 1st stack of the 1st row (it is the stack labeled #1 with a sticky note) to the right of the sewing machine. Set the sticky note aside for later. Grab the 2nd stack in the 1st row, turn it over in your hands and set it on top of the 1st stack. Since all the fabric is cut in squares, you only need to worry about whether it is facing up or down. Make sure that the 2 stacks placed together are in this order, from the bottom up:

a. 1st stack — top square, right side facing down
b. 1st stack — middle square, right side facing down
c. 1st stack — backing square, right side facing up
d. 2nd stack — backing square, right side facing down
e. 2nd stack — middle square, right side facing up
f. 2nd stack — top square, right side facing up

When you’re sure they’re in the right order, use pins along the right edge to secure the stack together for sewing. Sew through all 6 layers, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Trim threads.
Open up what you’ve just sewn so the backing squares, right sides facing up, are facing you. Place the 3rd stack, top square right side facing up, on top of the 2nd stack and pin the right sides of the 2nd and 3rd stacks together. Sew them together, through all 6 layers, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Trim threads. Repeat with all the remaining stacks of the 1st row.

Put the finished 1st row back in place with the other stacks of squares that haven’t been sewn yet. Make sure you put it back so the 1st stack of the row is on the left side again. Retrieve the sticky note labeled #1 and put it back in place.

Sew the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th rows together the same way as the 1st row. Set each one back in place as you finish it, making sure to put the 1st stack of the row back on the left side of the laid out rows.

3. Sew the Rows Together

Now that all the rows are sewn together, they should all be laid out on the floor in order, with the backing sides facing you. Grab the bottom of the 2nd row and flip it up on top of the 1st row. The top side of the quilt in the 2nd row should be facing up now. Pin the 2 rows together along the bottom of the 1st row (which is lined up with the top of the 2nd row). Pin them so all the seams from before are opened up. Sew these rows together using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Trim threads.
Open up what you’ve just sewn and lay the 1st and 2nd row back down with all the other rows, backing side facing you and back in the proper position. Flip the 3rd row up on top of 2nd row. Now the 3rd row should be right side facing up. Pin the 3rd and 2nd rows together along the bottom of the 2nd row (which is lined up with the top of the 3rd row). Pin all the seams from before open. Sew these rows together using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Trim threads. Add the 4th, 5th and 6th rows in just the same way.

Now pin open the seams on all the outer edges of the quilt. Sew a 1/2-inch seam around the entire outer edge.

Tip: When all sewn together and opened up, the top should have all the raw edges visible, while the back doesn’t have any raw edges visible.

4. Finishing Up

Clip all the raw edges of fabric. Cut straight into the fabric, making the cuts point directly at the seams (but stopping the cuts after they are three-quarters of the way from the edge to the seam). Space the cuts 1/4-inch apart. Each cut should go through all layers. Clip the seams around the outer edge of the quilt, too.

Wash in the washing machine and dry in the dryer with other household items that are the same color. After the first washing, the edges will begin to ravel. The edges will ravel more and begin to look even more natural and cozy with more washings and dryings.

Now that you are all done, you can cuddle up in your rag quilt with a favorite book.

Enjoy your rag quilt!

© Copyright 2006 by Wardeh Harmon. Used with permission from the author.