Rags in the Kitchen

If there is one thing you can never have enough of in the kitchen, it’s dishcloths and potholders! Using our GO! Rag Square you can sew these up in a jiffy! It’s a great way to use up scraps and use your rags in the kitchen!

Because this die already has the raggedy edges cut out, using them for any project is so much quicker and easier than the traditional method of using scissors to cut the fringe later.
It is also a very forgiving method of sewing squares because any mistakes are hidden after the projects have been through the wash. If you’ve never tried this die before, then these dishcloths and potholders are a perfect introduction to the rag square method!

Let’s make some Raggy Dish Cloths!

Materials:

  1. AccuQuilt GO! Big or GO! Fabric Cutter
  2. AQ55013 GO! Rag Square – 8 ½”
  3. AQ55000 GO! Square – 6 ½” (6” finished)
  4. AQ55111 GO! Cutting Mat 10” x 10”
  5. Assorted scraps or matching fat quarters
  6. Scraps of batting
  7. (2) 18cm (7”) pieces of ricrac (or ribbon)
  8. Sewing Machine
  9. Matching Sewing Thread
  10. General Sewing Tools
  11. Optional: Walking foot
  12. Optional: Heat resistant batting e.g. Insul-Bright

Cutting Instructions:

  1. To make two Dishcloths:
    • Using AQ55451 GO! Rag Square – 8 ½”
      • Cut (4) Rag squares from assorted scraps or fat quarters
    • Using AQ55000 GO! Square – 6 ½”
      • Cut (2) squares of batting
  2. To make two Potholders:
    • Using AQ55451 GO! Rag Square – 8 ½”
      • Cut (4) rag squares from assorted scraps or fat quarters
    • Using AQ55000 GO! Square – 6 ½”
      • Cut (4) squares of batting

Sewing Instructions:

Using a walking foot can help avoid the layers from moving in this project while you are sewing.

For the Dishcloths:

  1. Place one square of batting in between two rag squares, right sides facing out.
  2. Sew a diagonal line from corner to corner. Cut thread. Sew another diagonal line between the other two corners.
  3. Sew all the way around the square one time, overlapping at the start and end with a small backstitch.
  4. Pop the rag dishcloths in the washing machine and dryer and then you are done!

Dishcloth Fabric Options:

100% cotton is recommended to make these dishcloths. Quilting scraps are perfect, but other options are absorbent fabric like flannel and toweling. Microfibre fabric would also be perfect, and all these fabrics are still easily used with the die and cutter!

dishcloths

For the Potholders:

  1. Place two squares of batting in between two rag squares, right sides facing out.
  2. Fold the 18cm (7”) piece of ricrac in half and pin to one of the corners.
  3. Place your needle on top of the ricrac and do a few stitches back and forth to secure it in place. Then keep sewing a diagonal line from corner to corner. Cut thread. Sew another diagonal line between the other two corners.
  4. Sew all the way around the square one time, overlapping at the start and end with a small backstitch.
  5. Pop the rag potholders in the washing machine and dryer and then you are done!

Potholders before and after washing:

potholder before after washing

Potholder Options:

If you would prefer thicker potholders, then use more batting squares. You can also use insulated batting, but this makes them stiffer which I don’t like as much.

Conclusion:

Creating reusable Potholders and Dishcloths with the AccuQuilt GO! Rag Square die, is a great way to reduce waste in the kitchen! Don’t throw away, wash and reuse.

Want to reduce waste even more? Why not try using your scrap stash to make your Pot holders and Dishcloths.

We would love to see your creations come to life! Tag us @AccuQuilt.Australia on Facebook or @accuquilt_australia on Instagram.

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