I'm a new quilter and LOVE scrappy quilts. I can decide in 2 seconds whether I like a quilt or not, and that is based solely on the colors in the quilt. I prefer scrappy quilts that have some type of color theme.

Can you share your advice to create a scrappy quilt that looks like it has a color-theme or is color-unified? (Did I just make up those words?) I've seen photos of scrappy quilts on this board and obviously you know what you're doing!

a multitude of prints but all in basicly the same color group. Not hard to collect but longer to get enough together. To me scrappy is the many many prints used and not necessarily the color.

I think it differs with different people. What I do if I want a controlled scrappy is to chose some colors that I know look good together. IE:, red and blue, pinks and greens, purple and green, orange and yellows. Now add in a third color that to your eye looks good. To the pink and green family I might add some purples, to the orange and yellow group I might add some green. So on and so forth. In the end some of my controlled scrappys end up looking very scrappy, depends on my mood and the fabrics I have.

You can also stick with the same color family, just get plenty of variety and pattern scale and hue.

If your worried about a certain color combo just photo it and put it on this board, the members all have good advice.

Remember to have fun!!

Easiest way it to buy pre-cuts from the same collection and sometimes
same designer. You can get about 40 different fabrics in one collection.

I love scrappy quilts but some are scrappier than others :D
When I want some sort of control effect I usually buy from the same line.
My house could be described as scrappy!!! Nothing matches b/c I love antiques of many kinds but it all works for me.

The easiest way for me is to start with a print that has several colours in it. Then check the little colour dots along the selvedge and pull those for your quilt. If your print has red in it, choose several different fabrics with the same red shade. Often for a scrap quilt, I'll have five or six different fabrics for each colour selected from the chosen print. This method works every time.

There are some scrappy quilts that are basically one main color. Collect many different fabrics with that color and just throw them all together even if they don't really seem to go together. Don't forget to throw in a little bit of color that is close but not the color you are collecting. Red, maroon, pink or lots of shades of green from yellowish to blueish. I've found the hardest to work with are the blues but I've seem some beautiful blue scrappy quilts done. Most of the time even if you think a fabric doesn't work it will in the big picture of the whole quilt.

I'll throw my 2 cents in:

The key to a successful scrap quilt (or any quilt, really) has less to do with color than with VALUE. Value is the key.

If you want to make, let's say, a purple quilt, if you choose all dark purples, even with a nice selection of textures and prints, you're going to get a "blob" of a quilt. The eye doesn't really travel over the whole quilt because there's nothing different about the different sections. No variations.

Now, if that's what you want, and it's for your yellow bedroom, then it will definitely stand out against the walls.

However, if you want some definition in a quilt, imagine now a collection of dark purple fabrics along with a variety of lilac or lighter colored purple fabrics. Again, the color is actually secondary.

I've seen scrap quilts made out of the ugliest fabrics - all colors - but the value placement was so brilliant you didn't really notice.

So my suggestion would be to learn a bit more about value, and how that can make or break or a quilt.

"Spectacular Scraps: A Simple Approach to Stunning Quilts" was a great book by Judy Hoosworth. Much better than some of the more recent ones out there.

Just my 2 cents. And NAYY.

If you want to see a great example of the value of value, there is a blog called http://exuberantcolor.blogspot.com/. She (Wanda?) only works with Kaffe Fasset & the like fabrics. But if you look through her quilts, even though she used blocks as simple as Rail Fence, her quilts are bursting with vibrancy because of her value placement.

Also, scrapquilts.com has some free patterns and additional inspiration and directions.

Good luck.

-MTS

Pick a favorite fabric color and add a contrasting color and use those two fabrics along with any other scraps you have.

Most of my quilts come from similar color values, so they "should" theoretically all go together. When I do a scrappy, I usually presort my scraps and pull out any pieces that I KNOW don't go. From there I like to use light/dark patterns and sort my stash accordingly. My scrappies generally start with a block and I ramdomly sew the blocks. Then I cannot do a pure random layout. I pick and chose my layout and audition it - even if it is a scrappy.

I like 'organized' scrappy! can't help it.

For a controlled scrappy, maybe use all your scraps of the same color family for modified Log Cabin Blocks. Then, to give the quilt a 'unified' look and a place for the eye to rest, use one sashing that contrasts with your scrappy blocks. Maybe off-white. Also, use one fabric for cornerstones.

Try quiltville.com My Blue Heaven is all blues, but you could make it any color set

Stay with one brand of fabric, such as Kona or Moda or one of the others. They use the same dye colors for all their fabric so it is color matched. The variety of prints and solids from one company is the best way to keep from going off in all directions and use one color pearl cotton for the embroidery to either blend or make a statement.

Carol J.

you can make any quilt scrappy. What you do is divide the number of pieces of each color an make that scrappy of the same color family. for example if you need 100 two inch squares in blue, do 10 sets of 10 different blues. works great.

Shelbie, thank you, thank you for your comment. Do you know that I've never really thought about using those little dots as a guide for matching other fabrics. Wow...my brain must be on overload all the time (wink). Thanks again.

someone told me that if you have 20 or more scraps they all go together - Somehow it tricks the eye - I have a friend who does scrappy quilts by just picking up the next piece from her box - scrappy quilts were make do type quilts and people used what they had - good luck

I have a friend who makes the most wonderful scrap quilts. She says you need at least 60 different fabrics to make a scrap quilt. She puts the pieces (she sews strips into a strata and cuts them into triangles and makes squares) and her only rule is that she just makes sure there aren't two alike next to each other. The strips are various width so she doesn't have to worry about matching seams.

Marie M.

What is a Scrappy Quilt? I'm new. Is this the same as buying the charm packs?

I sort my scraps and match to a the main color fabric. The lady who own the LQS that I work at, has plastic boxes with scraps sorted by color. Wish I has the room to do that.

Hugs.

Scappy quilts are made with a quilter's scraps. Sometimes the scraps are left over from other projects. Sometimes, a quilter will buy a few fat quarters or charm packs to put into a scrappy quilt. Sometimes scraps are traded. Interesting tidbit - about a hundred fifty years ago, scrappy quilts were called 'Beggars' Quilts' because quilters would trade fabric scraps or ask for particular colors from their quilting buddies, just as we still do.

Here is a thread that shows many, many scrappy quilts from people on this board.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-40134-1.htm

If you use one neutral/solid color like white, beige, or black in the same spot in each block, it helps to tie the whole quilt together, looking more 'controlled'

to me, scrappy means just that---colors & prints from projects you have finished. not all planned fabrics. I tend to make scrappy quilts in pastels or jewel tones or country/civil tnes or brights/childrens or 30's. Like others have said--you need value changes. and you need over 50-100 different scraps. don't think you have that many ? you will
be surprised when you start looking.
would be fun to have a scrappy exchange--just put a few 3" squares in an envelope & mail.
Brrrrr ! it is cold in Montana today ! big cross-state rivalry in football ! those die-hard fans will be out there, cheering like crazy.

OMG !! I have been on Exhubrant Color site for over an hour ! thank you for posting this site. My hands just itch to get at some fabric. and color is just what I need on this
cold, windy day in Montana. thanks again !

practically all i make are "scrappy" quilts. they are my absolute favorite. if you are making a specific block that let's say has a center piece, in order to make it look more "organized", use the same color for it, doesn't have to be the same fabric, just color. makes a big difference, it's like a "resting place"

I have 3 large bags of scraps that I've collected over the last 12 years, not very large pieces, and every color combination. So, when I decide to make my Scrap quilt I plan to buy at least 2 yards of a fabric with many colors in it such as a floral, then this fabric will be used along with my scraps to unify the look. Make sense???
Good luck, Kutnso