I was working in a local quilt shop when I first learned to quilt. One of the "senior" employees started cutting 2 1/2" strips off of all the end of the bolt fabrics. I asked her what she was going to do with them. She said she was going to make a quilt. I couldn't figure out how she was going to make a quilt with all those different fabrics. Some plain pieces, some florals, some Christmas, some juvenile prints, some everything. I never figured it would work. So - it turned out absolutely awesome! I was so surprised, and it taught me a good lesson. Your fabrics don't have to match to make a very nice quilt.