Paattt

Go to the goodwill store, yard sales, any man's closet and pick up 100% cotton shirts. I find the men's clothing is better.. It's not worn as thin as we wear ours. De bone them the way Bonnie Hunter does and you will have more than enough light coloured scraps. The fabric in these shirts is the best... and it feels good to take them apart.

carolynjo

Check out thrift shops for shirts and skirts to add to your light fabrics.

Sewnoma

I don't see a problem using all darks. I'd probably set up a very gradual gradient across the quilt where one corner is the lightest and its opposite corner is darkest. It'd be subtle, but I like subtle sometimes.

charlottequilts

Myself, I'd be hesitant to use used shirts as a light. You never know what might be embedded in the fabric that could reappear later, maybe in ironing, like spots that can appear on clothing that was stored. Perspiration, cologne, residuals from moisturizers , bodywash, fabric softeners, drugs excreted through the skin. If I needed to get good fabric cheaply, a new sheet from a sale or outlet store would be a better bet. JMO, of course.

hugs,
Charlotte

JanieH

I have also had to buy lights for scrap quilts. But it does get the other scraps used.

WMUTeach

Ask some one to trade with you 50/50. Only the cost of the mailed package. I love scraps and have finished 4 scrappy tops since Christmas. OK, Michigan has had lots of snow and I have been able to stay home from the iuniversity because of nasty slippery roads. Now, I have to sandwich and quilt!

Wild8580

I am always replenishing my lights in my stash. I shop LQS, Thousands of bolts, on-line shops, etc. Hancocks of Paducah sells moda muslin by the bolt at a discounted price depending on the yardage. Be careful of some of the Muslins sold at the big box stores. Some of them are so thin, I'm afraid they won't wear well.

cindynvb

I'd try to find a pattern that uses more darks than lights, or one that relies on color rather than value.
If you really need to use a light you could use a coupon at joann's and buy a few yards of a solid Mona. Wouldn't cost too much and you'd still be using up some scraps.

maviskw

Here is a very nice pattern that used mostly darks in each block. You only need a light to start in the corner.

Oops! only half the pattern got copied. I'll go see if I can find the other half.

MargeD

I try to keep a balance of lights, mediums and darks, however, I'm afraid most of my fabrics are mediums, but when purchasing fabric I try to add a balance, adding more lights and darks when I need them, plus I try to keep extra yardage of whites and creams when I find them on sale. Sometimes you only need a few lights to make your quilt sizzle.