As I complete projects, I've been taking the remnants & cutting them in to various sized strips (mostly 2 1/2") and 5 1/2" blocks... I want to make 'something' from all this crap (I mean scraps) but nothing matches! How does one decide on a quilt pattern for this stuff!?! How does one take a bunch of unrelated/fugly fabrics & bring them together to create something beautiful (or it least something SOMEONE may want)???

Add one constant color fabric to the mix. I usually use a white or light color to blend the scraps together in block. Pinwheel, Snowball, and Log Cabin make great scrap quilts.

In my 9 patch I wanted the most varied variety of diffret fabrics I could come up with. Nothing matches block to block but the two fabrics within the blocks match. I love the results.

What a great idea, I wouldn't have thought to do that.
Another reason I love this site so much.

Using a dark color with the scraps can give a quilt an amish look.

In a 9 patch, you can use the darks on the corners and center and lights for the rest for another look.

Or look at other patterns that use light and dark fabrics to draw out certain aspects of a block :D:D:D

Love it!!! How large were your pieces to make the 9 patch?? It looks so comforting :D

Sometimes for inspiration I will google and look at the pages of pictures that come up :D:D:D

http://images.google.com/images?sour...ed=0CBsQsAQwAA

That's what I would do too.

I get so much info on here.

I love your scrappy quilt. Someday I want to make one too.

I would like to recommend a site on scrap quilting www.quiltville.com Each free pattern on the site has how to choose scraps for it to make it cohesive. Hope it helps!
liblueeyes

Each 9 patch is 6 inches.

One approach is to disregard the color...go with light and dark. With scrappy it's more about contrast...not about color combination. Try not to focus on what a single block looks like...think about how the quilt top will look. kwhite's pictured example is visual proof that everything will go together beautifully if the contrast is there...and the smaller patches make all those scraps sparkle. It's hard for some of us to break the matchy matchy habit...but it can be so much fun...and so liberating! Good for you for actually cutting your scraps into useable shapes...you're halfway there... Good luck!

Google Scrap patterns, or Bonnie Hunts website. You'll see what would work for you...

Kwhite - I love the results too. That's a beautiful quilt.

If the fabrics weren't ugly when they were "planned" why would you call them ugly now? There may be some values that should not go together but all in all, the plan of a scrap quilt is to not have a plan.

One method (that I have not mastered) is the paper bag method where you separate the scraps into colors and each color goes into a brown bag.

When you sew the pattern, the only decision you have to make is which color is next. Then without looking, you pull a piece from the bag and you must use it (unless it is a duplicate of the previous piece). It is a freeing experience.

Here is a closeup of a somewhat random scrapper (darks and lights) from my stash. The key is not to look at each piece but wait for the quilt as a whole.

Well, off the top of my head you could make a scrappy D9P or check out quiltville.com.

Here's a scrappy d9p I did, and a scrappy one I made for my hubby (my own pattern).

My niece for her first quilt just put squares together that I bought off EBAY. I think the only thing that matches is that they are some crazy fabs. Picture posted.

Kyia

Sorry double post. It didn't post first time.

Kyia

I think the discussion on this thread has been the most useful to date. Thanks for all the great things, I've learned more about scrappy quilts right now than ever before. The only one I've made was a mystery quilt and it turned out okay, so I'm not sure why making another seems such a big deal. There just hasn't seemed to be any good way to sort scraps........until now. I can feel the fear dropping away.

I'd just like to add my thanks also. Up to now I've not been 'brave' enough to do a scrappy quilt, despite having a bag full of scraps and strips.

I just shut my eyes to it and left it getting fuller as I used all the other stash. Will look at it again and might have a go later this year.
Thank you

What I find best to do when using scraps is to put them all into a bag and what I pull out is what I use..... don't laugh it works believe it or not.
I love scrap quilting and have people give me their scraps.
I have posted several scrap quilts on this site and so have others and they all look great.......... one of the quilts I did was a scrappy double Irish chain..... which I love.
Good luck with what ever pattern you choose.... will be looking forward to seeing your scrap quilt.

Here's what some friends and I am doing... we began in July and each of the six of us chose two blocks we thought could be done scrappily... I, personally, am using all florals but it is VERY scrappy. If a block (snail trail) is used I use color families to make the pattern but do it scrappy... I am learning alot about darks, lights, and mediums... two of the blocks that were chosen were not good ones for scrappy (in my humble opinion) but they were chosen so I did what I could. It has been a blast and I cannot wait to get my blocks done and made into a quilt for our guest room.

I love that. It gives me hope that someday I will stop being matchy matchy and make something like that.

Gather up those 5 1/2 inch blocks and go to

http://www.quilterstv.com/

and look at Billie Lauder's four patch video. It is such a cool way to use up scraps and it looks super fast and easy.

Take a deep breath and jump into the deep end, there is some really good suggestions already, pick one and go with it, if you need help after than just give a shout.

Great post and discussion...All these scrap quilts are stunning and the advice (as usual) gives us all something to think about and an opportunity to try new ideas and extend our creative endeavours.

I recently bought a big pile of "scraps" at a church opportunity shop...the lady at the counter looked at my "treasure" and said to her colleague "how much do we charge for rags"...I said, "Hey, these aren't rags they're potential quilts"...still only paid a dollar...and as I left I saw them shrugging and shaking their heads.

Just watched Billie Lauder's four patch video.......so good!! Thanks Lisa.

Try as I might....I just cannot do the "pick from a sack" and go with it...I must be anal....but I soooo love the look of true scrap quilts! kwhite...yours is gorgeous!

I can only hope that someday I can put on blinders and be able to just pick one and sew... :lol:

Try this site. She has a bizillion ideas for scrap quilts!! I especially like the strip quilt blocks.
http://www.quiltville.com/index.html

my kind of quilt. ;) ;) ;)

along with all the other good ideas that have been thrown out there her's mine. You can sew a number of blocks together, say 4 x 4 or what every size you want, then use black to frame them. In the end it looks sorta like a stain glass window.
good luck and please post pictures of your progress! and of course a pictures of the finished quilt.

What about a crazy quilt. I have not yet made one but I am saving scraps for one. Google crazy quilt. :D

Tried to find the videos on easymade.com after registering but did not see them. What am I missing? -- probably good eyesight. Love Bonnie Hunter's scrap quilts and have made about 6 of the scrappy bargello and after being in one of her talks at a quilt guild meeting am working on the "Virginia Bound" found in her new book Scraps and Shirttails. Has anyone else tried this one? I'm using up my dark and light fabric and gradually collecting plaid and striped shirts for the next one.

Thanks for sharing the pictures of the scrap quilts. Awesome! The nine patch inspired me today to go through my scraps--love a 9-patch! I saw a guest quilter on a quilting show and she was color blind. She can only tell lights and darks and makes wonderful quilts. She literally puts lights in one bag and medium and darks in another. Thank you for the inspiration!

Another great way to use up scraps, particularly irregular cuts, is the crumb quilt. There are some fabulous instructions for the crumb square in the tutorial section.

Ooo, that's a good idea!! Thanks.

I took a class from Lynn Roddy Brown on scrap quilting. The supplies list was 4 dark and 4 light fabrics. There were about 20 in the class. We all made 4 squares with our fabrics and then Lynn put them on the wall. Amazing what it looked like when none of us had anywhere near the same fabrics.

I found a beautiful FREE pattern at www.quilterscache.com for a postage stamp basket quilt. uses small pieces, I think I will add this one to my file. :thumbup: