Not Random Enough
 

I like a lot of colors. I love scrappy quilts, but no matter how well I think I am planning, something always ends up being too close to another piece of the same fabric (at least to my eyes).

Does someone have a way to "plan" random? Will it come down to pinning numbered pieces of paper to each square?

Depends on how much it matters to you.

I do know what you mean about "random enough" - and it does bother me if there are "clumps" of color in spots when I want them "scattered."

I have 250 different Christmas fabrics so I wanted to make a scrappy Christmas quilt, I cut out all the squares and put them in order of background color only, then I went one at a time and put them in rows. Or you could start in the center and work out. Center row then the row above and then the row below.
I then pick up a row at a time and then I number the row.

the design wall helps where I can step back, then rearrange before sewing. People seem to be able to throw anything together and it looks good. I'm not one of them.

Design wall. Much easier than trying to lay pieces out on the floor or a table. I put my pieces up on the design wall and then take a pic with my cell phone. That really helps since sometimes I notice things in the photo that I didn't see when lookin at the real thing. Also you can turn the photo into a black and white pic and see if you've got the values arranged the way you want them.

Rob

If you plan it, it isn't random any more.

I use the put the scraps in the bag and pull them out. If I don't like what I pulled next to what I have, just toss it back and pull again. Look up Bonnie Hunters Quiltsville you will see her method and see is the queen of scrappy.
peace

The last scrappy I did was six inch blocks from my largest scrap bin, I'd do a row and then step back and then make a few more rows then lay them out, go watch a show or something else for a bit then come back and look at it again. It took longer but I'm very happy with the result

Wow....very smart!!

True, it becomes "organized scrappy," which is just fine too. :)

Dina

The last scrappy I did was a extra large Christmas tree skirt. I made the rows with random charm squares, but I used the design wall to help keep the same squares side by side. That is about as random as I have done so far.
Mike

A design wall is a good idea, but I thought I did not have enough room for that.....until I saw a picture of one. I have something Jim made me with those black metal clips on a long board, to hang quilts and tops to take their photographs. I have just hung a moderate sized piece of batting on it. "Poof" I have a design wall. Thanks everyone. :)

I use dining table for kid sized quilts, my full size bed for full size or a tad larger. I mark rows with washable markers. Sometimes they still get out place because I turn a different way to sew. When thar happens I either rip or just live with it.

a friend and i discovered at a retreat that we can notice "mis-placement" of colors better when we look through the camera lens

I wish there were space for a design wall, but don't have it. Having one would really help on scrappy quilts. One reason why my seam ripper stays sharp and ready to rip!!

That is what I don't like about "scrappy". I find I spend more time "planning" layout for scrappy quilts than planned quilts.

I've done a few totally random, and then accept what I get. Most often what I want is not random, but a nice intermix of variety with as little repeat as possible. Doing that takes a lot of planning!

I use this method all the time. It surprises me what I find with a picture, that I did not see just looking at the design wall. Very helpful.

I can't do random. Hung batting on one wall, that is my design wall. Good luck. 😇

Try this: A wall hanging made with 9 Ohio Star blocks. Make all the star points in as many different color reds as you have that are near the same value or color saturation.

Make the star centers 4P or 9P in all blues close to the same color value or color saturation

Make the back grounds in all different off whites or creamy whites. Use as many as you can in each block

You can use what ever three color combination you want. Pinks, greens, creams; golds, purple, greens; teals, corals, browns.

This will give you some practice in choosing colors randomly for each color but the placement of the color is uniform.

I'm with the brown paper bag!!! Somehow it ends up looking just great. I have tried other ways that aren't as great in the end.

Random means just that.

Mim

a good way is to put lights in one pile and darks in one pile then don't try to match them, just pick them up and go. We did that with scrappy log cabin quilts in our quild and they turned out very pretty.

True random is extremely difficult for me because I want to arrange and control. Random does not allow for arranging and controlling. I have learned to accept that I am not a random kind of person. Scrappy does not have to be random.

A random quilt means just that to me. I cut out strips of fabric 3" wide and no longer than 12". I then put all of the scraps into a laundry basket and reach in to grab a strip. I sew the strips together end to end and the only time I put a strip back is if it is identical to the last strip. I keep sewing until I have a ball of fabric that is bigger than a basketball. I then cut the row of strips the width I need for my quilt. I put the rows of strips back into the laundry basket and I randomly join the rows together until my quilt is the length I need. I call mine a Brick Wall and I am always amazed at how they turn out.

I "plan it" by intentionally placing the same fabrics together throughout the quilt. Once I'm happy that it happens then it isn't a problem anymore. I agree that the more you struggle with it, the more likely it is to happen and only happen once appearing like a mistake. The more you plan, the less scrappy.

The design wall I use, is a large section of picnic tablecloth that I have stapled on and raped around a 1 x 2 piece of wood. I have a hole in each end I hang on nails I put into the wall (and remove when done). The lines on the front show through to the back. The fabric I got from Joann's, but probably available elseware. I do have to take the photos off the wall before I use it.

I have found it does not really matter in the whole scheme of things. When it all goes together, it will look great.

I know the feeling! I made a king size quilt for our bed using 14 different fabrics. I just couldn't seem to find an arrangement that didn't have some of the fabrics touching the same fabric. I find that it doesn't actually bother me at all, and I have to look closely to even find them.

Good luck! I guess "random" means "random"!

[QUOTE=rryder;7825986]Design wall. Much easier than trying to lay pieces out on the floor or a table. I put my pieces up on the design wall and then take a pic with my cell phone. That really helps since sometimes I notice things in the photo that I didn't see when lookin at the real thing. Also you can turn the photo into a black and white pic and see if you've got the values arranged the way you want them.

Exactly, minus the b/w - I haven't learned that talent. Brains work better looking at a vertical layout as opposed to a horizontal.