I took a class one time where they gave us two grocery bags of fabric and we had to pull from them without looking. One bag was lights, one was darks, it turned out fine.

I just purchased a book by Sally Schneider: "Crazy for Scraps"
She spent two pages explaining "scrappy" ... she has it down to three different categories:
Themed (all 1930s, or Christmas, or cowboy, or reproduction, or oriental) - - or a chosen color way
Then, there is the planned scrappy, where each part of the block is a certain color, or a block is determined, with each block being a different set of colors
And, then the basic scrappy of: dark and light
I have control issues, so pulling colors from a bag is not my first idea of "fun" <g> ... but, everyone ought to try it at least once, just so why you will or will not ever do it again!
One of my friends gave me a bunch of five inch squares, where there were precious few lights, so you didn't have that light/dark option ... to accomplish the "sew it together as it comes from the bag" ... don't separate your colors into stacks of anything, though I did find myself not allowing myself to put two geometrics or flowers together, JUST to get the texture varied.

http://www.quiltville.com
the scrap quilter's best friend. The pattern that will best show the tube quilt idea is her postage stamp pattern (which are not one inch squares - - but they could be! <g>) as our friend before me pointed out, she did five inch blocks. <wave>

I am getting ready for my first quilt. I am going to do the braid quilt, and then I seen the disappearing 4 patch. so now I am stuck on which one I should do. any suggestions for me would be appreciated. thank you. Penny

Those are beautiful quilts. Here is a link to a tube tutorial: http://www.quiltville.com/streakofsunshine.shtml
We use this pattern for Project Linus quilts. They turn out so cute! I don't know if it is the same pattern that was used for that darling purple quilt, but I think it is similar.

Thanks so much for all the comments. I have started sewing, and I am trying not to be TOO fussy. I want it to look random but there are some colors that just cannot go next to each other.

Melissa, your quilt turned out fine. Squares are so easy and fun. That is what I am doing now. It is called Boxed Squares and I am using the brightest colors I have. Will show a pic when the top is done.

our guild is working on Scrappy Strip Twists. What a variety! Seems almost anything looks great and as you put the blocks
together they bring out another block. Can't give you the site
right now as my pattern is at my friend's house, maybe quilt.com?

I've cut 5 in square from every fabric I own and making yo-yo's for an old fashioned memory quilt they are easy to carry and work up fast with the new templates. Good luck!

Thank you Anne. The Lap quilt Suzie helped me one turned out darling.

My most treasured quilt that I made was a scrappy. When I started it was supposed to be a gift for a friend. Its in muted autumn colors with bright pink thrown in. As I got farther along in making it, I really started to love it. Needless to say, I never gave it as a gift.

Don't angonize... I think it takes some of fun out a a scrappy quilt. I perfer a scrap quilt, I'll alternate between doing a 'planned' scrap, and random scrap. I've attached photos of the planned scrap log cabin I'm going and my last 'blind' scrap

I just love your planned log cabin, it's beautiful! My daughter wants me to make her son a logcabin and she wants certain colors so I'm hoping mine comes out as pretty as yours.

My avatar quilt is a scrappy, I just picked out fabrics, some I've not used before, remmants and just started cutting up strips. It was for Brother-In-Law and new wife. They loved it. I didn't know what colors she liked or anything about her. They love it. I have yet to see a quilt that isn't pretty. I think all colors look good together. Until a couple of years ago I did nothing but, matchy,matchy I am doing more log cabins and I like that I don't have to worry about matching anymore.

That's the magic of quilts. Most everything you put together looks fantasic. Relax, have fun and let it happen.

Here's a link to a very scrappy quilt

http://z.about.com/d/quilting/1/0/K/...-block.jpghttp://quilting.about.com/od/blockofthemonth/ss/coffin-star-quilt-pattern.htm?nl=1

I wittle and I still werning.....................
YTQ

Very nice. I like the colors. I worked on mine for over 4 hours today. I have over 60 of the little blocks done. The Boxed Squares pattern goes very quickly. We have our regular quilting at church tomorrow. I am thinking I want to take them with me and start matching them up with each other.

vjengels-- I LOVE the scrappy log cabin! I'm inspired now!!! thank you!!

After seeing your quilt I started one for my grandson, it turned out ok just not as pretty as yours. I'll post a picture once I have it quilted.