I have a controlled scrappy black & bright Jewel Box. We swapped Black & Bright HST's on one of my quilting groups several years ago and then we had another swap of Black & Bright Jewel Box blocks. I set mine on diagonally with sashing. I don't have a picture yet as it still needs some quilting in the sashing. It was very simple to sit and sew the blocks, though. You might want to check out Pinwheel Star, Barbara Fritchie Star and many others that use lots HST's. Another idea is sort of faux flying geese with them.

I just did a scrapy quilt named FEED SACKS. The only way you can mess it up is to over plan your fabric placement or selection. The tendency is to make every block beautiful but in the end the individual blocks don't seen to matter. After I finished all the blocks I just moved them around to distribute the most outstanding colors. Pattern is in a Patchwork Place book named SCRAP-BASKET SURPRISES by Kim Brackett.

I love scrappy quilts too, but tend to do it in an 'organized' way. I tend to love particular fabric designers (Kansas Troubles, Jo Morton, Judie Rothermel) so I know if I am using fabrics from the same designer, even if they come from different fabric lines, they will all "play well" together. I guess that is my way of making it somewhat organized.

Suzanne

I'm a free form type of gal and don't use any type blocks. I just take scraps and start sewing and make it as large as I want to.

At least that is how I did the first three tops.

Now I still free form sew pieces of fabrics together and than take my Go and Studio dies and cut those into shapes like squares, rectangles and such to create yet another one of a kind type quilt, rag quilt, whatever.

I've been more successful with it than I ever thought I would so much so that I've been asked to teach a class on it with two different guilds in the area.

I see alot of folks do what you are thinking of doing and they also turn out wonderful scrappy's. I think there can be no such thing as a bad looking scrappy no matter how you decide to do it.

Look for a pattern first, that will help you with the fabric choice and placement of the pieces.

I have always been interested in Stained Glass, but have never actually taking a class. I found a "quilting book" on stained glass patterns. Got so excited; and, am in the process of doing a Cat wall hanging for my elderly aunt who had to give up her cats. Anyway, I started looking at stained glass patterns on-line. There are 1000's - and, you can change the size.

This is a great way to get unusual designs for quilts. Thought I might try a scrappy quilt this way. Has anyone ever used one of these patterns to make a quilt?

I love scrappy, the more fabrics used, the happier I am. But it has to be an organized scrappy with a pattern and a neutral color to pull it together.

I save 2.5" x 4.5" scraps in a bag. Then when I have time I use white 2.5" squares and make a Bright Hopes pattern. Sometimes it gets sashed with the neutral color. Makes a quick charity quilt.

I LOVE scrappy quilts and make more scrappy quilts than themed ones. One of my favorite and easy to make with HST's is the Depression block. It is easy because I put a light fabric against a dark fabric for the HST's, then I fill a paper bag that I can't see through and pull out the HST's randomally to make each block. Here is the pattern site. http://www.quilterscache.com/D/DepressionBlock.html This is a free pattern and a great way to use up bunches of scraps.
Julia

I started scrappy quilting this summer and my first was just 2 inch squares, random colors and order and it came out much better than I expected. It's not an impressive quilt, but I feel I can use it as a utility quilt. It is riding around in my car for emergencies, cold days at an outdoor event or heaven forbid, stalled in a snow storm.

My other scrappy quilts were more planned but not much more. I guess I need to post some photos but.....I haven't taken any of them yet. (Four tops finished but not quilted)

I have seen some exquisite scrappy quilts on this site. You just would never have guessed that they were made from the odds and ends of other work.

Bottom line, as we often hear on this site... "It is your quilt, do what pleases YOU." Have fun with your planning and I look forward to seeing your efforts some time soon.

I think mine must fall into the "controlled" scrappy group--I don't really intend it that way, but when my strip piecing is done, there is usually a dominant color scheme.