Been there, done that. I just grab squares from a pile, trying to get one light then one dark and sew them together. If two end up side by side, so what? It will make someone smile and say,Oh look, she made a mistake,ha ha. We make and tie scrappy quilts for charity and no one has returned any because there were two alike side by side. Have fun, let your hair down and sew away. I love all the different colors, designs and fabrics, we make them to get things done. When sewing for charity, quantity is more important than matching squares. You won't win any prizes but someone will be grateful for a warm quilt of many colors.

Carol J.

I'm not fond of "scrappy" that's totally random. But I did manage to give some order to this one by using the large triangles. Some parts of it I like and some I don't like.

That's what I had to do too, for the first few scrappies. After a while, it gets easier. There are those who control the colors used or print, or theme. It's totally your choice and they all turn out just great!

That's what I had to do too, for the first few scrappies. After a while, it gets easier. There are those who control the colors used or print, or theme. It's totally your choice and they all turn out just great!

I also have never been able to made a scrappy...but am FINALLY starting my first one! Batiks are my favorite fabrics, so thought if I used them, it would be easier on me. I am FORCING myself NOT to match! I am even using scrappy pieces for the light background, and constantly am questioning whether that was the right choice. :roll:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-115337-1.htm

when it comes to colors on scrap quilts i watch not to get the same color next to each other but god put all different colors together in plants flowers etc and they are all beauiful together so if you get that quilt out and finish it will also be beauiful

Some of my best quilts were where I did not try to match but just picked up strips (log cabin) or small pieces (double wedding ring). But, that is difficult to make yourself do at first.

I am presently working on a scrap quilt, but the centers, corners and sashing is controlled. As I walked through the room and glanced at the design wall this morning, I just said to myself (before I read these posts) that "this quilt is turning out to be blue and brown from a distance". And yet, I have reds, purples, yellows, greens, browns, blacks, blues and more in it. But, from a distance, this is what it is looking like so far.

Amazing how color works, isn't it?

I pull the piece out and sew it - anything goes in a scrap quilt - colors do not have to match or go together. The results are often better than a well planned quilt.

I have trouble not trying to "match" too. Just recently I started a scrappy from 2.5 inch squares, when the pieces are small they do blend. I am actually excited about the one I am working on. Another method that pulls all the colors together is a one color background.

I like Alex Anderson's scrappy methods. She uses lights and darks AND mediums. I think by using 3 values it gives just the right amount of definition to the colors in the quilts. In other words, scrappy or not, it makes the quilt's colors pop rather than looking flat, or muddied. Just my .02 cents worth.

I like what Alex says in the following paragraphs:
"... Color selection remains a mystery for many quilters of all levels. Sometimes the most meticulous stitcher just does not have the eye for color. Alex explains that she spent the first 15 years of her quilting career – despite her college degree in art – feeling uncertain about colors and fabric choices in her quilts. One day she realized she was sorting her quilt fabrics by colors, not values.

“Value is simply a matter of light, medium or dark,” she explained. To make a successful quilt, Alex says the quilter must use all three fabric values – a light, a medium, and a dark. An exception might be made for baby quilts, she added, since soft colors generally tend to be light in the choices we make for babies.

“In the olden days when I taught, I would tell people to put it in three piles,” Alex said. She has since changed her teaching method. “Now when I teach, I’ll say, ‘Put it in the light pile. Put it in the dark pile,” The third pile is the medium pile. All colors that cannot be identified as either light or dark are put in it.

Just when you think your trip to the fabric store will be easier, Alex notes that light and dark fabrics are not easy to find. This is because manufacturers create the fabrics that will sell more easily, most of which fall into the medium category.

Many of the light and dark fabrics are boring, she explained. Companies concentrate on producing a bulk of fabrics with medium color values, then add in only a couple of lights and darks that might coordinate.

But, if you don’t have lights and darks in your quilts, they will look flat. To step around this obstacle, Alex advises quilters to always have an eye open for fabrics with light and dark values. When you run across these fabrics, buy a little for your stash. ... "

Please, see this site where she explains more:
http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/151...rson-color.php