Scrap quilt - mixing fabrics
 

I should just make a signature that says, "I am a newb, please help!" Lol

I was gifted a bunch of fabric, with quite varied prints, and have decided on making a scrap quilt like this one: http://www.52quilts.com/2012/08/sund...rap-vomit.html

The fabric all seems to be discount store quality (which is fine... gift horse you know) printed cottons, some of which appear to be pre-washed. I already have some scrap 2.5" squares of quilt shop quality unwashed fabrics, including some batiks.

Do you think it would be okay to mix those in? I wonder if the batiks would stick out like a sore thumb, if the different quality fabrics would be an issue, and how much of a problem mixing washed/unwashed stuff would be..

I wouldnt go with this method. There are better easier ways to get the same result using strips instead of a zillion little squares

Yikes! Please say you're going to call it something other then "Scrap Vomit"! :)

Please go to www.Quiltville.com and read about Bonnie Hunter' s scrap user system and look at her quilts. She also has MANY free patterns and a blog which is lots of fun. She uses lots of scraps, including squares. Also, if you like the colors, use the batiks - the more variety, the better the scrappy quilt! :-)

I agree with sewplease.

I see no problem with using individual squares. In fact, I enjoy the process of sewing the squares and rectangles and prefer that method. The "quicky" strip set methods just don't do it for me. I feel like I don't get enough variety in my scrap fabrics. By accident I once made a Burgoyne Surround using individually cut pieces rather than strip sets and found it to be a lot of fun to do the piecing.

IMHO there is no problem in mixing different qualities of fabric. To me, that is what scrappy is all about. If the fabric is very thin or a very loose weave I might consider skipping using it just so that I don't have a worn area after just a few washes. Otherwise, the more fabrics the merrier and the more variety the better.

All that being said, this is YOUR quilt and you get to do what you want. I would go ahead and add in the batiks where their color fits in and I wouldn't worry too much about pre-washed and non-pre-washed fabrics. Personally, I do pre-wash all of my fabrics to ensure I don't have shrinkage issues. But, in this case I wouldn't hesitate to use what you have.

It's all in the eye of the beholder. I personally do not like mixing batiks with cottons because the colors are not the same, they do not match. And matching is VERY important if you are neurotic. To each his own. It's not wrong (except in my house).

Personally would not use the batik until I had wAshed and allowed all the dye to drain out. I used a very small piece of a green batik in an applique picture. Washed the quilt before gifting and it ran and spoiled the whole quilt. I did put colour catchers in the wash as well.
Just a word of advise.i am not a scrappy person so no advice there.

This beholder mixes batiks with anything. I tell my daughter it all matches once it's sewn together. I do have limitations on what colors I will put next to each other, but not fabrics.

Batiks would work for me but wash first. Have fun

Mix it all up. Have fun with it. Lay out the pieces together. See if you like how it looks together. You would be surprised as to what works together. Scrap quilts are great.

It's going to be hard to get just one clear cut answer to your questions. As I'm sure you noticed by now. All is not black and white in quilting. Some people always prewash. Some never do. Some never do until a red bleeds, then they always do.

I don't prewash, as of yet. I also present all quilts unwashed. In my eyes, when I hand them off, they're good. I know they will get wrinkly after being washed and tell the new owner to wash in cold water and it's up to them how they want to dry the quilt.

If it's your quilt, you can add batiks in your scrappy quilt if you want to. I'd recommend laying your scraps out on a table or a larger piece of fleece [(that's been stapled to a large piece of cardboard). This fleece piece can lean up next to a wall and all cotton pieces will magically stick and not fall down]. See how the batiks look, if they blend or stand out. It's your quilt. Do what you want to and learn from it. It was all a gift, after all. When you are done show the gift giver what you've made! Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of quilting!!!

I would have no problem using the batiks. I would, however, absolutely avoid the poor quality stuff. If you don't, a couple of years down the road, you will end up with holes in your quilt where the junk fabric used to be. I speak from experience here. Toss the junk fabric into the trash so that you will no longer be tempted to use it!

There are controlled scrappy and just scrappy. Your quilt can be done however you want it. I have grown to really like just scrappy and think they look really good. My Daughter does mostly just scrappy and that is what she likes, always looks good to us.
I would not use the thinner stuff with the better quality. I would use all the thinner fabrics to make a dog or cat quilt or a utility quilt. I would not mix them in the same quilt. Just my opinion.

I use a variety of fabrics all the time including batiks. If you like it go for it. Be sure to use a shout color catcher when you wash the quilt for the first time. this will take care of any bleeding. Some people posted ideas on how to make this type of quilt different then the original pattern you showed. You might want to research those before starting but if you like sewing together all little squares there is nothing wrong with that. I do second throwing out very poor quality fabric. You know the type you can see through.

I would not use the good quality fabrics and the batiks along with the poor quality fabric.

I would use the cheap fabric as a practice quilt to work on techniques for cutting and sewing and quilting. Then after completing the practice quilt, I would use the batiks and better quality fabric for a better quality, beautiful quilt that you can be so much more proud of!

I think your fabrics should be fine together, I would use the batiks. Good luck and have fun!!!!!

Ditto. But I wash like colors together. Use the color catchers and go to Bonnie's site for other ideas. if you have any small pieces I would put them into a lingerie bag. I have a few that help keep small scraps together. Please don't call it Scrap Vomit either. Call it Scrap Menagerie or something like that.

I am an incurable scrap addict. I say the more the merrier. And I rarely pre-wash my fabrics, and frequently mix prewashed with unwashed. I've never had any serious problems. Yet. But if it's really going to be a scrappy, I wouldn't worry about mixing batiks with traditionals with reproductions, whatever, whatever. Just go for it and have fun. That's the idea of a scrap quilt.

That being said, I don't know if I would do this for a first project. You might want to try something a little more simple and controlled where you know what to expect. Scrappies are fun to me because I never quite know what I'm going to wind up with. But that can be a little disconcerting for a beginner who's not all that confident yet if you don't like what you wind up with.

I recently did a scrappy top that combines a little bit of everything from favorites to "why would anyone ever pick this" fabrics. It came out great and one of these days I will get around to finishing it. Lol!

I would not use any fabric that are kind of thin. This might be a problem when you wash a few times. Otherwise have fun and mix them all up.

You can mix the fabrics as you desire, however if there are a few that are really thin or coarsely woven, I would discard them as they won't wear with the rest.

The name of that quilt just turns me off..........and the quilt itself is a bit shabby looking....I like scrappy quilts, but not this one........look around, there may be another you will like too, even if you may have to add a neutral background to the mix.

i mixed batiks with cottons
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being a happy to do scrappy person- and that is my totally favorite kind of quilt to work on, I would look at the Bonnie Hunter website and check out all her free patterns before settling on this particular quilt. some pretty stunning quilts can be made that are scrappy- my favorite one that I have made is a crumb block one. I don't know if I can go back to my stash to do anything but scrappy after doing some of Bonnies.

I wouldn't call it Scrap Vomit either; be willing to bet you were joking about that. Please prewash the batik and any other really dark fabric that might cause problems. As far as combining fabric types (not quality), that's up to you. Everyone has their own opinion as to why or why not; none are really wrong. That's why it's an opinion not a fact and you get to develop those that all your own.A few people have mentioned throwing out the poor quality fabric. Instead of that the idea of using it to practice cutting and getting your seam allowance correct is great. Then, because it will still be poor quality, donate it to someone for stuffing for bears, dolls, or my favorite. someone who makes beds for shelters or rescues. I wouldn't make it into finished beds/pads because these items must be washed hard and often, so will probably break down fairly soon and could cause injury to the animal. At the end of it all have fun; life's too short. Good luck and let us see what you decide on. Joyce and the beagles pack in DE

Romille, I forgot to add -- welcome and when you feel frustrated or overwhelmed just remember that all the inventive and incredible quilters on this board were beginners at one time or another, no questions are dumb except the ones you don't ask that cause you problems later on and most important, you will never find a more informed and generous group of people than all of those I've encountered on QB. I can't tell you the number of times I've gotten answers to questions before I even knew there was a question to ask. So welcome and have fun. Joyce

Go for it.

I mix in Scrappy Quilts.

Wash before using, may bleed or shrink.

I love making scrap quilts and put all types of fabric together. I do use 100% cotton or a good tight weave polycotton, but nothing that is a loose weave that will come apart. I am very careful that the fabrics are pleasing in a block, they are not planned, but I do check everything out so nothing stands out. I do like the quilt you want to make, but hate the name.

Edyta Sitar (Laundry Basket Quilts) mixes print and batiks in her fabric lines all the time. I encourage you to try it. Bonnie Hunter is the queen of scrap quilting....love love love everything she has to teach. However, I will warn you many quilters these days prefer not to pre-wash. They say you don't have too! I beg to differ. Every smidgen of my fabric gets pre-washed. And believe me, batiks DO bleed! I see what comes out when I wash! There is too much time and expense put into quilts to have them bleed!! Even some of the quilt shop grade bleeds....not all but some!

I often mix batiks with other fabric, and I always prewash so bleeding and uneven shrinkage are not an issue.

I have found using a color catcher when washing my quilts is a big help.

Not even knowing that this site existed, here is a look at my postage stamp quilt. All scraps of all kinds.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...y-t221640.html

peace

EDIT I also agree about pre washing. I f I come across scraps and don't know if they have been washed, I just put them in a dish tub and swish the water a little, let them soak, then rinse. Press out most of the water and toss in dryer till damp dry, then starch &n press for use.
peace

Oh man for a newbie as you call yourself your taking on a lot. As lovely as this pattern is I don't think you realize the time involved. Now that being said if you have considered this than go for it. But do take a look at Bonnie Hunter and her amazing patterns. Good luck.

I use all sorts of quilting fabrics in my scrap quilts. This is my latest log cabin charity quilt. It won Honorable Mention at my Quilt Guild's show in October of this year. The quilt judge was amazed at the number of fabrics in my quilt, there's over 200.
Sharon

Looked at the website that had that scrappy quilt on it and it is named Scrap Vomit and it is very pretty. In fact I saved it so I can make one like it. To each his/her own.

I like the pattern and think it could be a good project for a newer quilter. All the pieces are square, no triangles or other funny shapes with bias edges that could be challenging.

I mix prewashed and -- traditional and batik fabrics all the time. If you have one you are concerned about, wash it.

I love Bonnie Hunter, too. If you are interested in scrap quilts, you should realy take some time to explore her website, quiltville.com

I agree with the concerns regarding the thin or loose weave fabrics. If you use them, you will probably be sorry in the not so distant future.

Play with the colors and have fun! Enjoy your gift!

I mix all sorts of prints, batiks, solids together. But I do work in one simple fabric to pull the quilt together, in every block. To me scrappies need a calm place for the eye to rest, which enhances the multicolors of the scrappy.

It's YOUR quilt, romille, so you ARE the boss of your quilting! If you already have a bunch of 2.5" squares, you could make the quilt using Bonnie Hunter's "leaders and enders" method. I would recommend pre-washing the gift fabric in hot water so shrinkage happens before you sew it -- normally I don't prewash, but with fabric of unknown origin, it's a good idea!
And "scrap vomit" is just a fun name, don't let it put you off!

I used to never mix batiks with "regular" fabrics but not anymore. There are no rules...do what makes your heart sing. however....I'm generally not a big believer in "pre-washing" but if you mix batiks (which have been pre-shrunk) with other cottons, or flannels with flat cottons...you might want to pre-shrink everything before piecing. that's my only comment

Here is what I do with a bunch of totally unrelated materials with totally unrelated patterns. I pick up on piece then the next piece has to have one color in it from the first piece. I continue this. This way your batiks won't be out of place as the eye and brain will see it connected. Also, using this method with solids I will end the deliberate patterning with a solid and then start color matching again with a new color of solid, which means two solids together. I organize by stacking and then just sew how many across for my row and continue through the stack for the next row. It is that "controlled scrap" mentioned above, I guess.