Scrappy Quilts
 

I would like to make a scrappy brick flannel quilt. My problem is how do I let myself let go and not want it to be so organized. I have never been able to make a scrappy quilt because I always want things to match. Help!!!

I am in the same boat as you are. I love looking at all the beautiful scrappy quilts, but every time I try I feel so tense and can't breathe...lol.......................and I go back to a different pattern :-)

I am thinking to try at least semi-scrappy with bunch of different fabrics, but same color tone, to make it easier. You might want to give that a try.

Charming, I have gotten it down to a color tone, but when I get ready to sew them I don't like fabric a next to fabric d, etc. Yet, when I see scrappy quilts done by others, I love them! I am afraid my being able to make a scrappy quilt is out of my element and I love them sew much.

Just because it's scrappy doesn't mean "helter skelter"... You can do 'controlled' scrappy, choosing which fabrics you want, where. "Scrappy" just means lots and lots of different fabrics. It's up to you what you choose and where you put it. Some people do just pull bits randomly out of a bag and sew them together in that order, but that is only one type of "scrappy".

The best lesson I had in scrappiness was from the book, "Color from the Heart" by Gai Perry. One of the projects was to cut 100 2" squares, put them in a bag, then pull them out one at a time and lay them out to make a postage stamp block. What was helpful was that you were allowed to move a few pieces, if it helped the layout. And – if the whole thing left you cold, you could put the squares back in the bag and start over.

What I learned was that some fabrics looked better together than I ever would have thought. I learned that moving one or two squares could make a difference, but it wasn't necessary to micromanage each square. And I did end up tossing the squares back in the bag and starting over once – the second time things looked much better. Best of all, it was no stress. It was just one little project. It really helped me let go (to a degree) of the need for controlled scrappiness. I ended up making a pillow out of the block.

It was a fun project, I highly recommend it!

Wilferg, I have that book and I did that same project when I first started quilting. I still didn't know how to sew a consistent seam, so the tiny quilt had major problems. I had very little stash, and it was poor quality. When the quilt was done I thought it was hideous, but now I think it's not so bad (except for the sewing quality). I've learned over the years to appreciate more color combinations, and now scrappy is my favorite type of quilt.

I think the secret to making a truly helter-skelter scrappy quilt is to not stress over whether one fabric "goes with" another. When they're all together, they will get along. If you look at just two together, they will fight. Make a deal with yourself that you're going to make "just one" quilt without thinking about whether two fabrics belong together, and pay attention only to value (if that's a part of your design). (And don't stress about whether a fabric is light or dark - if it's not obvious which one it is, then it can be used in either place, as long as most of the fabrics fall into the definitely dark or definitely light categories.)

I like "controlled scrappy" where I use one color in tons of different tones, prints, patterns, etc. Another way is to cut it out, lay it out on the floor or design wall, take a step back and see if you like it. I also like to do scrappy quilts that are all pastels or all primary colors or batiks. You get the idea. I don't like to mix everything together. Just have fun with it. If you hate it, donate it and learn from what worked and what didn't.

I did a brick quilt where I sorted the fabrics into light and dark, and further into blue/green, brown/black. Then I alternated those, making a diagonal pattern on the quilt.

just put them in a bag and pull out, you don't like it, change it.

I used to be in the same boat of not being able to sew scrappy quilts I liked, but I started doing controlled scrappy because most I make are for cancer patients and buying coordinating fabric got expensive. Here is one that I so love making. Size is 41 x 61. Directions are on b-quilts.com/blog. I made this from one that a friend made, wrote limited instructions and Marjorie at b-quilts posted the instructions on her blog.