I try to have a main color and intersperse my scraps.

totally uncontrolled here. I grab and sew and I love it. So relaxing.

No matter how hard I try, I can't do scrappy. I'm too OCD I guess. The closest I can come is to use fabrics from the same line so that I know they all "go" together, and then I still have to re-arrange the blocks. I have never done a jelly roll race quilt for the same reason. I want an even mix of colors and values. Just me................

The phrase "Controlled Scrappy" could use some guidance for those who dare to tread the Scrappy Seas... Categories can be "WARM colors vs Cool" (I put purples in both categories). "Christmas Reds, Greens, Golds, and Blues". Then there are four categories for Babies "Pinks, Blues, Greens, and Yellows." And then there are DARKS versus Whites/Beige (SKIPPING ALL THE MIDDLE Values). By working with categories, I get better results, which means I fulfill my intention in a meaningful way that is more pleasing to the eye.

Here is a true story: I went to a retreat where Bonnie Hunter was one of the two teachers. We were told to cut up our fabrics and in the class sew them etc. so I reached into my pile of fabrics and did just that. And when I was finished with my six or so blocks, they looked awful. The other gals all had very controlled colors, very limited compared to mine and they looked great. My DH laughed out loud when he saw my blocks because normally I do really well. I learned a lesson there, actually many lessons at that retreat, but I won't go into them all. I am still making scrappy quilts but I know what I like and don't like and I'll keep on making them my way. No hurry and if a color/print doesn't look good, I pull it out right then and there. Value is very important as well as color.

Your quilt, your rules. I did a scrappy, controlled (purposely purchased the fabric used) did all my cutting, 1.5" squares, finished 1" squares. Apparently my mind totally forgot about strip sewing!! After I cut my fabric, threw it into a paper bag, shook it, pulled out one square at a time. Only rule I used was could not use a color side-by-side with the same color. Including the binding!! Burgoyne Surround quilt Ta-Da
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What a beautiful quilt!

I grew up with only scrap quilts on the farm and I enjoy carrying on the tradition of totally random scraps. That said, I have found you must throw everything you have (fabric related) in the mix for it to work well. Sort of "Go big or go home" kind of theory. EX: If I am making a "blues only" quilt, I would use every blue from light to dark to blue greens/teals. If it looks remotely like a blue, in it goes! For my totally random colors quilts: EVERYTHING in and I just pick up and sew. No thinking or worrying allowed:-)

Recently did my first real scrappy and the only thing I really "controlled" was to make sure that no two patterns were next to each other. Now, I was only working with two colours, so I had it a lot easier than if you were working with your whole scrap bin.

Watson

I totally agree. Besides most men don't have good color vision so they don't really see colors the way they are. They also seem to like things that are very plain (and to me boring). I never pay any attention to what my husband says about clothing, home dec or quilting. If I went with what he says he likes, our house would be off white with beige furniture, all my clothes would be beige and brown and my quilts would be blue. Booorrrriiinngggg! :rolleyes: