You inspired me to use a bunch of my scraps to make a quilt like this!

i have several tumblers and used the 5" one to make my first one. Now I REALLY want to use up scraps so I will make one with the BIG tumbler!

thanks for this great idea.

Very little control here--I try not to put the same fabric pieces too close together (however, it always happens--even if I use a bazillion fabrics!), I pay attention to value contrast so everything gets to show off, and with string quilts I mix up widths. I often put things that clash together deliberately--I remember reading that the sweetest of perfumes have an elusive, background rancid note which adds to the scent--clashing, if not overdone, adds sparkle!

I rarely do a controlled scrappy. My favorite scrappies are random. The secret to making anything work together is separating lights and darks. The more contrast the prettier the quilt. I, personally don't worry about the prints themselves. The only thing I watch is that I don't add any gold etched fabrics. I just don't like the look. Reminds me of wearing tennis shoes with an evening gown! LOL. But other than that, I use whatever comes out of my scrap bin. I mix fruit fabrics, dots, stripes, florals, and even fabric with words. I don't care if they are pastel or bright as long as there is a mix of both throughout the quilt. My only 'rule' to myself is that I need to use an almost equal amount of lights and darks and lots of mediums, and the more colors the better.

I would have an overall color or theme. Something has to tie it together.

Even with a scrappy quilt, I gather scraps that seem pleasing together first. Then I do a controlled scrappy process during piecing so that I like the color placement within the overall design.