Using scraps
 

When making a scrappy quilt do you just sew the colors randomly or is it controlled color? It seems if I do it randomly it does not look that great. My sons laughs at me and says look why did you use this color there it looks bad.
Janet H

I am more of a controlled scrappy quilter. I also like to add some muslin or solids as sashing or within the prints to keep it less busy.

I do better with controlled scrappy. Easier for me to do than just mixing everything together. :)

I prefer a controlled scrappy too. There were several times on "Simply Quilts" when a guest quilter would put the scraps in a paper bag, then pull out one piece at a time, and no matter what came out they used. When I tried it I got similar colors together and it was just bad, so ended up taking the pieces apart. Maybe if you separate the colors, then put the separate colors in separate bags and then pull them out from there. The other way just did not work for me.

I too am a controlled quilter. I need to know where each fabric is going to lay. Right now I am working on a scrappy tube pieced quilt. I made 5 blocks using four jelly roll strips + background making a total of 50 blocks. So I put one block from each strip in a pile. I have laid 20 blocks on the design wall and getting ready to trim up another 10 blocks. I need the accent colors to be nicely scatter across the quilt.

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My sons laughs at me and says look why did you use this color there it looks bad.

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I would tell the sons they have boring color sense.
It's easy to make scrappy quilts random if you use one control color for part of the block in each block. It doesn't matter if black is next to brown or red is next to lime green. Look at Bonnie Hunter's quilts all are scrappy some controlled some random.

A controlled scrappy here as well!!!!

I just grab and sew. Yes, I do sometimes see better choices after the quilt is done, but, oh well. I've tried being more organized, but it drove me nuts.

I'm totally controlled. My scraps bin are growing because of that :-) I have found some pattern that I like to work with scraps. They have in common of using scraps to create specific shapes (boat, feather, fox). This way, I feel there is some harmony. Low volume fabrics are nice too to create controlled scrappy. I have found also that I can use more mismatched fabric and colors if my square are little (2,5 or 3,5 inches). But it's a matter of personal taste.

Controlled scrappy for me. I think, for a totally random scrappy, it's important to use very small pieces. When pieces are small enough, they seem to go with each other better.

It depends on what I'm doing. I often make crumb blocks (I call them slice n dice blocks) that don't appear to be all that controlled, but I like to put the blocks into modern quilts with lots of solid (usually lights that read as white or light neutral) color between the blocks. The quilt itself ends up looking pretty controlled even though the slice n dice blocks aren't.

Otherwise, I pay attention to value, scale of patterns, color, etc. while piecing the blocks, even when I'm making scrappy quilts. For me scrappy doesn't necessarily mean giving up design control, it just means using a wide variety of fabrics--and most of my scrappy quilts do in fact come from my scrap bins, but I have no problem supplementing them with other fabrics from my stash.

Rob
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I lose the fun of scrap quilting if I try to control it. The most I will do is keep dark and lights in a good mix.

I like at least some control to the scrappy -- all reds (but a big variety) as center square etc. Also size of pieces matter if you are mixing jewel tones / brights with more subdued fabrics it is easier if they are small pieces. Don't toss a single big odd color in a section, put small pieces of that color or similar in three places or so.

I'd suggest making good use of a design wall, let the project sit and be viewed at different times. But try somethings outside your comfort zone, if one block stands out in a not good way put it on the back.

I also like controlled scrappy quilts. Or if they aren't so controlled, lots of a consistent color or fabric separating the scraps helps. Someone said in a post recently that lots of colors and patterns in a quilt make brown. That is so true, IMHO. A too-scrappy quilt looks a little too muddy. I know because I've made that quilt! LOL. So I often start with a inspiration fabric, some print where I like its color scheme. I may or may not use it in the quilt, but I know if I generally use its colors, I'll end up with a scheme that I like.

Sometimes something in the wrong place is interesting, but too much of it is disruptive. So I think a goal to keep in mind is do something that your son criticizes ;-). That, in the grand scheme of a well-designed quilt is a good thing, IMHO.

I am completely random in my scrappiness. The individual blocks may not look that good, but when everything is sewn together and quilted it's great. (IMHO)

Take a look at the huge number of scrappy free patterns on Quiltville.com. Bonnie Hunter does both totally scrappy and controlled scrappy. I do like it a little better if there is some control. But I have expanded what I include in various categories by studying Bonnie's quilts.

I just recently went through my scraps for the first time. I cut 2-1/2" squares. I am planning on doing a total random scrappy. I might actually put them in a bin and just grab them blindly out. Not sure if I am going to like it or not. Its going to be an adventure

I can say that I found I had a large number of squares that seemed similar and the same values. I separated them. I think I will make 2 quilts. one from the similar values and one with all of the other randoms.

Not really sure about this either... but I think I will enjoy doing the scrappy without any control :) If I am disappointed it will be a utility quilt

It depends upon the pattern. Sometimes value matters a great deal in a pattern. For me, scrappy means that I use my scraps, not that I pick randomly out of a bag. Although I have seen some patterns that would lend themselves to the latter method, and I agree with an earlier comment that if your fabric pieces are very small then you are more likely to get away with going totally random.

Well, thank goodness for sons!

My first attempt at scrappy quilting looked a mess. I asked someone how hers turned out so nice, and she said she separates scraps into brights, pastels, civil war, etc. Then she pulls from one category. Worked well. I am doing that from now on.

My last scrappy was 16 square blocks. I tried to do it random. But I wish I had put a square of each fabric into a pile for each block, it would have been easier than trying to spread them evenly over the quilt.

my last scrappy quilt was a true crumb quilt. finished 4" squares, some of which had as many as 16 pices per 4" square. some only 6-8. it was plain old scrappy but put together with a black to ground everything.

I just grab and sew.

I like both and have seen beautiful scrappies of both. I do tend to more do controlled. The FWS 30's I have worked on had as many as 50 some pieces in a 6" block, though I know of at least one block in the bunch that has 84 pieces to sew together using paper piecing to complete the 6" block. I have learned so much doing these though. I have slowed down to finish a few other things, and some life issues, but working on another block as I type.

I prefer controlled scrappy. I think the pattern pops more -- and I like to have my patterns pop.

mine are controlled scrappy. too often I have bought precuts like charms or jelly rolls because I loved them. Then when I go to use them I never bought enough for a king or queen size. So I go ahead any way and use them and add solids and scraps to stretch, and often alternate with a plain muslin block or sashing to pull all the "mess" together. works great, looks great, but I am just covering up for my mistake of miscalcualtion and i never want to over buy expensive pre cuts anyway.

I think this is critical. Small pieces work better next to each (clashing colors) than large.

I use both techniques, color families or absolutely random. When using the random method, you must trust yourself. the pieces side by side may look horrendous but when you look at the finished product, no one even sees the pieces one considered to be a poor match! That is part of the fun of creating a truly random scrappy quilt.

Total scrappy only works for me if I use some kind of consistent element. For example, I will use a consistent fabric for sashing or alternate squares. This controls and calms the scrappiness for me. Otherwise I look at the blocks and go "yuck".

We have a thread dedicated to scrappy quilts to give you some inspiration:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...e-t135936.html
I like a bit of control, either a specific color way, or grab & sew, but a single unifying fabric repeated in each block, or sashed with a single fabric.

As mentioned, a design wall is very helpful for color distribution and/or possibly discarding those one or two blocks that you think are just too much!

I guess I do both controlled and random. I guess if it looks good to me I go with it.

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: