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-   -   What to do with scraps? (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/what-do-scraps-t54482.html)

katier825 07-15-2010 01:23 AM


Originally Posted by kwhite
This is what you do with everything and anything you have. There was nothing too ugly to go into this quilt.

WOW! That's great! :)

martha jo 07-15-2010 02:45 PM

Like someone else mentioned, I took a class years ago where we put dark stripes in a grocery bag and light in another. Then we had to pick blindly and sew them together alternating and it turned out beautiful. I think the stripes were cut in 2inch stripes.

mom-6 07-15-2010 03:03 PM

If you want to get rid of the tropical prints and the granny fabrics, PM me and we can work something out. I'll gladly take them off your hands.

StitchinJoy 07-15-2010 03:08 PM


Originally Posted by KSCrafter
My aunt has given me a big stash of scraps. Lots of ugly fabric including tropical prints, southwesterns, and "granny" prints. Nothing goes together and it's driving me nuts. I'd love to make something but can't get over the lack of color coordination. (We're talking HIDEOUS fabrics from the 80's!) So, I need some help.

Should I go through everything and start cutting it into strips? If so, what width do you suggest? If've been looking at the scrap quilt patterns on quiltville.com and would love to do one of them... maybe if I view the fabrics in strips of light and dark I can organize my thoughts? Any suggestions? How do you get organized? Thanks!!


I love ugly fabrics. I think they are quirky and interesting.

I've made several quilts with only uglies--
'Who let the Dogs Out?" and "Fugly." Fugly is funky AND ugly.

What I discovered when working with them is that it's best to divide the fabrics into lights and darks, like you mentioned.

It's good to choose a pattern that is perfect for high contrast, like Log Cabin. Quiltville is a great source of scrap patterns.

I also discovered that if you put red next to a really disgusting ugly fabic, the red takes the attention away from the ugly like magic.

Please post pix of your scrappy quilt when you finish it.

Wine Woman 07-15-2010 03:15 PM

There are some beautiful scrappy quilts on the board. Use your search at the top of the page and put in crumb or/and scrappy and there you are. You will get a arm load of quilts. Talk to the person making the quilt and will learn that the ugly will become beautiful! You've got to like scrappy though! Have fun.

aneternalpoet 07-15-2010 03:19 PM

1 Attachment(s)
I agree doing a string quilt.. the uglier the fabric strips as a whole, turns into fun with little scraps on the blocks.. I sometimes do color themed string quilts.. that is, using one predominant color ( say, purple) and I use those colors only , coupled with a cream, or lighter fabric as the sashing between blocks, or rows.. I love the versatility of ugly versus something fun.. Enjoy even the hideous - they are like diamonds , which begin as a piece of ugly charcoal..

C.Cal Quilt Girl 07-15-2010 04:11 PM


Originally Posted by kwhite
This is what you do with everything and anything you have. There was nothing too ugly to go into this quilt.

That's Great !!! :D :D and I did LOL !

dotcomdtcm 07-15-2010 05:53 PM

If any prints have lilies (my DD is Lily) I'll trade you for some nice calm solids!

brushandthimble 07-15-2010 05:58 PM

kwhite, I love that quilt!! is there a pattern available somewhere?

Edie 07-16-2010 02:28 AM


Originally Posted by KSCrafter
My aunt has given me a big stash of scraps. Lots of ugly fabric including tropical prints, southwesterns, and "granny" prints. Nothing goes together and it's driving me nuts. I'd love to make something but can't get over the lack of color coordination. (We're talking HIDEOUS fabrics from the 80's!) So, I need some help.

Should I go through everything and start cutting it into strips? If so, what width do you suggest? If've been looking at the scrap quilt patterns on quiltville.com and would love to do one of them... maybe if I view the fabrics in strips of light and dark I can organize my thoughts? Any suggestions? How do you get organized? Thanks!!

Just yesterday I took a whole box of snippets (I mean a big plastic box w/lid) and I got out gallon plastic bags. Red went into red, pink into pink, orange etc., etc., and they are still in the big plastic box, but if I or any of my quilting friends needs a fabric piece, hey, there they are in colorific order in a box! I just lined up the colors - red, pink, orange, yellow, green, aqua, blue, violet, brown, black, white. It works for me - I wasn't able to eliminate a box or make room, but at least I can grab what I want fast. Edie


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