When making a controlled scrappy quilt......
 

Is there a certain number of different fabrics you like to use, almost like a formula or your preference? I have used 9 before and that worked out well. Sometimes when there are MANY fabrics, the result looks almost too busy to me. Would appreciate you input/experience. THX

I use a colour group for my controlled scrappies. I did one using all browns and creams, and another using blues and purples, they are a little busy but at least I used up my scraps. I still find it difficult to do all out scrappy, but the one I did do I am happy with
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...s-t221286.html

To me a scrappy quilt isn't a truly a scrappy unless it has many, many fabrics....whether in one color family or several. A blue quilt with, say, 8, or, 9, or 10 fabrics is ....a pretty blue quilt, not a scrappy, in my world.

I'm talking 40/50/60+ fabrics = a scrappy for me! :D

Jan in VA

When I first started making scrappy quilts I used fewer colors but many different fabrics. Now I use many fabrics and many colors. Take a look at the free patterns and quilt examples on the website Quiltville.com. You'll see lots of examples of scrappy quilts.

Once I was watching "Simply Quilts" and the woman was making a scrappy quilt, and she put her scraps in a paper bag, shook it up and used what came out. The only time she would put one back was if it was a piece of the same fabric. So when it comes to scrappy - anything goes.

I'm making controlled scrappy log cabin blocks and I need light and dark fabrics. I use lots of different fabrics. Here's a picture
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I agree with Jan in VA I have a plastic bucket with a lid put everything in there and when it's full I shake it and sew and see what happens - different shapes and size, to be honest it has taken many years to become so 'free' - I just have fun with them

Controlled scrappy I understand. Scrappy formula for fabric placement is an oxymoron to me, at least past the placement of light next to dark. The more different fabrics, the better.

I like scrappy quilts. the more fabrics and color the better.

I use lots and lots. Like Aneal, what I control is value and color families. I never use the paper bag method. I want to control what goes where. My next scrappy on the plan is RWB, on a pattern of my own.

My thoughts exactly!

To me a scrappy quilt is every color of the rainbow. I don't think of a quilt as 'scrappy' if it looks like I bought the fabric especially for that quilt. I'm working on a quilt for my daughter that has 10 purples in it. It is not a scrappy because it is too planned.

The last scrappy quilt I did was for a mystery class. I used 2 Tonga Treats packs of 2-1/2" strips. One had 2 strips each of 23 different colors called Bubble Gum and the other was 2 strips of 23 different beiges for the background. That is the most different fabrics I have ever used in a quilt. The pieced border was made from a layer cake of the same fabrics.

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Oh yeah, that's the description of my scrappy quilts too!

Jan is right MORE the better otherwise I normally go NUTS when the same fabric is too close to itself.

I made a "Tonga Coastal" this spring that had 96 different fabrics. And yet it doesn't really look scrappy because each box has only three fabrics to make the rounds. My scrappy quilts are crumbs or confetti, maybe sewn into blocks with neutral sashing or just all sewn together. Could be 100's of different fabrics.

I'm with you, Jan! The only time I "control" the fabrics is when I decide to make one block all blue, or purple, or black and white. Even that isn't very often.

Renate

Back to YOUR question...I agree with Anael and Woody, if you want to do a controlled scrappy, just keep the values together but use different prints within it. I DO like a lot of the controlled scrappys, too. Everyone has their preferences!

I am a true scrappy girl. Like Jan said first, the more different fabrics the better. Quiltville changed my world. I've made 14 of her quilts and only one was made with 7 fabrics. That one was a scrappy Trips Around the World. My friend from S. Africa does travel around the world and she saw this fabric when I bought it. So that was her wedding gift. Bonnie does lots of controlled scrappy and I do love them. Here are a few. The one on the end is string blocks which are a blast to make.


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Judi in Ohio, what's the name of your second quilt? I love that! Can I find a free pattern do you think? I love scrappy quilts. I'm such a control freak I think I'll do the bag trick so I don't agonize over what goes where. Thanks!

I love these quilts. I have yet to do a scrappy,.

This is me too. The more fabrics the merrier but I do keep my eye on value and in some projects limited color families. I probably obsess more over block layout than over block making!

"Try it - You'll like it!" I Love scrappy quilts and have made 6 plus table covers x4. The more color the better.
Quiltville is and was my inspiration .

That's a triple Irish Chain. Really easy pattern.

I love the look of the triple Irish Chain - definitely going on my to-do list.

I love the scrappy look, with a ton of different unrelated fabrics but I like to see a color thrown in to pull it all together so I guess I prefer a controlled scrappy. ie: Bonnie Hunter's Sister's Choice, she made all the star points some shade of med-dark red (or green for her first one). The eight points in each block were from the same fabric. Each of her 9-patches in it were made from a different two fabrics. She used a ton of different fabrics but it was still what i would call controlled.
I love the quilts Judi in Ohio showed, especially the first one.

I just read a description of a scrappy quilt for a sanctioned quilt show and it has to have at least 75 different fabrics!

Well, there you go! Although, one does have to wonder who set that particular guideline? :rolleyes:
And who on earth will actually have to count the fabrics in the entries?! :shock:

(Hmm, just for grins, I'd love to enter a quilt in that show and use only, oh, 73 fabrics. :cool: :o)

Jan in VA

I agree with Jans' post. Good description. Bonnie Hunters' site has a wealth of information on scrappy quilting. She's certainly one of our current experts on the subject.

Here's a link to instructions on making a scrappy triple irish chain.

http://scrapendipitydesigns.com/blog/?p=1047

It's on my list too!

Jane

I've only done one scrappy quilt so far, the mystery train one on this board. I was pretty controlling as to which fabrics went next to each other in each 9-patch. Tried to keep a good variety of colors and values in each block. Like how it turned out. Still need to add final border to get it the size I want. Other projects have demanded priority over finishing that one as it is for me.

I use as many as fits. For a controlled scrappy I may choose- say four colors- but there are often over 200 fabrics represented. My avatar is a good representation of what I am talking about. I mostly do scrappy - I don't have yards of anything. The little bits I have are very numerous :). The challenge is to use as many as possible for me. Also note: I have never done a string quilt or anything that truly scrappy. I prefer a controlled color palette. As I get even older - that may well change!

I like controlled scrappy quilts. I also like totally scrappy. Using any and all fabrics and colors. They always come out great if enough colors are used. To me the purpose of scrappies is to use up leftover fabric scraps.

I really like your quilts, especially the last one! Beautiful!

Irish Chain Quilt Pattern
 

Go to Missouri Star Quilts.com and watch the tutorial for the Irish Chain instructions. It's a very easy pattern. I love it too and have it on my list to make.:)

I'm glad to learn the definition of a scrappy quilt. I didn't know there had to be so many different colors and fabrics to qualify. I thought a scrappy quilt was one made from scraps. Jan, you are so mischievous. You would drive the judges crazy counting fabrics. I love it.

I have done controlled scrappy-light blue, dark blue but lots of different fabrics. I have also done scrappy quilts by taking a piece out of a bag at random. Initially the bag method made me nervous but the end result was amazing so now I am comfotrable with it. I use 2 bags one for lights and one for darks and switch back and forth.

I once did a quilt with 125 fabrics, yet I don't consider it scrappy. There were 24 blocks and 5 values. I used cool greens and purples. I had 25 (just in case one didn't work) fabrics of each value. [ATTACH=CONFIG]417429[/ATTACH]
There are 8 blocks in each panel and made to look like a triptic with the dividing bars. At a retreat I watched a friend pick each of the pieces for each block. I decided there had to be an easier way. So I cut one of each of the pieces from all 25 of the fabrics that matched that value. Arranged them on a design wall, so they were pleasantly arranged. The pattern is an unpublised, non-copyrighted pattern. It doesn't have a name. None of the quarter circles have the same radius and the seams are not intended to meet. I think it would have been improved if the radius had been more different. This is an advanced level pattern.

This is one of my favorite quilts. I'll probably never to it again.

Many! I am working on a full size and each block calls for seven different fabrics to make it pop. I have seven different blocks done and although there are some duplicates, there are no duplicates in the same location on any two. By the time this one is finished it will have at least 100 different fabrics. Unlike petthefabric, I call mine scrappy! (But I see what you mean- when it is very controlled its just a pattern with lots of fabrics- yours is fantastically beautiful!)
For scrappies without a complex block, just keep adding them in! My daughter has ordered a blue scrappy, just squares. We have about 35 blues so far and it is nowhere near enough, so she asked me to add greens and purples too :-)

Love, love this quilt. You did and incredible job. Colors and pattern is AWESOME!