Your comment about work being so structured is a real clue here. I am a retired Interior Designer, for years the perfect getaway for me was tent camping, AWAY from all the structure and details that ruled my daily work life, even though it was creative it had to fit a particular structure.
Pat

I think you've summed it up very well! Sometimes I call it "mindless" sewing, it's very freeing to me. And, I love looking at all the small pieces of fabric in scrappy quilts. I have learned a lot by seeing what colors pop out and get ideas for future "controlled" scrappy quilts. Right now I'm so drawn to 2 color or even monochromatic scrappy quilts which is unusual for me. Usually I'm the more colors the better!

ditto on Pat625

Wow. You said it all. I love not only using up my fabric but not having to coordinate colors, styles, pattern,etc. They are so much fun to play with.

I didn't like scrappies when I first started quilting. The OCD part of me just had a hard time with it. But things have really changed, and I love scrappies now! My favorite quilts are scrappy samplers, with all kinds of sizes of blocks, a variety of patterns and techniques too. ( like paper piecing, applique, etc.) A bit of lots! :):)

I started out making very "controlled" quilts with each block matching and color coordinated. Then my "inner quilter" decided to make a quilt for a family reunion that was behind held at my house. Being bold, I asked them to send fabric in their family color (the previous reunion, each family wore the same colored T-shirt so that my long-lost uncle from CA could tell who belonged to whom. Colors ranged from black, red, orange, purple - you get the idea, so I really had to "let go" of my very "controlled/coordinated) quilts, use colors I wouldn't normally use. I've lost count of how many reunion quilts I have made, with family members sending fabric in a color I choose (although some "free spirits" chose not to comply), and I have come up with some very beautiful scrappy quilts. My favorite was when I asked for blue fabric I wound up with blue fabric, mostly in the bright, medium blue and I made the "best quilt I'd ever made" to use my one brother's words, who also wound up winning the quilt. I'm challenged to make a beautiful quilt in an assortment of colors, fabric, etc. and I've become a better quilter because of it.

Scappies are 'old timey' to me and also are my favorites.

Well put!! I love the macaroni and cheese comment. I have been known to cut up fabric on purpose to get more variety into a quilt. I like a lot of color.

I like scrappies because they are just too cute! They remind me of being a kid and having a scrappy patchwork quilt on my bed. I'm not sure what happened to it, it probably fell apart at some point. But I remember snuggling in it on a cold winters night and being warm. That's what scrappy quilts are to me.

You just created the "Scrappy Creed". I also love scrap quilts and the only thing I bother with is choosing the pattern I want to make. Taking unwanted fabric and turning it into something that can be used and loved gives me a great piece of mind and satisfaction.
peace

Scrappy quilts are great forreminding us of the past. plus color value does not matter as most quilts. Last but not least favorite fabricscan go into many quilts.

I like crumbs too. I gave my dear dear friend a crumb lap quilt, and she says it is her favorite quilt ever and she has a closet of them. She cuddles with it ever night.

Exactly, I too am a free spirit away from work that is. I love doing my own thing.!!! My friend will stew and fuss over just the right color of block while I just throw a block on the design wall without even thinking about it. I am so free this way. I have done BOM and structured quilts but my favorite hands done is my scrappies. As mentioned earlier,people tend to use these quilts. It is all good though.

Whilst I do make "planned quilts" and when visiting the QB never fail to be impressed by the wonderful work of the quilters here. Somehow scrappies and antique/old fashioned quilts and waggas (Aussie scrappies), Gees Bend and the work of the Tutwiler quilters seem to draw me in. As mentioned by others...scrappies and the like evoke comfort and warmth....even happiness. I also have a love of the written word....so I thought I'd share one of my favourite poems, Pied Beauty. Sort of sums up the "scrappies" of the world:)

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)
Pied Beauty

Glory be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;
And áll trades, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spáre, strange;
Whatever is fickle, frecklèd (who knows how?)
With swíft, slów; sweet, sóur; adázzle, dím;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is pást change:


Práise hím.

I've just finished my first two scrappies. Can't say it is easy for me. Seemed like more work, pulling out fabric and trying hard not to worry about how it all would come out. Found I was really over thinking each and every fabric choice. Guess I tend to do "controlled scrappy". That being said, there was enormous satisfaction from both that I haven't experienced from other quilts made. These two quilts seem to have more warmth, heart and soul in them. Maybe it's the memory thing, looking at certain fabric and remembering where you got it, or from whom you received it. Perhaps it's a mini history of other quilts you made before it.

I just like the dolly mixture look of them ( dolly mixtures are coloured sweets/candies). In my case they are neither thrifty nor resourceful- being without a stash I buy FQs specially for scrappies!

I thought I liked randomness, but the more I do the more I realise this is not so. I like a harmonious scrappy.

I'm not a matchy matchy person. I like that scrappies deliberately don't fit in with everything else (although I do limit my main colours for each one- see randomness point above!)

For me it's also really important that my work is unique. For that reason I don't like strict rules/ patterns with preordained colour choices.

Think they look old fashion and that I love plus helps use up scraps

i normally pick patterns and colors and get started but i love the look of scrappy quilts im just not sure im going to be able to let go but if i dont im in serious trouble im going to drown in scraps lol. i just organized my main stash of fabric and it took 2 days i put all my scraps in a plastic tub i switched to a larger tub 3 times and its almost full lol so i have to get started soon. wish me luck lol i kinda get lost when i try to wing it. my mil drew me a pattern of a square she used to make a scrappy quilt and it was gorgeous so i will try. i have to get my self together for a job interview
next week so it wont happen this weekend ill keep you posted.
carla

I like not having to select colors, I pull scraps pieces out of the bag and put flowers with stripes of many colors. My friend is appalled that I put polka dots right next to wildlife or whatever. It all works! never give it a second look and it all comes together so beautifully.