rryder

Another thing to look for is good value contrast, so your pattern shows up.

Rob

ckcowl

A successful scrappy often has a broad range of fabrics, contrast in values makes them dramatic. I don't worry about any particular ( line/style/type) of fabric I make sure I have lights, mediums and darks to create movement and drama. Some people prefer ( controlled scrappy) but I use all the scraps I have, regardless. I've made great scrap quilts with batiks, 1800's reproductions, fairy frost, novelties, flannels, anything and everything. They are some of our favorite quilts.

roguequilter

yes!! someone recently posted several quilts she had made using her huge assortment of scraps. they were all veritable melting pots of fabric colors/styles/brands ..and each and every quilt was beautiful & unique. i saved a couple of pics ..but i will try to find the post and share here. it will take me a while, i don't seem to do too well with searching the board 😏

pewa88

This same topic has been discussed many times on this forum and I always enjoy reading what others think about scrap quilts. Purists define a scrap quilt as a quilt that is made intentionally to use leftover fabric scraps from other sewing and quilting projects. On the other hand a scrappy look can be achieved by using several or many fabrics from a particular fabric line. The choice is up to the quilter. I for one love scrap quilts in the purists form. To each his own.

QuiltnLady1

The scrappy quilts that I like the best are the ones with lots of fabrics -- doesn't if it is one line or just a bunch of fabrics from all kinds of lines. However, for me the best have the pattern defined by high contrast. I am not drawn to quilts where a lot of the what should be high contrast fabrics include a lot of mediums as either the "darks" or "lights" because that muddies the pattern.

cjackaitlin

I make scrappy quilts a lot. Mine are usually strip pieced, so it makes no difference how the colors go. But if I'm making a scrappy. Quilt with squares I try to keep similar colors away from each other. That's just me. I say do your own thing, if you like it great,,if not give it to charity. They can give it away and people love them.

zozee

Sounds like you are now enjoying the look of your random scrappy, which is good. Sometimes it has to "grow on you" as you construct it if it's (to use a cliche) outside your comfort zone.

Putting your plains in there helps tone down the busyness, I'm sure. As long as the plain colors also contrast with their neighbor, it shouldn't matter too much what fabric style the scraps are.

I'm making a beach quilt with (2.5 " wide x Random length ) strips leftover from each quilt I make. It's either gonna be ugly or fabulous, but it'll remind me of every quilt I made and person I made them for. Normally I like to pick a multicolored focus fabric and use scraps in those colors to go with it. Other times I just put on my crazy panties and run with the bulls!

Joan in AK

Zozee
I loved that last sentence of yours. Made me laugh out loud. Had to read your words to my husband. He laughed too.

busy fingers

Scrappies are my favourite...having said that I do have some control mostly by using a "common" fabric in each block throughout which seems to bring it all together.

Have a "play" before sewing and let us know what you decide.

Jingle

I make scrappies to donate. I am always happy with the end results. I have made controlled scrappies, some not so controlled. They always look nice and are warm.