Hello Ladies

I just finished my very first scrappy quilt. It was fun but lots of piecing (finished 50 x 70). And I had to use a friends' scraps since I don't have any - I'm afraid that I only buy enough material, if that, for a specific quilt - not much left over.

Since everyone always wants to know the information on a photo, I will give that info first, and then ask my questions. It came from:
Quilts From the Heart
Karin Renaud
Pattern: Arkansas Crossroads

1) I was wondering if you have to put a border on (maybe it serves a purpose) ?? I like it the way it is but have never really seen a quilt without a border. Any suggestionson on this?


2) I now would like to do another scrappy and don't know how to go about purchasing material. Like I said I don't have any "scraps" and had spent all day with a friend cutting up hers for my quilt. Since she was so kind I would never ask her again to help me out for my next scrappy quilt. But now, how do I proceed to get material to do another one. The biggest scraps we used were 3 inches wide, so do I buy small yardage of lots of material (I am imagining the look on cutting girls' face if I do this), but really want to do another one. How do I buy fabric for a scrappy quit?

On another note - good and bad. I've been quilting for 4 years (still a beginner), and until last night my husband has only told me ONCE that he liked my quilt. Last night he liked this one, and said the colors are great, nice and bright. So I guess that was the good part, but the bad part is that I guess I don' pick the right colors myself.

I'm still learnng but would love to hear your suggestions.
Thank You
Karen
Marietta, Georgia

I've made quilts that don't have borders, just quilted and put on binding. It depends on the quilt and what I want it to look like. It is your quilt, do it however you want. For scraps, how about buying some charm packs or fat quarters?

beautiful quilt. Remember this is your quilt and there are not right ways or wrong ways. I think it is beautiful as it is without a boarder.

Hi Karen, that's a very beautiful quilt!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, your first one???
I love it w/o borders. No law that says you need them and this one looks perfect the way it is!
About scraps- first of all many times they are offered here on the board. You may want to buy some fat quarters too (18x22). Most fabric stores won't cut anything less than an eighth cut.
Hope this helps :)

That is a beautiful quilt! You did a great job. Entirely up to you if you use borders or not. I like this one without.

Lots of people save scraps but don't use them themselves.

You could try putting an ISO message on this board, or check with your local quilt guild to see if anyone has any they'd be willing to sell.

Hi. Lovely quilt. I've made the same pattern without borders and think quilts without borders look wonderful. If you want a bigger quilt, just add more blocks.

As to purchasing material for scrap quilts, you could buy fat quarters, fat eighths, or, regular quarter or eighth yards in what ever fabric you like.


I've purchased as much as twenty eighth yards at a time off bolts in order to have different fabrics for colorful scrap quilts. It works well to obtain a variety of patterns and colors.

Your quilt do it as you like maybe you could buy scraps from qb members for your next a great way to get an interesting variety

Your scrappy is beautiful! Not all quilts have or need borders. I've done a few without. When it comes to buying fabrics for scrappies, I get a lot of fat ¼ s and sometimes swap scraps with other quilters in my group. Perhaps you can swap with people on the board?

this would be beautiful with out a boarder on it.. I would just do a white small binding after quilting... just so you could quilt to the edge you should baste on a boarder of something an old sheet or something you could take off later then do the binding.

I think your quilt is beautiful.if you don't want a border you don't have to use one I would sew around the out side edge before you put the binding on.I love the pattern.if it's not illegal I will send you scrapes for a copy of the pattern.really all I need is the size of the squares and a drawing of the white blocks.my dh just looked over my shoulder and says he likes your quilt too!!emmamarie

Drop in at your local thrift stores and even the Tuesday Morning store which is now handling quilt patches. Use the good part of cotton blouses you no longer wear or shirts from the thrift store you can get for peanuts. In that way you will be joining the pioneer women and those who know how to find fabric and save your money. Sale bed linens and clothing are always a good source and let us know, we all could send you scraps or pieces of fabric.
You don't need a border on any quilt. If you use the method to finish a quilt when you sew the three parts together and leave a space to turn it right side out, a border isn't needed. I use a strip around some of mine just to make it stronger on the edges for a binding but have done many like yours, without it.
Love your quilt, will copy the pattern and use it, I sew
small squares for our church quilt project and yours would be a perfect choice for a pattern. Keep up the good work and you will be famous one day.

Carol J.

another way to get fabric is buying charm squares.connecting threads has a good price on them.

Love the quilt the way it is.....beautiful work

I've done a few quilts with no borders. It just depends on the look you're going for. If you like the look without, you don't have to add borders.

beautiful. your piecing is excellent. I would border the edge. Just to give the quilt that finished look. and to add stability to your pieced edges. as far as scraps...you could buy 1/8 in cuts, fat quarters...or quilters here are always offering up scraps for the price of postage. good luck. your quilt came out beautiful.

Beautiful quilt! You did a great job. As for borders, I agree with what everyone else says. It's a matter of preference. I use borders when I am a little small on size and am trying to get to a certain size. Otherwise, no borders for me.

As for scraps, you could post an ISO bulletin here. I've been the person in line with 30 bolts of fabric getting 1/4 yd of each when I want variety. I don't have much stash. You can buy fat quarters or charms, I often do when I see them on sale. But a 1/4 yd or 1/2 yd is the most cost effective.

Your quilt is beautiful. I too love scrappy quilts and I usually do not put borders on them - they are so busy I just like to bind them. For me this feels best, but you do what you like. As for fabric , try buying fat quarters. Fat quarters are readily available and you can buy a wide variety. Again, your quilt is terrific.

Beautiful quilt.

AWESOME! Great job! I just know you had a ton of fun putting that one together! :)

I personally like even a small border in a dark color. Your quilt is a work of art, most art work is matted and then framed to highlight the intrical colors inside the border/frame. As others have said not having a border is a personal preference - but try putting a darker color (layng it underneath) and then step back around the edges and see if your work doesn't pop! A dark binding helps too but they aren't quite wide enough.
It is a lovely quilt and if you would like some assorted scraps pm me, I have some waiting for a good home like yours :)

Very nice! I say no border.

Ooooohhhh, I love it!!! I love organized scrappy quilts :)

I can understand why your husband said he liked this quilt - it is gorgeous!

Your quilt is beautiful! Borders are a choice...it is up to you.

As for getting scrap pieces...I would check out the local Goodwill/Salvation Army/Garage Sales/Your own Closet....scraps are fabulous and accumulate very quickly. If you prefer to buy new fabrics, fat quarters and charm packs are a great way to begin.

I hope that you have a great time on your new journey into scrap quilts. The possabilities are endless.

I love your quilt and I think it is up to you what you want it to look like. Now that I have not help you to decide, mind tell me what is the pattern called?

Beautiful

you can get the block pattern for free here:
http://www.quilterscache.com/A/Arkan...oadsBlock.html

Nice job :thumbup:

Great job on your scrappy quilt! :)

I love the quilt. You did a great job. I like the pattern but that is an awful lot of cutting and sewing! Cutting makes my back hurt!

It was from:
Book: Quilts From the Heart
Author: Karin Renaud
Pattern: Arkansas Crossroads

About 2 posts up from yours I saw a link to the block pattern.

And to the next post: Yes it was way too much cutting - didn't know that until I started it, and then I kept adding to the width and length so that didn't help matters much. But it was all worth it just to hear hubby that he actually liked something I did. And now I can't wait to start another scrappy one.

Thanks for all the comments and the ae appreciated very much.
Karen

When I started quilting many years ago I thought every quilt was suppose to have a border. I thought I preferred that, however, when you start looking at antique quilts (in books or shows) many of them do not have borders and I really like that look, so I'm not putting borders on some of my quilts. There's no right or wrong, just go with what you like at the time.

No, I think borders, at least one frames the center and only enhances the total look. Your quilt is gorgeous think it needs a border of whatever size to finish it off. Just my opinion.

Most of my first quilts didnt have a border... there are no quilt police! Make it how you want! :)

Beautiful quilt! :D:D:D

I have purchased 4,5 and 6" blocks off of ebay for very reasonable prices. They were listed as scrappy and also as few repeats or no repeats. Many were in lots of 50 or 100. This is a great way to obtain fabric for scrappys :wink:

1/4 yd cuts are another... try and go during the slow times so the cutters aren't as overwhelmed by your request :D

You can also read the rules here for swapping... you can swap blocks, fabric strips, etc... another great way to get a variety :D:D:D

I really like that! A dark 1 inch binding will finish it off beautifully.

Great job and a beautiful quilt. It is so lovely that it will look good with/without borders.

I too want to recommend ebay. Sometimes you can buy a box of scraps. Search for "lot fabric scraps" or variations of that.