Using up scraps....HELP
 

I have a big tub full of scraps.....I don't know how to begin sewing them together. Do I cut them all the same size? Sew lengths together? Make blocks? I've been tryinig to look for tutorials on how to begin a scrappy quilt and get so frustrated. Also, do I sort them by colors? Blocks? Lengths? Any input would be sincerely appreciated.

Here's a scrappy quilt that I made w/some of the ladies from my quilting guild.. It's made primarily of 1/2 triangle blocks & 4 patches.... Wish I could remember what magazine I got it from. Of course I went and changed all the dimensions of the blocks to suite my needs :)

Spectacular quilt!

I've been cutting all of my scraps to 2.5" squares. I may start doing some 2.5" strips and even considered doing a bunch of 1.5" strips to do some of those strippy blocks.

You can check out Bonnie Hunters blog at http://quiltville.blogspot.com/ she has lots of free scrap patterns and ideas this might help you.

go to the archive and look for the scrappy quilt pictures here on QB. Lots of great ideas there.

Even with scrappy quilts, I like to choose a pattern first, and then make an assessment on the colors and values of the scraps that I have.
In my favorite scrappy quilts, there is at least one element of continuity in them. In the beautiful quilt shown (from American Patchwork and Quilting), the same block is repeated throughout, and the light fabrics are all from a similar color grouping of cream. It gives the eye a place to rest.

I don't cut my scraps till I know what pattern I want to use. At one time I did cut them before having an idea and the pattern I had finally had my heart set on was not the size of the pieces I cut. So now I just sort by lights , mediums and darks.. Some get sorted by type batik, metalic and other. I do have a bin of fall color fabrics , as that colorway is the one I favor most.
My advise .. pick a pattern then sort , then cut.

direct link to Bonnie's system
http://quiltville.com/scrapusersystem.shtml