Mkotch

I make four patches and nine patches throughout the year, dividing my squares into darks and lights and pulling them at random. Eventually, I have enough for a quilt.

LAF2019

i know what you mean. I love everyone else's scrappy quilts but mine! I think, though, its because when i'm making mine i'm too close. scrap projects are best observed from a distance and without the close up inspection eye of the maker...

helou

I mainly used 1 1/2" but I guess 2 1/2 could be used also.and I do the same as Mkotch by sewing them as leaders enders and I have used them différently and a lot of time, for the back of a quilt.
I just make sure I sew a light and a dark fabric together
I am currently sewing 2" and 2 1/2" four patches
I see a "scrappy jewel box quilt" in my future

WMUTeach

Scrappy is as Scrappy does. I make many quilts with 2.5s. Some are "planned" scrappy meaning they may be all of one color family or in rainbow groupings AKA my avatar. It is your choice. My thought is if you are going random, go really random so all the colors and prints and just jumble together to create a overall look of playfulness with no color popping out as dominant. If you feel hesitant about diving into a bin of scraps of any size, combine them with a neutral. I have used white, cream, black, medium blue and even cheddar and purple as a neutral to soften the "scrappiness".

Slip over to the 2022 - 2.5 Birthday Swap thread here on the QB for more examples of scrappy. We love scrappy.

2022 - 2.5" Birthday Swap

LAF2019

another way to be scrappy is to use a pattern. and if it calls for 2 yards of a certain fabric, then just pull out that many yards of related colors. in this one, I used scrappy pinks and creams instead of one consistent fabric.

Jshep

I just grab and sew. Don’t put any together that match. There are all kinds of ways to use 2 1/2 squares. I once cut out (with a rotary cutter) 9000 and made a queen size quilt and a full size quilt.

PurplePansies

A great resource for free scrappy patterns using mostly squares is the blog " Wedding Dress Blues."

ptquilts

Many years ago we were commissioned to make a scrappy log Cabin by a quilt store owner. We asked what colors, and she said, just mix them all together. So we did, and that has been our most popular style, made dozens over the years. It helps that the pieces are small.

Annaquilts

I do controlled scrappies. They are usually based on color and value but some on styles of fabric.

PurplePansies

I think one color quilts are often overlooked as a design choice. I have 3, two purple and one orange, and I really love the effect.