I love scrap quilts. I think the more colors the merrier! Not that one, two or three color quilts are not beautiful …. but a large variety of colors can make a simple pattern look more vibrant. At least in my opinion!
So, let’s say you have a quilt that requires 1 yard each 3 fabrics and has 36 blocks with instructions to make 12 blocks from each color. For my example, I’ll use yellow, red and blue.
This would be a pretty quilt!
However, what if you want to turn it into a scrappier quilt, instead of buying 1 yard each of the 3 colors, split the yardage up into smaller amounts to add in more colors. For example, instead of 1 yard of yellow, buy 1/3 yard of yellow, green and orange. Do the same thing for the blue and red fabrics.
As you can see above, I now have nine fabrics to work with! Instead of 12 yellow blocks, I will have 4 yellow, 4 orange and 4 green. Instead of 12 red blocks, I will have 4 red, 4 pink and 4 brown. And finally for the dark blue, I’ve added in light blue and purple and will have 4 of each of those blocks. So there you go…. instant scrap quilt!
Here are some real blocks demonstrating what I was talking about above. First, here’s 4 blocks all the same color.
Now, I have taken away 3 of the blue blocks and added in a green, a purple and a red block.
Another way to make a quilt scrappy is to actually mix the fabrics in the same block. Below, you will see that I am using the same 3 colors for the 3 blocks, but the each color is in a different part of each block.
Finally …. true scrappy! This is where you sit next to your basket of scraps and pull out a new color for each section of the block.
Now that’s scrappy!
Do you like scrap quilts? If so, use some of these tips to make any pattern you have into a scrap quilt. Share some of your scrap quilting tips with me and win a Snuggles Quilts T-shirt! The drawing will be next Monday 11/19/18! **We have a winner! Congrats, Pammy!**
Happy Quilting!
Deanne
Most of the quilts I make are scrappy. My current project has 17 fabrics. I always cut off a yard of each new fabric I buy. I wash and iron this fabric. It makes it convenient to grab the colors I want for my next project. Feel free to check out my quilts on Instagram….pdnoland. I always enjoy your facebook posts.
I absolutely love the look of scrap quilts, but have a really difficult time putting them together unless they are “planned” scrappy. I am working on a Farmer’s Wife quilt right now, and am resolved to use the colors they use in the book, hoping that will break my fear of scrappy.
Scrappy is my absolute favourite way to see. The more fabrics the better for me. Thanks for the tips planning scrappy.
I saw you at the Ottawa quilters guild demonstrate these and was totally amazed at the difference easy colour changes could make
My dream is to make a scrap completely from my scraps, not buy ant fabric except for maybe the backing🤔. Realistcally, it could be several quilts! Love your ideas☺
Scrappy quilts are my favorite!!!
I love scrappy log cabins. Made several as gifts.I use 1 3/4″ strips. Cut up left over fabric into 1 3 /4 1 1/2. 1 1/4 strips and also go to stash and cut from yardage. Sort into light and dark and start quilting.Rule of thumb whatever you pick up you use . Surprising how it all works out and is beautiful.