Scrap Quilts – Creating from your Stash
When I started quilting, I couldn’t imagine having a stash big enough to create a random scrap quilt, let alone multiple scrap quilts. Fast-forward almost 30 years, and I have enough scraps for multiple scrap quilts. Little by little, I bought fabric that “spoke” to me without knowing what I wanted to use it for. I also bought more than what I needed for a specific pattern. My excuse is, “What if I make a mistake?”
Now, I focus on creating scrap quilts that speak to my heart. It is empowering to create something from the fabrics that are on hand. In the process of being productive, I have to continue purchasing backing for the quilts. My tendency is to use muslin so I can see the quilting on the back. This can be a double-edged sword if you are new to the world of machine quilting. Initially, I tried to use some sort of pattern for the backing to hide imperfections.
Tips for Scrap Quilts
When I get the urge to make a scrap quilt, I often start with the background fabric. Will it be dark or light? Don’t limit yourself to just those options – something that I need to remind myself. At times, I will use a medium-value fabric for the background; it just makes the planning more involved for me. It stretches my tendencies only to do light or dark.
If I choose a medium-value fabric for the background, I will usually limit my other fabrics to two color families. This will, in essence, give me a three-color quilt. For example, if I choose a medium green for the background, I tend to look at yellows and golds for one color family and blues or burgundies for the second color family.
If I choose a light or dark background, I add as many color families as possible. This makes it easier to distribute the colors across the scrap quilt. An exception to this practice is when I am creating a quilt with one color family. I made a quilt with blue squares and a white background. I love how it turned out and am already planning a few more.
My goal with this type of scrap quilt was to use as many blue fabrics as possible. Because I am using a white background, I could use an extensive range of values.
I may have another one cut out with greens and an ivory background. This pattern would look great in baby colors. It doesn’t necessarily need to be just a two-color quilt. If I were to do more than one color family, I would keep the values in a narrower range. This will help keep one color family from overpowering the other(s).
There Are No Rules.
This has been mentioned before. In my opinion, there really aren’t any rules when creating a scrap quilt. Without breaking the rules, we wouldn’t have all the beautiful adaptations and different methods for creating block units. I love that we can mix the prints in a scrap quilt, and it comes together beautifully. I have tried a busier background with fabrics that read as solids; while they look good when they are done – they aren’t my favorite. That is more my problem, lol. I expect my scrap quilts to evoke a certain feeling.
Organizing Your Scraps
How do you organize your scraps? Mine are all in a tote but are organized by color only because I just arranged them. As I continue to pull the fabrics out, I am sure they will be a mess again. Creative Chaos. If I had more room, having them in separate containers might be nice. For now, this method works for me. The tote at least has a lid. They were in a big basket before, and my middle pup took ownership of it. I have since added a dog bed to the top of the tote for him.
Share your ideas for space-saving organization in your sewing room.
Until Next Time.
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Check out the free scrap quilt patterns or quilt blocks on this website. You may find something that sparks your creativity. As always, if there is something you would like to see on this website, please send me a message or comment below.