Is there a TRICK to -->>

[goodyear94]

quilting different colors and/or patterns together?

I love scrappy quilts! My goal is to make one VERY soon I'm a bit nervous about it, tho.

How do you choose your fabrics -- Is it just trial and error???

Is muslim fabric typically used for borders and backing on a scrappy quilt??

Questions, questions . . .

Thanks for your help!

Hugs,

[cyndiofthevortex]

One thing that's really helpful is a big stash of scraps! I like to raid my friends' stashes when I make a scrap quilt. I also buy scrap pieces from quilt shops or Joann's. I start with one fabric that I love that has lots of colors in it. Then I match the scrap fabrics to the colors in that print. Often I don't end up using the original print at all, sometimes I use it as a border. If you like the colors together in the print you should like the colors together in a whole quilt. I recommend you start small, a tablerunner or a wallhanging until you feel like you've got the hang of it. Don't try to match all the fabric. You want some "zingers" in there to keep the eye moving across the quilt.

The background of a scrap quilt can also be scraps but all the same color and value, or else your eyes have no place to rest. All soft cream prints, for example. Muslin is also good as well as white on white. Or black if you want something to make your colors pop!

Scrap quilts are a blast to make. You never know how it's going to look until you start putting those blocks together! I think it's an adventurous way to make a quilt.

Oh, and toss any parts of it that don't play well with the other fabrics! Take pictures and see how it looks as a whole. If something jumps out at you too much, take it out or it will bug you as long as you own that quilt.

Keep us posted with pictures. If you have questions, you know you'll find answers here!

[K. McEuen]

Scrap quilts can be made almost any way you please.



A small tumbler pattern scrap quilt. The tumblers are about 2.5 inches tall.



My WIP paper pieced hexi. I add to it as I gather enough scraps.



The centers of a Cathedral Window quilt can also be a good place to use your scraps.

[goodyear94]

Thanks Miss Cyndi and Miss Karen
I love your ideas and tips!!
It may take me a while to accumulate some actual scraps - lol, but maybe I really can do this?? Hehehe . . .

Hugs,

[Jean Sewing Machine]

I learned something the other week from a forum member, when you pick your focus fabric, look on the selvege edge and see all the colors that they used to print the fabric, they are printed in dots. Then use those dots to see what fabric colors would go with your quilt. I just thought of that today when I was cutting those dots off of my fabric.

I also like to think of value, light, medium and dark, if that is going to make a difference in your pattern. If you pick fabrics of the same value or close in value , and piece them together, any piecing patterns will sort of disappear. If you pick fabrics that have contrast, then your piecing pattern will show up. This only matters if the pattern is important. Some all over patterns like the tumbler, disappearing 9 patch, squares--these patterns just show up as a mass of color and the value doesn't make any difference. But if you are piecing something like stars, then you need to have contrast, or all your hard work will not show on the finished project.

Just my two cents, but I'm no expert.

[Suzyq]

Hi! Jean's post got me thinking' back to my quilt class. Along with colors, the teacher explained another important element, and that's scale. She suggested having some large scale fabrics (like big flowers for ex.), then med. scale and small such as dots... The teacher also suggested that instead of using solid colors, get tone on tone as gives more interest... I like my quilting teacher!!!mhahah

[goodyear94]

You ARE one of the experts on here - from what I've read - Miss Jean

Just the kind of info I'm looking for - Thank you!

Hugs,

[Jean Sewing Machine]

You ARE one of the experts on here - from what I've read - Miss Jean

Just the kind of info I'm looking for - Thank you!

Hugs,

Thank you, Deb, but I certainly have a lot to learn, but this is surely a good place to learn new things! Good luck with your project.

[goodyear94]

BIG Hugs!!!

[GrammaBabs]

Deb.... i find lots of people go to thrift sales,,, or Salvation Army.... go thru the old mens shirts or womens blouses... best to get all cotton, but i'm not a purist... when it's scrap,, that's exactly what i'm looking for... SCRAP... it's a cheap way to accumulate lots of different patterns,, prints and stripes... for pretty cheap money... my sis tells me that Sal's has one day a week where stuff is "half off"... just a thought!!