how to Use ALL Your Scraps
I love sewing scrap quilts. That’s no secret! Today’s project is my favorite kind: All Colors In. That means I am using pretty much every random scrap in every color, also the multicolored ones. That’s right, I just dig through my scrap bins recklessly cutting fabrics into the right size with total faith that together they are going to make a fabulous quilt.
Ever tried to do this and ran into trouble? This kind of wild scrap sewing was supposed to be effortless and still look fantastic, but - - hmmm - - it looks a bit like mud?
Let me tell you a secret.
My “all colors in” scrap quilts aren’t random. Nope!
When sewing All Colors In, I start by chain-piecing scraps in pairs. Rather than random, I pair two fabrics which I definitely like together. After pressing all my pairs, I arrange them in blocks where each block is an independent color story. Thus, each block is composed of scraps that visually harmonize. A block usually focuses on a few colors, with neutrals thrown in for breathing room. I also arrange fabrics so that solids are scattered over the block and there is a nice mixture of organic shapes and geometric prints.
Maybe that sounds like too much fuss? For me it is part of the fun of scrap sewing! Making color stories keeps me engaged and curious about composing the next block. Here are some examples:
Color Themes: purple, blue, green, yellow.
Color Themes: red, blue, orange.
Color Themes: turquoise, pink, blue, green, orange.
Color Themes: yellow, brown, green, blue.
If you find this difficult to do with your scraps, it may be that most of your scraps are multicolored. Notice that at least half of mine have one main color. That allows for lots of mixing and matching as color stories. Another tip is to think about which colors you are excluding from any given block. If you pinpoint 2-3 collors to exclude from your block (red, purple and gray in the above block), that will naturally increase the color harmony.
All thrown together, my scrappy quilt blocks look wild and fun. But I am convinced that sewing the blocks as little color stories makes a big difference in the visual appeal. Try it sometime!
Every cloud has a silver lining and a glorious rainbow can follow every storm. Let’s rifle through our scrap baskets to pull out rainbows this spring. There’s nothing like sewing a rainbow to help one focus on the bright side. Come join the fun online this March!
Storms come and storms go. After the clouds of change blow through, even while the rain still fringes the view, the rainbow gathers. Can you see it hanging, just over your head? Look up, another rainbow is about to break through.
Ta da, my finished Scrap Cabin quilt! She’s bright and warm and made from so many, many scrap fabric strips, folks. It truly boggles my mind that I have this many scraps, given how many scrap quilts I sew. Where are they coming from?
Here comes some happy scrappy patchwork fun! It’s pattern release day for Scrap Cabin! Once upon a time, I created my first Scrap Cabin quilt with that fresh, new year’s energy - - - And you have been asking for the pattern ever since. Because here is what’s special about this: it uses long, thin scraps of every width and length! Come join us in January!
What’s that? You still have fabric scraps? They do have a mind-boggling way of multiplying, and aren’t we glad! Scrap quilts are such fun to sew. Well friends, let’s kick off the new year by busting some scraps in a brilliantly efficient manner. Sign up for the Scrap Cabin sew-along!
But the quilt! I love that too. It turned out great, if I do say so myself. I already had faith in it as a scrap quilt, but the green and black sashing pushed it way beyond ordinary. I imagine that it will bring such a cozy, joy to someone’s home.
Do you ever wonder how many scrap quilts you could sew if you just kept cutting and sewing your scraps? If you dump out a basket of scraps and cut them into a consistent, small shape (such as the 2” x 3” rectangles in my crumb blocks), it’s truly shocking how many blocks they make. And I have literally drawers full of scraps! A catch-all project like my current quilt is just a drop in the bucket.
Ever tried to sew a scrappy quilt with all your scraps and ran into trouble? This kind of wild scrap sewing was supposed to be effortless and still look fantastic, but - - hmmm - - it looks a bit like mud? Here are my secrets for All Colors In scrap quilts.
Can you guess why I am making teeny tiny 2” finished triangle-in-square blocks? Think happy sashing. Think very happy sashing!
Today I need to relax from the stress of moving. I am craving something easy and fun. Fooling around with these 2” x 3” cuttings feels right. I have no idea what or if it will become something, but small size + scrappy = good fun.
This month’s lead quilter asked for Scrap Bin Geese, free tutorial by Andy Knowles of A Bright Corner. While a fairly straightforward block, it is made up of lots of small pieces. As such, it is indeed a scrap bin sort of project. Just my kind!
If I had to sew one kind of quilt for the rest of my life, I would sew scrap quilts! Now I realize that I would theoretically eventually run out of scraps. But are we sure about that? It seems like scraps have a way of mysteriously multiplying??? In any case, I certainly have loads of scraps now and making something beautiful from all those leftover bits and pieces is one of the most satisfying aspects of quilt-making. Here are my favorite 10 scrap quilt experiences so far - - -
Sewing these blocks is so zippy-quick and relaxing. There’s no wrong way to cut those improv slices. I am using a ruler to cut and working quickly and instinctively. In a jiffy a pile of ready-to-sew pieces awaits by my machine.
Red-orange-yellow-green-indigo-violet or ROYGIV, that’s the rainbow and she never gets old. I have recreated my Dear Dottie quilt as Dear Roy. He is a square-format color wheel quilt made up of delightful, scrappy polka dots. And I love him, love him, love him!
Some color transitions, like life transitions, come easily. I have just the right colors in my fabric stash, as with this orange-yellow-green blend. Familiar territory. These are the life transitions that one has made before and can comfortably make again. How many times have I separated green-blues from true-blues? How many times have I packed and moved house?
Do you know what I love? Sewing scrappy dottie blocks. They’re just fun. At the moment these blocks are just the right combination of color play, simple repetition and a touch of technical challenge to keep me engaged.
I’d like to conjure a scrappy medallion-style quilt, along with some summer weather. The quartet of triple log cabins will make a nice quilt center. My beginning has a subtle rectangle layout, which I will maintain in future rounds. Not that I have anything in mind yet. What do you think comes next? Ideas welcome!
Here they are in all their glory - my quarter Log Cabin blocks with triple logs. When the width of the scraps sets the width of each log, a pleasant variation arises and the fabric is used most efficiently. My favorite block has a deliciously summer mood with that sunflower yellow and fresh aqua paired with plum.
This month with do. Good Stitches our charity bee quilt block is the wonky star. That’s always fun! I have a whole scrap bin full of triangle scraps. Wonky stars are the ideal quilt block for using up triangle scraps. Each of the eight star points will use a triangle scrap.
Today was the big day! Time to see what we’ve created. I spread out the blocks to get a good look at our quilt-to-be. Bright colors and cute rays on a plethora of interesting low volume backgrounds - what’s not to love? It’s feeling warmer in here already.
Wondering what you can do with your tiniest fabric scraps and wee, little orphan blocks??? Make handmade fabric notecards! Just buy plain, flat notecards. Then, grab a glue stick and go for it!
It is my turn to lead the charity quilt again, and I’m asking for rainbows and sunshine. Ta da! My first batch of happy scrappy Drummer Boy Dresdens! I love their bright, positive energy so much that I think I will leave them on my wardrobe doors for the day. Yay!
It began random, but I ended up with a color palette. I put the yellow, orange and brown scraps away and pulled more cool-tone scraps from my crumb fabric baskets in blues, greens and purples, plus pinks and red. It’s still wild and free, with the colors landing mostly by chance, but it has a sort of cool vibe overall.
a summer berries scrap quilt