From Janet Wickell,
Your Guide to Quilting.
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Entire books have been written about the art of scrap quilting, so regard the tips you read here as simply a beginning, a starting point to help you create a quilt filled with visual interest. Like any form of quiltmaking, successful scrap quilts take practice. I'm certainly still working on the skills needed to put them together!

Traditional scrap quilt history asserts that the majority were "make do" quilts, quilts constructed from leftover patches in order to be thrifty, and use every scrap of fabric available. Many scrap quilts probably were made in that way, especially during hard times, but my gut feeling tells me that just as many were made by quilters who loved to sew with lots of fabrics. Today it isn't unusual for quilters to develop large stashes of fabrics just so they have what they need on hand for a scrap quilt the next time a pattern suits their fancy.

Scrap Quilt Fabrics

Variety is the key to developing a rounded collection of scrap quilt fabrics. Choose all sorts of fabrics, even fabrics you don't necessarily love.

• Collect a mixture of print types: florals, geometrics, calico fabrics, novelty prints, stripes, plaids -- the more variety, the better.

• Choose fabrics in lots of colors. That means stretching beyond your favorites to include every color of the rainbow, including lots of tones and shades of all.

• Don't get into a scale rut; choose fabrics with prints of all scales.

• Don't forget the tone-on-tone fabrics. Also referred to as TOTs, these fabrics sometimes appear to be solid from a distance, but when viewed up close you'll see they're actually prints in two or more variations of the same color. They make excellent blenders and can help you manipulate color value.

• Be sure to include neutral fabrics, such as creams, browns, blacks and whites. They give your eyes a soft place to rest and break up areas of the quilt that could otherwise be too busy.

Scrap quilts can be built around a specific type of fabric. Quilts based on a multitude of florals are one example, quilts made with lots of batiks are another. You are in complete control -- there are no rules

The number of fabrics you use in your scrap quilts is another option that's totally up to you, from charm quilts, in which no fabric is used more than once, to scrappy quilts with a more orderly appearance.

Joining a quilt fabric swap is a good way to accumulate different fabrics. You'll send out multiples of one or more fabrics, and get back a variety, including things you might not have thought to purchase for yourself.

Scrap Quilt Patterns

Many quilters like to use a single repeating block throughout their scrap quilts. One-patch quilts are favorite scrap quilting choices -- quilts made by repeating a single shape across their surfaces. But you can make a scrap quilt from any pattern.

We have lots of quilt block swaps in the Quilting Forum. If you're comfortable swapping, joining one is a perfect way to make your first scrap quilt. And if it's your first swap, you'll be surprised how well the blocks from others work together to create a lovely quilt.

One of our Forum Hostesses, Robicole, sent me an entire batch of quilts made from forum block swaps. Watch for those (and others) to be added soon if you would like a preview of what you can expect when you join a block swap.

Importance of Color Value

I think that color value is more important to a scrap quilt than color itself. In fact, sometimes it's easier to combine lots and lots of random colors, even things that you don't feel "match," than it is to develop a color scheme. When the quilt is finished, that large assortment will mesh together to create a stunning quilt, if you pay attention to color value.

Color value dictates the patterns that emerge when pieces are sewn together. In some areas you'll want fabrics to blend, in other areas you'll want them to contrast with each other. Practice sorting fabrics for value before you make a scrap quilt, but don't panic if your first scrappy outings don't turn out exactly as you envisioned them. It takes practice.

One of my little scrappy quilts is so ugly that I won't even take it out of the closet -- I call it What Was I Thinking!. The quilt is dull and it's busy, with horrible value placement, but it didn't stop me from making more scrappy quilts.

Play with color value and get a few color wheel basics behind you, then start combining fabrics. It could take a few projects, but you'll have a feel for scrappy quiltmaking before you know it.

Color Value for Quilters

Color Wheel Simplified

Share Your Scrap Quilts

I get so many submissions for our online galleries that I'm usually running behind in getting them all online, but I'd love to start a Scrap Quilts Photo Gallery. Do you have a wonderful (or really ugly) scrap quilt to share with us? If you do, I'd love to show show it to our community. Submit Your Scrap Quilt

Don't be afraid to show us your mistakes. Sometimes seeing the boo-boos are more helpful to new quilters than viewing your very best quilts.