klswift

Folks often think of a scrappy quilt as random, when in practice they actually require a lot of thought and placement! I like to make scrappy blocks and try not to think about the whole top until I have made a bunch of the blocks. When putting them on my design wall it becomes pretty clear if one of the blocks should wait for the next top and if a particular color needs more play. Then I only have to stress over a couple color blocks to fill out the top. And I always have a couple blocks waiting for the next project. As I have mentioned before, I keep my orphan blocks in stacked pizza boxes. The cardboard is great for preventing any moisture problems (from handling) and I can write on the outside what is in it - and they are free from my local pizza place!

1screech

This is the most fun, most freeing and one of my very favorites. I did no matching, I just sewed pieces together and then cut them into 6.5 squares. [ATTACH=CONFIG]551237[/ATTACH]I call it "When life gives you scraps." Some of the squares looked like vomit they were so ugly...but I love them all put together. Hopefully you can see the quilting.

ube quilting

I have made a few scrappy quilts and what I have learned from them is that the more different scraps used the better.
If I use only a few different scraps I end up with color blocks instead of a scrappy look. The more the merrier.

You have to stand back and look at the quilt as it grows. Some colors may not look good right next to each other but if you separate the " offenders" by at least three places they become good friends.

Try taking fifteen 3" squares picked randomly out of a bag. Line them up with no space in between them and in no particular order. Now re arrange them into 4 patches so that most of them look nice next to each other. peach and green look great next to each other, teal and orange, purple and anything, just play with them and they will each find a good friend to live next to. In a whole scrappy quilt they all blend together

Remember the whole of what you are doing. A scrappy quilt almost never looks good with only a few blocks done. The more you add to it the better they get.

If you are making a small wall hanging build many small blocks instead of a few larger ones. Anything goes in a large quilt.

Scrappy quilts are a lot like stew, it's only good after all the ingredients are added.

Play with your scraps!
peace

ube quilting

This is an awesome example of how every "odd" (meant in a good way) piece of fabric works great with all its odd friends. A great scrappy quilt.

carolaug

[ATTACH=CONFIG]551239[/ATTACH]Scrappy no control.. ; )

carolaug

I normally do controlled scrappy quilts but here and there I just grab and go.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]551240[/ATTACH]
just the white strip in the middle was planned. I like no controlled quilts when I do tumblers, strip quilts and postage stamp quilts...great way to empty my scrap bucket.

zozee

AZ Jane, that quilt is beautiful!!

As for the question, I'm a controller, usually basing the scraps on a colorway in a multicolor print I like, and then I try to use that print in each block if the pattern lends itself to that.

I've done the other way on baby doll quilts, and it was okay, but not my favorite.

jmoore

It depends on the project...but I still think I lean more to controlled scrappy, especially if I need to have contrast of color to define a pattern or (like Rob explained) if I need to keep color values in mind.

toverly

I control my scrappy by adding neutrals. I have found that any color works together, if it's small enough and neutral is placed in some order. Value makes a lot of difference in patterned quilts, more than color.

Claire123

Have some type of overall theme to unify the project. It could be the color, such as blue. It could also be the kind of fabric, such as flannel or reproduction. I wouldn't mix together too many unrelated colors or prints.