Friday, April 06, 2007

Scrappers ' survey

I've been busy trying to get caught up on different projects. Even though I spend time in the room, it doesn't seem to leave me with much to show. However, I did get a fast glimpse at a quilting magazine with a scrappy quilt on the cover. I really liked it, but it got me to thinking.....uhoh!

I have trouble with scrappy, I want to blend and matchy-match everything. I have forced myself a few times, and it turned out ok, but, as I said, I started wondering.

Those of you who do scrap quilts (like Bonnie's on Quiltville) do you do totally scrappy- whatever comes to hand, or do you keep your scraps 'alike'? For example, do you mix brights, depression repros, civil war repros, batiks, Kaffe Fassett all together? Or, do you do your scrappy within a type?

25 comments:

Leah Spencer said...

Let me be oh-so-helpful (not)... I do both. :) I don't tend to do fabric themed scrappys, but I will do green and purple or green and blue. The fabrics themselves are all different kinds, but the colors are similar.

And sometime I do all around scrappy, grab and sew! :)

Oh, I have been keeping my handdyed fabrics together because they're "special" to me right now, but I think as I dye more fabric, I'll start to intermix them more with regular fabrics.

Joyce said...

I like to grab whatever comes up but I don't have a very extensive stash so maybe it's not as scrappy as yours would be.

Beth said...

how about a 'non-commital' sometimes I do control scrappy (as in my leaders/enders project) all reds/creams/ and blues...and sometimes just whatever comes to my hand as in a Heartstrings block. I bet that does not help at all does it??? lolol

sewprimitive karen said...

I think it would kill me to do that thing where you grab a piece of fabric from this basket and that basket without looking. I like to plan even if it's scrappy :-).

Granny said...

I would like to do more scrappy but like you, I tend to find myself trying to match. I use way too many tone on tone fabrics and have a hard time incorporating prints. I love totally scrappy quilts but just can't seem to let go and do it.

ForestJane said...

I did a scrap-twist and gathered a big bunch of ugly fq's together... then looked at the pile and pulled out some that just seemed to clash. Then I pulled out some MORE that were too floral and 'girly' since I intended it to go for my brother. I really DO like that quilt better than the heartstrings quilts I make with a huge variety of strips.

I think it depends on the effect you're going for and the size of the pieces you're using. Some fabric colors just doesn't GO with some others, but if you cut the pieces small enough it doesn't matter.

Tazzie said...

When I'm scrap piecing, I tend to use just any fabrics - but I usually keep Thimbleberries fabrics separate - I don't think they play well with others ...
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)

Nancy said...

Anything goes! I use whatever my hand grabs from the pile next unless it HORRIBLY clashes with the fabric I'm putting it next to or is the same fabric, or a very similar one (as in same shade of blue or different color of the same print). But I do use that fabric in another block and sometimes those blocks might end up next to each other and you know it still works. :-)

Sweet P said...

I've recently started scrappy quilts and I find myself sticking to similar looking fabrics. I probably wouldn't put Kasset with Civil War fabrics.

Having said that, I have started cutting charms from my scraps and will probably just mix those fabrics up when I start sewing them together.

Darlene said...

I love scrappy quilts but I have great difficulty making them. My scrappy quilts are more controlled - having a tendency to try to match or blend. If I were to make something totally scrappy ala Bonnie, mine would look awful - just don't have that knack.

Vicky said...

I have such a tough time with scrappy, but I'm really trying to do it. On my little loggies, though, anything goes. If I had to pick one, I guess I'm a control freak! Oh, wait, was that one of the choices? :)

I figure if we keep working at it, we'll get it!

(Hugs)

Cher said...

I have done it both ways-chosen a theme fabric and chosen totally random scraps...I like doing both!

The Calico Cat said...

Depends... If I am doing something scrappy & "Pink" then I use every pink I can find!

If I am doing scrappy brights - I used every bright I can find... I don't worry too much if it is a 30's print or a CW repro - I look to color. (I don't even worry about value - when I am doing a scrappy "color" - even if 99% of the others quilters our there would have done my block in light & dark...)

Patti said...

I do both - but lately they've been totally scrappy. And I love how they look!

Sharon said...

I like alot of different colors in my quilts --- 2 color quilts are not my style, even though I love looking at them.

I usually just pull fabrics and see if I like the way the colors go together. . .which makes for some interesting color combos.

The one thing that I have a problem doing is mixing background fabrics in the same block --- the backgrounds have to match.

Mary Johnson said...

I do a lot of different kinds of scrappy. I like tossing everything in but I also like working with specific color families.

If you don't like really scrappy quilts, using a common background fabric or choosing to work with specific colors can help control the outcome.

Kairle Oaks said...

Great questionn! I have to admit that I do a little of both...some totally scrappy and others that are a little more controlled.

Hanne said...

I prefer to colour control my scrappy quilts, but I have done a string quilt with everything tossed in, and it looked good too :-)

Susan said...

I know exactly what you mean. I just don't have the mindset to let go and not plan to some degree.

Meredith said...

My scrap are sorted by color. The only thing I keep seperate is my hand marbled fabric scraps because they stick out. That way for a project if I want to do scraps of blue and yellow it is still scrappy without having to sort through all of my scraps. I do also take time to think when I put blocks together. I do not just pick up two pieces and sew.

Feeling Simply Quilty said...

I like to coordinate the background, somewhat, white on white, or all yellow, but then scraps added to that. I find more success with a little coordination.

Unknown said...

I have made some VERY scrappy quilts where the only point was light or dark and I like them a lot. I have made some more controlled scrappy quilts with themes like repros, batiks, one colour scheme, etc... But my motto is the more fabric the merrier! Take care.

Helen in the UK said...

I'm a bit of a control nut - so I go for controlled scrappy :)

Quilter Kathy said...

Great question. I do make totally scrappy quilts and enjoy that. But I also like to do bright scrappy quilts for kids, so I usually keep my brights separate.

Shelina said...

Wow, I didn't realize it has been this long since I've visited your blog. Sorry - I do eventually get to everybody, but my method of randomly visiting blogs does leave big gaps like this. Anyway, I saw your scrappers survey and just had to respond, and out myself for how long its been since I've been to your blog.

I haven't made a completely scrappy quilt yet, but I will be making one with my scraps someday. You can wean yourself into it. I made a two color quilt - red and black, and just used a variety of reds. The lady who helped me was trying to even get me to use a wider variety of reds than I did wind up using. This is very controlled and lets you break into the scrappy world gently. I just loved it. So then I was more able to add a touch of color here and there in other quilts. Most scrappy quilt patterns (see Judy Martin's books) do recommend that you have a theme of some sort, so that you can be sure you will like the end result. In my opinion, in order for a completely scrappy quilt to look good, it has to have a LOT of variety and lots and lots of pieces.