When do I make a Scrap Quilt and how do I choose a project?

 I make scrap quilts on days when I am in the mood to make something fun and easy.  I have days when I don't feel particularly well, but still want to sew.

I will often choose something improvisational, without needing to worry about too much accurate cutting or piecing. 

The pattern for the quilt below is called Iridescent by Rachel Hauser.

 

If I notice that a drawer of a particular colour of scrap is getting very full, I will try to incorporate that colour in my quilt.

 

If I have long strings, that may determine a design. The quilt (not finished in the photo) used up some long strings.

 If my scraps are about 5 inches or long strips, they can be used for colourwash quilts.

Monochromatic or Mixed Coloured Quilts

I enjoy making both, but as my scraps are sorted by colour and then size, I often choose monochromatic (one coloured) or quilts that have a limited palette,

Processing and Storing Scraps

 I have two stacking units in which I store my organised scraps.  These have been ironed and cut into useful strip or block sizes.  I try to keep the scraps as large as possible, as they are then more flexible when making quilts.  Ironed scraps take up far less space in storage.  I try to keep strips of each size together in a pile.

Each drawer stores a different colour.  

In addition I have a basket full of fabric crumbs that are not sorted or ironed.

I try to spend a morning one day a month processing my scraps...otherwise I become overwhelmed with them.

One of my stacker units

Yellow and orange scraps waiting to be processed

The Joy of Colourwash Quilts

 I discovered Colourwash quilts on Youtube.  The Canadian quilter, Terry Rowlands has produced three excellent videos which demonstrate her process.  First of three Youtube videos by Terry Rowlands   

Thank you, Terry.  I have had so much fun with these.

My first attempt used a variety of colours, mostly rainbow colours.  The second used blue and green scraps.  The third used red, orange, pink and yellow scraps.  I am presently making a fourth in citrus colours - think, lemons, oranges, pink grapefruit, limes.  This one will be sent to the US to be displayed amongst a number of colourwash quilts in September 2025.  

I have chosen to make all my colourwash quilts using 400, 3 inch finished blocks, so 20 by 20, 60 inches square.  It is a size that works well with my hanging space at home.  

The thing I enjoy about making these, is that a ruler is only used to square up the blocks at the end.  The block is improvisationally pieced. 

The Joy of Scraps and the Difficulty with Scraps

 Scrap quilting is such a fun process.  The quilts can span a number of different genres, such as applique quilts, improv quilts, traditional quilts, and contemporary quilts can all be created using scraps.

Why not just throw scraps away?  

I paid for the fabric, so I want to use it...all of it.

I hate to waste anything, and it seems irresponsible to throw perfectly good fabric away where it will likely end up in landfill.

As the scraps are 'just scraps', there is a freedom to experiment with ideas and colours that I might not want to cut into my stash to create.

Many of my scrap quilt go for donation, so will hopefully be useful and loved? by someone else.

Each scrap reminds me of a quilt I have made in the past.

Scraps are great to swap with friends.

Lastly, they are just so much fun to make.