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!
