(Left: two scrap-quilt blocks illustrating scattered color (top) and blended color (bottom))
Raise your hand if you’ve made a scrap quilt that developed into either:
…..1) a mind-numbing bore (from being too careful), or
…..2) a muddled mess (from not being careful enough).
If either scrap-quilt scenario has landed on your sewing table, you’re in abundant company. Scrap quilting is a beloved style of quiltmaking that celebrates beauty, nostalgia, and history. But even so, making scrappy quilts remains a mystery to many well-intentioned quilters.
Today, help has arrived for those befuddled by scrap quilts—and it comes all the way from Australia. With all of the awards, accomplishments, and accolades between Australian quilters Judy Turner and Margaret Rolfe, it’s no wonder that their book Successful Scrap Quilts from Simple Rectangles is back by popular demand. The premise of their book is simple: make the piecing a piece ’o cake—quilts with rectangles only, please—so you can focus on what truly makes or breaks a scrap quilt: fabric selection.
(Point-free quilts. Point-less quilts. You get the point!)
But back to those accolades. Judy’s quilts have been exhibited widely in Australia, the US, Japan, and Europe. She first shared her innovative approach to quiltmaking in her book Awash with Color, and is no doubt one of Australia’s best-known quilting teachers. Margaret is known worldwide for her books on quiltmaking. In 2001, she was appointed a member of the Order of Australia, which recognizes Australian citizens for meritorious service. Margaret has teamed up with several famed quilt designers to write books, including Jenny Bowker, who created this incredible portrait quilt in Margaret’s honor:
“The Quiltmaker” by Jenny Bowker. Photo by Ken Fife.
Isn’t Jenny’s quilt breathtaking?
Judy and Margaret have decades of teaching experience between them. And in Successful Scrap Quilts from Simple Rectangles, you get to learn both of their top scrap-quilting secrets.
Here’s a sneak peek at the book that sidesteps complex piecing, gives loads of tips for coordinating fabrics, and offers 15 quilt patterns to use with any fabric collection—no matter what your material obsession may be.
(Right: Margaret Rolfe and Judy Turner)
What actually makes scrap quilts work? Many books offer scrap-quilt projects, but few of them explain the mechanics of what makes a scrap quilt successful. In Successful Scrap Quilts from Simple Rectangles, we explore the fundamentals of how pattern is created through contrast and how the dimensions of tonal value, color, and print contribute to the success of a quilt. We offer the tools to give your scrap quilt the unity and coherence it needs so it doesn’t descend into chaos, or have the odd patch that stands out like a soldier out of step. We also suggest methods to make and integrate variations so the eye is always interested and eager to travel over the quilt without boredom.
But essentially, all we say about scrap quilts can be summed up in two words: repetition and variation. The pattern in a scrap quilt is created by the repetition of a block that has a contrast within it, but the interest in the pattern is created by the variation you bring to those repetitions. Below are some examples of repetition and variation.
“Black and White and Red All Over” uses spots, stripes, checks, ’30s prints, florals, tone-on-tones, Christmas prints, Japanese prints, batiks, African prints, and novelty prints.
Dark and light geometric prints are featured in this all-check-and-plaid “Checkerboard” quilt. Dark fabrics add richness and depth, while a range of light colors give the quilt a warm glow.
Margaret has collected ’30s reproduction prints for years, and she used many of them in “Down Memory Lane.” Middle values were used in this design, rather than the lightest and darkest prints.
Japanese prints are the focus of this “Bento Box” quilt, which is a perfect showcase for a special collection of fabrics. By using the reverse side of many of the indigo fabrics, Judy increased the range of values and prints in the quilt.
“Flush of Spring” uses a variety of green and pink prints to represent the season. Colors blend around the successive rectangles in each block.
“Spectrum” gave Judy the opportunity to do her favorite thing: play with color. The quilt is made from a rainbow of lovely hand-dyed and subtly colored prints. To further increase the range of fabrics, she used the reverse side of most of the fabrics as well.
The book includes 15 quilt patterns plus 18 different block designs and 40 quilt layouts, all made with rectangles (no triangles, no points—none!). If you like to quilt by the book, you’ve got 15 ways to do it. If you like to start with a basic block pattern and then jump off the page . . . get ready to jump! With advice from experts like Judy and Margaret, you’ll discover the perfect balance that will make your next scrap quilt spectacular.
Confession time—have you struggled with scrap quilts? Why the struggle—and will you try again? Share your story in the comments and you could win a copy of the Successful Scrap Quilts from Simple Rectangles eBook! We’ll announce a winner one week from today and let you know by email if you’ve won.
Get the book today and download the eBook instantly for FREE.
Comments are closed for this post.
Thanks to all who entered the drawing! The randomly chosen winner is Sarah, who writes:
“I would love this book. I am a new quilter and need all the help I can get. I’ve been collecting fabric for years and want to take that fabric and put it into scrappy blocks along with machine embroidery and make a super ‘thru the years’ memory quilt for each of my children (and one for myself). I see many scrappy quilts and everything seems so ‘lost.’ I don’t want my embroidery on the blocks to get lost in the fabric prints and I want to use the fabric from my children’s clothing as they grew, both solids and print fabric, so many fond memories… so I really do need this book to help me create heirloom quilts for my children they can be proud of for years to come.”
Sarah, we’ll email you about your free eBook. Congratulations!
I have pounds and pounds of scraps. What a delightful book. I think it would give my scraps a new dimension.
—Diane W on November 8, 2012would love to have this book still learning i hand tie my quilt it all i know how to do would love to learn from u books thanks
—arlene on November 8, 2012I struggle with scraps – how to coordinate so it looks like you have planned it, rather than just throwing fabrics together. I guess there is a time and place for both – planned and spontaneous.
—gab on November 8, 2012I love scrap quilts, but I am overwhelmed by the scraps and I always end up using yardage. I need a better way to manage my scraps so I can use them up.
—Darling Jill Quilts on November 8, 2012I haven’t really started a scrap quilt because I was afraid that would not have enough variety – my one exception was a spider web quilt!
—Cindy Wienstroer on November 8, 2012I love scrap quilts! Sometimes it’s hard to get brave enough to put different styles of fabrics together and know that they will work together!
—Darlene B on November 8, 2012I would love this book. I am a new quilter and need all the help I can get. I’ve been collecting fabric for years and want to take that fabric and put it into scrappy blocks along with machine embroidery and make a super "thru the years" memory quilt for each of my children (and one for myself). I see many scrappy quilts and everything seems so "lost". I don’t want my embroidery on the blocks to get lost in the fabric prints and I want to use the fabric from my childrens clothing as they grew, both solids and print fabric, so many fond memories… so I really do need this book to help me create heirloom quilts for my children they can be proud of for years to come.
—sarah schweitzer on November 8, 2012Gosh! I could ditto all the above. The joy of quilting for me means always using MORE fabrics. It’s easy to use a specific collection, but what I end up loving is the "just right blend" of using many, many fabrics and especially not all from the same collection. Sure could use this fabulous book! Fingers crossed.
—Polly Hada on November 8, 2012I have done a number of scrap quilts and find that I am happier with the results when I take the time to audition my fabrics. You don’t have to put every fabric you own into a scrap quilt. For the last one I did I chose a variety of reds, blues and beige-ish colors in a pattern where they ran from dark to light. once the blocks were done it didn’t matter where the blocks were placed. I would love to win this ebook! it looks like just what I would love to make.
—Jeannie on November 8, 2012I struggle with scraps – and I have a lot of them. I’d love to learn how to turn them into a quilt I could be proud of!
—Laurel Marsolais on November 8, 2012I don’t really struggle with scrap quilts in fact I love making them! It takes a lot longer using the scraps because of ironing and cutting so many different fabrics. They are worth it though!
—Brenda Hulsey on November 8, 2012I have collected fabric for many years and would like to make use of my "collections". This book seems to have great ideas and illustrations to help clean out my closet!
—Barb on November 8, 2012I have tried to make a scrap quilt on a couple of occasions and been disappointed because it didn’t look the way I imagined. This explains it! Thank you!
—Nita on November 8, 2012I love the look of scrappy quilts, but I still want them to looked "planned" at the same time….I find that, by inclosing them in borders (a tiny color strip around each block will take care of that, without much difficulty.
—Judy on November 8, 2012When I first started sewing scraps together, I just sewed whatever and didn’t really think about color placement. I wasn’t happy with the result, but I will definitely try again. Thanks for the giveaway!
—Sallie on November 8, 2012Scrappy quilts are my favorite. Your book I want so badly because I am recuperating and may have lots of time to quilt to try to use my scraps for giveaway quilts that I can complete……while I am able to quilt.
—Connie Douty on November 8, 2012i would use this book forever as i love rectangles in quilts. i get stymied by complicated piecing and quilt for the love of fabric.
—Shannon on November 8, 2012I love the variety and "movement" of scrappy quilts and feel sorry for the fabrics that have to be left out.
—Tanya on November 8, 2012I love the variety and "movement " of scrappy quilts and feel sorry for the fabrics that can’t be included.
—Tanya on November 8, 2012I have struggled in the past with scrap quilts, as I tend to be a "matchy-matchy" type of quilter, or so I am often told. I need to learn the art of scrap quilting, so I can build some beautiful scrap quilts like Margaret Rolfe and Judy Turner, and make worthwhile use of my large basket of scraps.
—Karen on November 8, 2012As with most things in life, the struggle wasn’t in the making, it was in getting started. I find that fear of making a mistake holds many of us back from things we’d like to do.
—Kayt on November 8, 2012I recently completed my first scrap quilt. Money is tight for me so I was incredibly proud that I completed the 96″ square quilt using nothing but my scraps and fabric from my stash. The feeling of satisfaction was immense. I intended to use a fabric that I didn’t like for the binding, but when it came to it I couldn’t do it. Instead I chopped the binding up into shorter lengths and mixed it with other left-over binding pieces to make a scrappy binding and was delighted with the result.
I can’t wait to make my next scrap quilt!
I love scrappy quilts. My problem in the past has been not having enough contrast between my medium and dark fabrics. It has showed me that "anything goes" isn’t always the best route to take.
—Susan C on November 8, 2012So many scraps–so little time. I need to do more scrap quilts, and I thank you for the opportunity to win this great book to help!
—Barb Peters on November 8, 2012Making lots of scrape quilts throughout the years too say I struggle with them? Well it usually the mess of having small pieces of leftover all over the room and coming up with a pattern. Often the pieces don’t match what the pattern requires. The struggle is making it all work together.
—Linda C on November 8, 2012I made one truly scrappy quilt and totally loved it! Thought I would make more but where do I start this time??? I’m thinking that I "must" sort my scrap, but then that is a lot of work, in order to get a good variety of my scraps in any one quilt. With 3 very large totes and a couple smaller totes, I guess I will have to start somewhere soon!
—Shirley in Canada on November 8, 2012I do struggle a bit – mostly from not having a design wall so I don’t know what the big picture will be before I am completely committed.
—Regina on November 8, 2012Yep. Made a pineapple style that was overly bright. I tried to rescue it by throwing in lots of black and white graphics which helped. But all in all, it was really an ugly quilt.
—Patricia Hersl on November 8, 2012Yes, I sure do struggle with them. I struggle so much that I don’t do them and my scrap box gets bigger and bigger. I find it hard to judge how much fabric to use when alot of the patterns only say 2 yds of scraps. I cannot judge properly how many scraps will make the 2 yds. So I find it easier to put the scraps in the box and keep them there!
—Paula Coleman on November 8, 2012I love scrap quilts. The variety of fabrics used in the different blocks makes them so interesting to piece. Lovely as quilts are where every block uses the same colors, I find that I get bored piecing them. I’d say my main ‘struggle’ with scraps is having mostly fabrics in my stash that are in the middle value color range. To help solve this, I have made a concerted effort to look for only lights or darks when I have to buy any additional fabrics. I’m looking forward to making my next scrap quilt with this better variey of lights and darks along with the mediums.
—Victoria Miner on November 8, 2012I love scrap quilts! My struggle is deciding which fabrics to put together. Not having a lot of scraps, I usually line up my fat quarters and choose from them.
—Pat on November 8, 2012I love scrap quilts, even though they take longer than quilts with only a few fabrics. I just find scrap quilts to be more interesting. I do try to keep my scrappyness controlled with fabrics of the same general type to avoid a big crazy mess.
—Joan on November 8, 2012Scrap quilts are my favorite, but I have troubles sometimes with mine becoming too blah with not enough variation and pizzazz. I think this book would be a wonderful help. Thanks for a chance to win.
—Mary on November 8, 2012I love making scrap quilts and it’s always a challenge to make sure that the quilt doesn’t become boring. I would love to win the Successful Scrap Quilts!
—lindawwww on November 8, 2012What a great inspirational looking book..would be a great asset for me!!
—Juanita Ross on November 8, 2012I love scrappy quilts, but sometimes I tend to be too "matchy". It’s hard for me to throw in some zinger fabrics that make a scrappy quilt more interesting. I’ll keep at it though, because I love the look!
—Karen in Breezy Point on November 8, 2012I have scraps, scraps, and more scraps that I just can’t let go
I have started 2 large scrap quilts but haven’t finished either. Maybe this book is the inspiration I need 
—Sharon Scott on November 8, 2012thank you for the give-away!
I have a ton of scraps, but haven’t made a scrap quilt yet. I keep looking for "the" pattern, although I’ve seen a number of nice ones. I just keep starting new quilts and adding to my scrap stash. I DO have to start one very soon.
—Wanda Heath on November 8, 2012I’ve made one scrap quilt. It has scrappy butterflies, sashing, and borders. I love the way it turned out, but I spent SO MUCH time choosing scraps and coordinating colors and prints. I would like to learn techniques for getting a pleasing, coordinated, yet scrappy, look with less effort.
—Theresa Nicholas on November 8, 2012I long to make a scrap quilt that "holds together" better than my previous ones–in which the scraps look related but neither matchy-matchy nor strangers.
—Beth T. on November 8, 2012I love scrap quilts but I have had my share of flops. Usually I think it’s because I have too many brights in a dark quilt or too many reds in a blue. You get the idea. I think for success you still have to have some sorting.
—Chris on November 9, 2012As the President of a local quilt guild and an avid scrap collector, I presented a couple of programs this year based on scrap quilts. The ideas caught on wonderfully and many members made quilts and other projects. I would like to win the free book so I could show them how to use color and movement to make scrap quilts that look really good, not just use up scraps. By the way, does the book perhaps explain why scraps increase in volume when you make quilts with them? My scraps never seem to become fewer!
—Marie Godfrey on November 9, 2012When I look at a pattern for scrap quilts you always need to buy some yardage for background. I really want something that I can really just use scraps. My stash just keeps growing as I think I can’t throw anything away. Please help as I’m running out of room.
—Rita Scott on November 9, 2012My biggest problem with scrap quilts is organizing my scraps. Deciding which pieces are big enough to keep and which ones I should throw away. I need to have an area just for placing my pieces to use later.
—Deanna Daugherty on November 9, 2012I love to make scrap quilts, and these ladies are definitely thinking along the same track as my mind. I’d love to expand what I do with their ideas.
—Linda E in AZ on November 9, 2012Thanks!
I have been quilting for about 36 years now, and each scrap quilt teaches me something….The quilt I just finished yesterday "The Galactic 1 x 2 Quilt" showed me that I still have a lot to learn about 1 inch and two inch squares…I started with a checkerboard 1 inch center block, and had the idea to add 2 inch squares around it, but the math wasn’t working even…So I ended up adding in a 1 inch strip around the checkerboard….Thus creating myself a new quilt block…the galactic square….It consists of 1 inch squares, 1 inch strips, and 2 inch squares…Resulting size is 88 by 88 inches….The idea turned into a 14 inch quilt block….Nothing like teaching yourself something and being willing to learn….Scraps are the greatest tools to work with.
—Darlene Krystal on November 9, 2012Is it just me?….I do not see the difference in the two blocks at the top. I guess that’s why I really need to win this book. My scrappy adventures have never turned out well. Probably because I don’t have a design wall to play with color/value placement. I’m sure this book could help me though.
—Jennifer Padden on November 9, 2012I have always struggled with the scrappy look. I get so involved in making sure I have enough variety, but then everything starts to look like a mess. So I over organize, and it doesn’t have the right look. It’s just difficult to think about. I want to be "free" with it, but I struggle with having "sames" next to each other. I could really use so me help!
—Lynette on November 9, 2012One of the harder parts I experience when making a scrap quilt is the shifting value of all those "medium" fabrics I have. You know the ones that look dark when they are next to a light and look light when next to a dark. Once in awhile the pattern gets lost because of their placement. But that has not stopped me from making another one. Love the concept of just using rectangles.
—Nancy (Cat Lady) on November 9, 2012I have lots of scraps, but haven’t yet had the courage to put any together. Maybe with the ideas from this book, I’d be ready to try!! Thanks for the chance to win one.
—Maggie Avrit on November 9, 2012Yes, I struggle with scrap quilts. I don’t have the confidence to choose colors, so I always end up buying fabric from the same collection, or a kit. It amazes my husband that I don’t have the right fabric when I have a closet from floor to ceiling with "fabric stash"!
—Jan staples on November 9, 2012Hmmm scrape quilts, love them, make them from actual scrapes, umm. No. Go to local fabric store and buy assorted fabrics that you like. Cut,sew quilt. That is a scrap quilt right. Left over’s hmmm ? They go in the bins for something can be made with this someday.. My grandmother said it was possible but she never had the chance to teach me how. Would love for one learn how to make all the scrapes work together.
—Valerie on November 9, 2012I love scrappy quilts but I’m not confident about selecting colour and fabrics. I tend to go too matchy or too medium in value. This sounds like the book I’ve been waiting for!
—Kerrie on November 9, 2012I have lots and lots of scraps and would love some help with ways to use them to create a beautiful scrap quilt.
—Pat D on November 10, 2012I love scrap quilts and have really struggled to make them. When I read the comment about scrap quilts being to matchy/matchy, I thought "Oh, No". I think that is the direction of the one I’m trying to make right now! I had told a quilting buddy I found it boring to work on – not enough variety. Yikes….. you’ve seen my project.
—Dianne Bondaroff on November 10, 2012Would love a chance to win this book. Thank you!
I am actually struggling with a scrap quilt right now! It is a tumbling block quilt (made with diamonds). I am trying to make it so that there are no duplicates, but I am also struggling with placements. I am trying to make sure that the batiks are not all in the same place, that the fancy prints are evenly placed throughout… maybe I am being too fussy, but I have a ‘vision’ for this quilt, and I want it to be perfect. I know that there is not supposed to be any specific order in a scrap quilt, but my right brain is arguing with my left brain – HELP!!
Thank you for the opportunity to bring back some sanity lol
—Carol J on November 10, 2012I’m color challenged so placing a variety of scraps so the quilt looks right, including the "blending" to make strips discussed — well it never comes out looking correct and my seams are usually messed up as press them wrong. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book and becoming successful at scrap placement.
—MarciaW on November 10, 2012While I was hospitalized for cancer, a former friend, who now lives in Rose Hill, MS came entered my home, with her key, and took many of my family’s heirlooms and personal items, along with fabrics, notions, stencils, and patterns from my quilting stash. In her wake of stealing good yardage fabrics, she left behind scraps of fabrics to fill the "gaps". When life throws us lemons, we simply make lemonade. I’ve always been an almost conventional non-scrap quilter, however that has changed and I am making good use of those left behind scraps. I cut the majority of them into 2.5 inch squares and have completed several quilts, a few, still exist, of my own creation UFO’s, and currently, I am working on the "Plus Signs" quilt shown on the cover of American Patchwork and Quilting magazine, December 2012 issue.
Quilters are a sturdy non-quiting group and nothing stops us from our craft, including dishonest former friends.
Keep smiling,
—Lynnita Shipman on November 11, 2012My struggles with scrap quilts laid in the combination of colors and where to put so they don’t all look the same. When taking a Jewel Box supposed to be scrap quilt class, I picked out my colors and purchased the fabrics, so the quilt would look "just right." I did overcome my scraps by making a scrappy Irish Chain quilt, where no two of the same fabric color was in each of the blocks. Using a design wall or my felt backing tablecloth as a design wall, I made sure, no two colors of the same family "touched" each other in the connecting blocks.
One of my creation scrappy quilts was so named "It started with a white square" where I continuously added strips of various widths scraps around the square. In some cases, I had to miter different colored strips together to complete a top or side row, which made it unique. I quilted a heart in the white square and when asked, why? I said the white square was the heart of the quilt.
Keep smiling,
—Lynnita Shipman on November 11, 2012One of my best loved scrap quilts is called a "String Quilt." Take any size muslin square of your choice: I use 6.5, 8.5, and 10.5 and on the diagonal \ begin by laying any size width strip of fabric in the center, right side up, and pin. Don’t worry about the overhang of fabric. Lay another strip right side down on the center strip, stitch 1/4 inch on one side, removing pins as you stitch, press open, and continue to add strips on each side until you’ve covered the entire muslin square. I sew a "lockdown" 1/8 inch around the entire square to hold down the edges. Turn the block over and trim off the excess fabric to form your desired initial square. These are easy to do, fun, and you use up your "string" of scraps.
With the 6.5 inch muslin string squares, I sew 4 together forming a diamond and depending on the newborn child, I use either pink or blue fabric as a lattice around the blocks. I sew a center red strip throughout my larger muslin squares and formed a geometric pattern in the quilt, which everyone loves the most, especially teenagers. Any center color will do depending on the recipients favorite color. From babies to adults, these String quilts are pretty and if a "string" starts to wear out, do a decorative stitch where needed and add more color to your quilt. Oh, and remember those leftover pieces of bindings from previous quilts? Hang onto them, miter together, and use for any of your scrap quilts. After all, they are scraps too!
I think, this book, would be awesome for anybody who quilts.
Keep smiling,
—Lynnita Shipman on November 12, 2012I made a scrappy quilt from 1930′s reproductions, and learned that I should have used more contrasting fabrics … it’s a bit muddy, even with all those cheerful fabrics. Thank you for the giveaway!
—Paula on November 13, 2012