My Scrap Quilt Theory

All colors are the friends of their neighbors and the lovers of their opposites.

Marc Chagall

I asked a while back if anyone would be interested in how I work with Color in Scrap Quilts.  A few of you said you would like more help so I'll tell you how I like to do things.  Please remember there are no Quilt Police!  This is just how I approach Scrap Quilts.

There is NO Right or Wrong way to make Scrap Quilts.  I just like to do them where the colors play happily with their neighbors.  I have seen some quilts that have such a riot of colors fighting within them it makes me dizzy to look at them.  They make me think of that song lyric "I'm so dizzy, my head is spinning!"  I may have even made a block or top like that myself, but I hope not.  I don't like quilts that make me think "What a chaotic mess of color!"

I have a set of String Quilt blocks that I add to occasionally.  They are one of several ongoing Scrap Quilts that I work on when strips or blocks of certain sizes accumulate around my studio.  What I found myself doing as I worked on them was 2 things.  

1. As I add strips the next one has to look good with the previous one.  It may look awful next to the one 2 or 3 strips over but it only has to look good with the ones it touches.
2. Use a variety of Values, Lights, Mediums and Darks.  Having good contrast gives more movement to the quilt.
3. I used a constant color Accent in each block.  In the String Blocks below it is some shade of red that appears somewhere near, but not necessarily in, the center of each block.  This is optional.

That's it.  Simple.  Here's a look at 3 of the blocks.  One is repeated in both photos.  These are 10.5" blocks and I could not get all of them in one picture.

Here are some rectangular blocks that will be in the border of the quilt.  The red doesn't always appear in them.

Caution!!! Strip Direction is important in Rectangles!  No, it doesn't help to turn it around.

This one would be more interesting if it had some light fabrics in it.

Working in the same fabric line is an option but I think it can quickly get boring.  I don't think it qualifies as a Scrap Quilt unless a different fabric line was used for each block.  Working with pastels makes it hard to get enough value contrast.

Strips don't have to be straight.

This block has a limited color palette which can be fun too.  Notice that this block is more interesting than the one above because of the fact that different Values of fabrics are used in it.  Using all Christmas prints and colors would be a good way to use up leftover theme prints. Maybe you might like to use Novelty prints for a fun kids quilt.

Now let's look at a different kind of Scrap Quilt.  Here are some Strip Units for a Scrappy Trips Around the World quilt.

In this pattern the strips are next sewn into a tube so the first strip will be touching the last.

Below are six strip sets laying on top of each other.

I used the same Scrap Quilt Theory in these blocks that is above.  I chose to have a Light Value Strip in the diagonal.  I also used one Tone on Tone strip in each set but the position varies.  Here are some finished blocks.

Here is what six blocks look like together.   The directions can be found here on Bonnie Hunter's site.

If fabrics clash and don't play well together from block to block I will adjust the layout of blocks before they are sewn together.  That's why you should have a design wall!  For me the block to block changes don't make me dizzy.  My brain just says "Oh, that's another block."   and it's OK.  

I like the fact that the lights will vary in value so the diagonal will be stronger is some places than others.  I might choose to place the whiter diagonals in one direction and the softer in the other.  The tone on tone strips cause the eye to move in a different direction across the quilt because those lines are not continuous.  I am still not done making blocks and so I don't know how big it will be.  I have put together over 20 strip sets but not all are sewn.

Notice I haven't talked about Color.  In the blocks above just about every color is used.  It is more about Placement and Value.  Look at the wide variety of prints I've used, they all work because they don't fight with their neighbors.  You can tell I don't go for pulling strips randomly out of a bag and sewing them together unless you have planned what goes in the bag to start with, then it might work out.

So there you have My Scrap Quilt Theory.  What do you think?  Does it work?

Linking with these great blogs you should check out!

Sew Many Ways

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Quilter's Favorites - Share and Learn

The difficulties you meet will resolve themselves as you advance. Proceed, and light will dawn, and shine with increasing clearness on your path. 

D'Alembert

Geta Grama of Geta's Quilting Studio is having a great Linky Party this week.  She is inviting bloggers to share their Favorite Things and Tips about Quilting.  Naturally, I didn't want to miss out on the fun.  I hope you will pop over and join the fun.  You might learn a thing or two while you are at it.  Some really great bloggers are participating so there are years of quilting experience being shared.

If this is your first time visiting my blog I hope you will explore it a little and get to know me.  There are some Tutorials available and some Free Patterns also.

Geta supplied a list of questions that could be answered for this post.  Rather than going through the list I thought I would share some information on the basic categories a quilter is confronted with when learn our craft.

C O L O R

Before anyone can quilt they must choose what fabrics to use.  That brings the decisions of what colors will work well together.  I'm not going to get into Color Theory here.  If you want to read some excellent and detailed posts about that I suggest you go to Vicki Welsh's Field Trips in Fiber.  Scroll back to the first post on the subject and read them in the order they were written.  You will be very well educated in Color Theory if you do.

V A L U E

My advise to students and customers facing the overwhelming number of fabrics to choose from is to start by picking one multi-colored Focus fabric that they really like.  Next pick out several fabrics that go with the Focus fabric.  Make sure you include a Light, a Medium and a Dark color value in these selections.  Next find one Accent fabric, this should be used to add a spark of color here and there in the quilt.

For example, a standard arrangement of this would be in a Sawtooth Star Quilt:

Focus Fabric: Border and Block Centers

Light Fabric:  Background

Medium Fabric: Sashing between Blocks

Dark Fabric: Inner Border and Binding

Accent Fabric:  Star Points

I used this Guide of picking 5 many times for my own quilts and helping many others select fabrics for their quilts.  It is easy and works well if you can understand the difference between Light, Medium and Dark.  This Does Not mean that you must only use just 5 fabrics in your quilt.  You can use as many fabrics of each value as you desire.  If a fabric looks good with the Focus Fabric it will usually work with all the others that do.  Try to balance the selections by value as well as number.  The exception to this is the fabric you choose for the background which you might want to be the same fabric throughout the quilt.  The Accent fabric should be used only in places where you really want to stand out in the design, like the star points in a star block.  You can use multiple fabrics in the same color for the Accents.

Confetti Stars Close Up View

In this quilt many lights were used for the background.  The border is the Focus fabric, the Accent fabric is the 2 golds used in the stars and inner border.  A variety of browns, blues, reds and greens in medium and dark values were used.  The attention to Contrasting Values is what makes this design work.

Confetti Stars

ACCURATE PIECING

Pressing is SO important!  If you cut a strip from a pressed fabric and compare it to one cut from a fabric that hasn't been pressed - THEY WON'T BE THE SAME SIZE!

If you don't know where an accurate 1/4" seam can be sewn on your machine LEARN!!  It doesn't take much time to sew three 2" x 6" test strips together, press the seams away from the center and measure the center strip.  If it doesn't measure exactly 1 1/2" make some adjustment in what you are doing and try again.  Variables can be the foot used, where you line up the fabric with the foot, needle position or if you didn't cut the strip accurately. It doesn't take that long to sew 5 or even 10 samples until you get it right.  Then train yourself to pay attention to doing it that way until it is a habit.

Pressing during construction is important too!  If you let little pleats stay along seams the block will not be the right size and seams will not match up.  Take the time to press along the way, after every step of construction.  You need to stand up and move around anyway.

SEWING MACHINES

I began sewing on a machine 50 years ago.  Yes, that was a long time ago and things have changed.  Machines do so much more now.  As a former sewing machine dealer I can tell you there are good machines to be found in any brand.  There are some lemons out there too.  

The features that are most useful to quilters are:

• A really good Straight Stitch
• Needle Down Feature
• Speed Control
• Accurate 1/4" Foot
• Walking Foot
• Free Motion Foot

Nice to have but not necessary is:

• Automatic Thread Cutter
• A variety of decorative stitches
• Knee Lift for Presser Foot
• Commercial Speed Motor (sews faster, lasts longer, adds weight)
• Table that surrounds the machine bed to give a flat sewing surface: i.e. Sew Steady Table

TENSION ISSUES

I was surprised to learn as a sewing machine dealer that 90% of tension issues could be resolved by doing one or two things.  I found it to be true and sent customers home without having to have their machines serviced.  Remember them next time you have a problem.

1. Re-thread the machine top (from spool to needle) and bobbin (take it out, put it back in)
2. Change the needle

Keep it Clean!  Dust out the bobbin area every time you start a new project or every 5 to 6 bobbin changes.  Oil as suggested in your manual.  Change to a new needle every 8 hours of sewing.  If you can't remember when you put in a new needle you are probably past due for one.  Dull needles make a 'thunk - thunk' sound when piercing the fabric.  A sharp one doesn't.  Micro-tex needles are great for piecing.  Top Stitching or Embroidery Needles for quilting. 

Superior Threads has some great info on needles and threads on their education pages.

That's a little advice from me on a few subjects.  I hope you've learn something and will use it to make many quilts.  I frequently use EQ7 when planning new projects or working out sizes and yardage for projects.  I will be having a Giveaway this Summer for a copy of the software that I won.  It will be for followers ONLY so you might want to visit me on a regular basis to learn more details.  I also have a handful of Tutorials that are in process to be posted.

I look forward to getting to know ALL MY FOLLOWERS better in the days to come!

As always, 

MAY ALL YOUR PIECING BE PEACEFUL!!!

Patricia

Linking with these wonderful blogs: Sew Many Ways Blossom Heart Quilts Free Motion by the River