I searched my own blog to find out when I’d reviewed Emily’s previous book Quilt Remix. That date would be January 2011. This girl is prolific. No wonder she has a scrap pile to be dealt with! Emily is the talented designer behind Carolina Patchworks pattern company and the author of Scrap Republic, her most recent book for C & T Publishing. She is also a very creative, out-of-the-box modern quilter that is able to translate her world view on color and design into language the rest of us can understand, learn, and create great quilts from.
When I first read the book I wasn’t quite sure that a whole book could be written on scraps. Second time through I picked up on the color theory and lessons being shared. Hmmm… these simple concepts were giving me big ideas. And yes… ahem… lets just say I have a few scraps of my own that could be put to the test. The first stop on the blog tour was White. Tomorrow is Red. Guess what that makes me? Emily said that even though Pink wasn’t part of ROYGBIV she would make an exception. I’m happy to report I fell in love with Pink all over again!
The next decision was which quilt to make. The book contains 8 projects that are split between two sections: The Weekend Stasher and The I-Have-Nothing-To-Hide-Anymore Stasher. The first section contains projects appropriate for beginners, quilters looking for something quick, and those with a smaller scrap stash. Section Two contains projects that are larger in scale, more complex, and require a larger quantity of scraps. While I easily qualified for Section 2 projects based on quantity of scrap stash, I ultimately decided on the Beeline Quilt (the first quilt on the clothesline from Section 1).
In keeping with the theme of the blog tour, I decided to make my quilt with a single color of scraps vs. the color wheel progression described in the pattern.
Surprise #1: I had a really good time going through my scraps, sorting by size, and reminiscing about how each came into my life. I created 3 piles by width of scrap: 4″, 3″, and less than 3″.
Surprise #2: piecing the scraps into strips was really fast. I didn’t belabor the combinations too much. I tried to keep a healthy mix of alternating light and dark. I followed the instructions in the book in spirit and didn’t worry about the exact dimensions. My scraps fell naturally into my 3 size groups. I also cut quite a few 4″ strips from FQs and yardage in my stash.
Surprise #3: It was extremely satisfying to create a quilt top from bits and pieces. I throw away a LOT of scraps so the ones I keep are truly fabrics I love. Watching them come alive in this new form, all playing so well together, was exciting.
I highly recommend Scrap Republic if you’re looking for inspiration and practical designs on how to divide and conquer a growing scrap stash. Or just come for the color theory. Both topics are presented with equal attention to detail. I guarantee you will feel compelled to piece together small bits of fabric in rainbow color order. Emily’s sense of humor is appropriately woven into the narrative. It reminds us that quilting is fun, hanging onto our scraps is universal, and creating something from these ever so valuable bits of cloth is a satisfying endeavor.
A note for the scrapless: each pattern also provides alternate instructions with yardage requirements.
ps my light is poor on this rainy Northwest evening, will show more of the quilt top later this week.
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There is quite a list of fun prizes to be won at each stop. I love how Emily is so detailed in such matters! Leave a comment sharing your thoughts on scraps, tips for using them, or anything scrap related that comes to mind. Yes, I need all the help and support I can get. I didn’t even dent my scrap bucket with this quilt! I’ll draw the winners on Thursday, October 6.
Prizes:
- Scrap Republic from C&T Publishing — printed version for US residents, PDF for international
- Scrap Republic Eco Tote from C&T Publishing
- Bag o’ Scraps from Robert Kaufman
- ROY G BIV Essential Cotton Thread in Red, Pumpkin, Butter, Lime, Cerulean, Midnight, and Red Violet from Connecting Threads
- Mrs. Roy G. Biv Pattern from Carolina Patchworks (the pattern that inspired the book!)
And more great stops on the blog tour:
Monday October 3: White Rachel Griffith @ p.s. i quilt
Tuesday October 4: Pink Kathy Mack @ Pink Chalk Studio (yay, you’re here!)
Wednesday October 5: Red Kimberly Jolly @ Fat Quarter Shop
Thursday October 6: Orange Jake Finch @ Generation Q Magazine
Friday October 7: Yellow Pat Sloan
Saturday October 8: Green Connecting Threads
Sunday October 9: Blue Scott Hansen @ Blue Nickel Studios
Monday October 10: Indigo John Adams @ Quilt Dad
Tuesday October 11: Violet/Purple Allie Heath @ Robert Kaufman
Kathy Mack
Carrie + Diana
I’m just starting to use pinks. I like Bonnie Hunters spiderweb quilt. It was fun to make. I also like string quilts in slanted squares. So many ways to twist and turn the blocks. This book looks fun.
Thanks for sharing about the Scrap Republic book. For scraps I keep strips in one box and squares
(no smaller than 1 inch) in another sorted by color. They are already cut so they easy to grab for projects.
I have a huge bin of scraps just waiting for this book! Would love to win it! Lisa in Texas
this book looks great. Am in the process of setting up my sewing room after a move and am thinking about scrap quilts. Very timely for me!
Hi! Just started this whole quilting thing, so don’t have a ton of scraps! But I love the idea of this. Seems like this is how quilting got its start. And it reminds me of the Dolly Parton song, “Coat of Many Colors” Scrap lovers, if you do not know it, look it up!
I cut my scraps into strips or squares, the sort by size. I also keep a box of the odd-shaped scraps (less than 2″ wide at any point) that I can’t bear to throw away. I think this book will have lots of good ideas for both! Thanks for the review and for sharing your experience with the book!
My scraps are voluminous, and this book would be a godsend! And I love what you did with your pink scraps – it gives me direction on what I can do with mine. Thanks.
I have soooo many scraps, I would love to use a whole bunch in one of those crazy beautiful quilts
I have a room full of scraps-need to use them up. Scrap quilts are a great use for them and would love to have new ideas! Thanks~
PINK SCRAPS ARE ALWAYS SAVED BECAUSE I DO A LOT OF RED,GREEN,WHITE+PINK QUILTING! THANKS FOR SHARING! HAPPY QUILTING!
With the leftovers of quilts I try to make matching pillows to use them. The other scraps I organise them in colours so it’s easier to find what I need.
Terrific giveaway!
I would LOVE to win this book! I am always looking for ways and inspiration to use up my bags of scraps! My grand kids separate all my scraps for me in to bags by color, and sometimes I just sit down and sew from one bag at a time.Have made some really nice scrappy quilt tops that way!Thanks for the chance!
I always have such a hard time using my scraps–especially when they’re the last piece(s) of a favorite fabric! I think this book would help me actually USE my scraps since that is what they’re for, after all.
I made a full size quilt with scraps by making 2 inch squares and sewing them together. It made a nice memory quilt caused each square reminded me of a quilt I had made in the past.
What a great way to use up scraps. My scrap basket if ever growing and I am always trying to find ways to use them up.
I also have trouble using my scraps. I am afraid the piece I am using is just what I might need to finish an important project. I am slowly getting over it and realizing, if I use my scraps, then I have permission (from myself) to buy NEW fabrics! Thanks for the giveaway.
Well, as a relatively new quilter, I don’t have a ton of scraps, but as luck (or my own style I guess) would have it, two of the projects I have going right now require scraps! So I have be collecting scraps by buying random fqs whenever I am in a fabric store! Its kind of a silly way to stay things, but I love my yo yo and my crazy quilt.
My favorite pink thing is across between fat baby cheeks and cotton candy.
I just finished a quilt using scraps to make tumblers.
I just love girly girl pink! Thanks for the chance to win.
I’ve only just got into using pink, basically living in a male dominated household and being the only female…..but I have a few now…..I have 8 small 5L buckets with lids and handles for my scraps that I colour coordinate and stack…they take no room at all and if I need a fabric for applique or strips, I just head to the buckets!
sugary hugs
Wendy X :O)
Oops well looks like I and some others didn’t have enough time to even enter this … 2 days ?? oh well
Why is there such a difference between blogs on drawing time ?? Some are a week or even more, and this one was only 2 days???
I love mixing scraps. I remember reading in a Teri Christopherson book, that if you use a contrasting scrap, one that really pops, use it more than once in a quilt so your eye doesn’t just go to that one spot.
And I do like “pop”!
I don’t throw ANYTHING away! I like to do art quilts and you never know when you need that tiny little piece of fabric for a quilt.
I have been cutting my scraps into 1 1/2″ and 2″ strips for years to eventually make scrappy log cabins. I like these ideas better! : )