Types of Curated Scrap Quilts - Making a Rainbow Scrap Quilt

A little while back, I did a post about the different types of curated scrap quilts that I like to make. I received feedback that it was helpful for many of you, so I thought we'd delve a little deeper. I will go through each type and discuss my thoughts on what works and what doesn’t when making each type. 

Of course, these are just my opinions and not definitive rules! I don’t want you to feel confined to my ideas of what works, but sometimes having a framework of recommendations can help you get started. So let’s get started… beginning with rainbow quilts.

These are my favorite and a frequent go-to, but I think that sometimes they can be a little intimidating. Here are some things I like to keep in mind when deciding which scraps to use in my quilt:

• Value makes a difference. When picking fabrics for a quilt, you might want to have a lot of variation in value to help move your eye around the quilt and create visual interest. However, in a rainbow quilt, too much variation in value can be distracting. There will already be plenty of visual interest because you are using scraps and creating a rainbow. Stick to a more narrow range of value, whether that is very light colors, very dark colors, or somewhere in the middle.

• Be thoughtful about bridging your colors. There are more colors than just red, orange, yellow, etc.—there are all the colors in between. Ensure that you transition gradually between colors to avoid making too big of a jump. This will help give your quilt more of a gradient effect.

• Try to avoid most large-scale prints. Of course, there are exceptions, but larger-scale prints are often visually distracting and don't blend as well.

• Use single color prints. I try to stick with single-colored prints when making a rainbow scrap quilt. One of the best types of fabrics are tone-on-tone prints that use the same color (examples here). Other types of single-color prints might use just one color plus a neutral—like a pink print with white dots.

• Beware of stripes and dots. Don’t avoid them completely, but they can be show stealers. Don’t let them overshadow your quilt!

• It’s okay not to use the whole rainbow. Don’t have many purple prints? Leave them out. Have tons of pinks, oranges, and yellows? Make a quilt using just that part of the rainbow.

• Your rainbow doesn’t have to start with red (or pink). A rainbow is essentially a circle, so start your quilt with whichever color you prefer.

• Don’t be afraid to remove a fabric if it isn’t working. Take a long look, wait, then take a few more long looks. If a fabric isn’t blending well, don’t hesitate to remove it, even if you have to use a seam ripper.

• Break any rule as needed. It's your quilt and rules are made to be broken!

The main point here is that you want your fabrics to blend! A rainbow scrap quilt is more about the overall effect rather than the individual fabrics.

Looking for some action items to get started with your quilt? Check out this post.