Have you ever used a pattern that was written for yardage but used scraps instead? While not all patterns lend themselves to this, you can substitute scraps for yardage in many patterns to make beautiful scrap quilts.
The key to converting a pattern to use up scraps is figuring out piece counts in each size and color when you're not using a single fabric. Read on to find out how I tackle this challenge.
Read the Pattern
Read it all the way through, beginning to end. I know this one seems obvious, but it's easy to skip this part when you're impatient to start cutting and sewing.
You need to know how the blocks and setting are made. The units and blocks might not be constructed the way you assumed. There may be a clever (or less clever!) construction method that uses scraps of different sizes than you expected. There may be strip piecing that changes the kind of scraps you need. Read the pattern!
Choose your scrappiness level
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Individual scrap squares replace squares cut from
yardage in this version of Starlit Picnic |
I shared ideas in an earlier blog post to help you decide how scrappy you want your quilt to be. All scraps? ALL the colors or a more controlled palette? Scrappy blocks and controlled sashing? Check out the blog post for ideas. You'll need to make some decisions to know which of the strategies below to use to figure out what you need to cut from your chosen scraps.
Figure out piece counts
Once you know what kind of scrappiness you're planning, you can start counting.
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| Scraps cut and counted to make a scrappy version of Half and Half. |
Scenario 1. You choose to replace all prints with assorted scraps in no particular order
This is the simplest scenario. You can simply use the cutting instructions to determine how many pieces of each size to cut from assorted scraps. Where the pattern says to cut a certain number of pieces A from a particular fabric, just cut those pieces from assorted scraps instead. Done!
This applies if you use multicolor scraps with random placement, or if you choose to use scraps from a single color family as in the quilt below.
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| Half and Half, scrappy version |
Keep in mind that any contrasting background or sashing can be cut from yardage as listed in the pattern or from scraps of contrasting fabrics.
Scenario 2. You choose a different color for each block
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| Find a tutorial for these blocks here |
Look at the block assembly instructions to determine how many of each cut part you need for a single block. Multiply those numbers by the number of blocks you plan to make in a particular color to calculate how many of each piece to cut from scraps of that colour.
How to determine how many of each part you need for a block depends on how the instructions are written. Some patterns tell you what to do for a single block, then say to repeat all the steps for each block. Others will direct you to make all similar parts for the whole quilt all at once, then show you how to use the parts to make blocks. Both approaches are valid. Why pattern writers choose one aproach over the other varies from pattern to pattern and designer to designer, and that's a whole other conversation. That said, you'll need different strategies for the two scenarios.
- If the instructions march through what needs to be done for a single block, you can start at the beginning of the block instructions and count parts as you read through them.
- If the instructions make all similar parts for all the blocks at once, I prefer to start at the end of the instructions and move backwards. One unit may be used more than once in a block, or in more than one type of block, so it might not be possible to take the total number required and divide by the number of blocks. Maybe yes, maybe no, depending on the pattern. Either way, working backwards through the block instructions will work. Let's walk through an example of this from my Field of Leaves pattern.
1. Count the pieced units that come together to finish one block. In the graphic below, you see the leaf block is made with one unit each of Units 1 to 7.
2. Go backwards through the instructions to identify and count the parts that go into each pieced unit. Units 1 to 3 and Unit 7 are easy as they don't include any smaller pieced units. Finding the instructions for these units in the pattern, we can identify that they are made with cut parts C, D, K, H, N and E Between those three units, there are 4 K, 2 D, 1 C, 1 H, 1N and 1 E (only one H cut into 2 triangles).
3. Pieced Units 4, 5 and 6 each include cut parts and smaller pieced units. For example, in the instructions we see that Unit 4 is made up of I plus Unit 1, and Unit 1 is made up of cut parts K and D, so Unit 4 needs 1 I, 1 K and one D. Continue counting parts for Units 5 and 6.
4. Adding up the counts of individual cut parts from each step above gives the total number of each part needed for a single block. For the leaf block, that breaks down to
- 1 square B (red)
- 1 rectangle C (red)
- 5 rectangles D (red)
- 1 strip E (red)
- 1 square H (background)
- 2 rectangles I (background)
- 1 square J (background)
- 8 squares K (background)
- 1 square N (background)
You can choose to cut all these parts for one block from a single fabric plus background, or from assorted scraps.
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| Mocked up with single red on the left and assorted red scraps on the right |
Scenario 3. You choose to use a constant fabric for specific elements in the quilt
Consider my blue scrappy version of Shining Lace. I've circled some of the constant fabric in the picture below.
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| Red circles highlight examples of the constant fabric |
For the totally scrappy parts, just use the cutting chart for sizes and numbers but cut from assorted scraps, as in Scenario 1.
For the constant fabric, look through the pattern identify what cut part(s) correspond to the element(s) for which you plan to use that fabric. You can then find those parts in the cutting chart and follow those instructions for that fabric. Working backwards through the Shining Lace pattern, in the same way we worked backwards through the leaf block instructions, let me identify there were parts in both block designs in the quilt that came together to make the squares on point, so I could count all the required parts.
Special Cases
If the pattern uses strip sets
You can use scrap strips in a strip set. If you have scrap strips long enough to use for the original instructions, great! You're good to go.
Otherwise, look at the size of the segments to cut from the strip set. As long as your scrap strips are longer than the cut width of the segment, you can use them to make strip sets from which to cut segments. You'll just cut fewer segments from shorter sets and will need additional strip sets to reach the total number of segments the pattern calls for.
Keep in mind that it's a scrappy alternative so unless you're choosing this as a constant element you don't need to use the same fabrics for all your strip sets.
You also have the option of piecing the strip-pieced segment from individual pieces instead of cutting it from a strip set but that requires extra math.
Figure out what the finished size of each element of the strip pieced segment is in the finished quilt, then add 1/2" to each dimension to allow for a 1/4" seam allowance. That's the size you would cut each individual piece to make the segment.
Personally, I'll stick to strip piecing if the pattern calls for it. It's in the pattern to help make assembly faster and easier, so why mess with that?
If a unit construction method makes multiple units at once
If you are making more than one block in a specific color or value, keep in mind that methods that make multiple units at once might make enough for more than one block.
For example, consider using one red square and one white square to make HST, as shown below. If you only need one HST in the block, those two squares will yield enough HST for two blocks. Take care not to count 2 red squares and 2 white squares for 2 blocks. You only need one of each for every two blocks.
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| Example of joining parts resulting in multiple units instead of one |
- Figure out how many units you need for the number of blocks you're making,
- Divide that number by the number of units the method makes. That will tell you how many times you need to repeat the instructions to make the number you need.
- To figure out the total number of pieces to cut, multiply the number of each piece required by the method by the number of times you'll repeat the method.
Was that clear as mud?
Here's an example to make 6 of the leaf blocks from earlier.
- The block uses one HST, so I would need 6 HST to make 6 blocks
- The two-at-a-time HST method in the pattern makes 2 HST. 6 blocks divided by 2 HST per method repeat equals 3 repeats (6/2=3).
- The method uses 1 red square and 1 background square, so doing this three times to make 6 HST will require 3 of each square.
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I hope you have found this helpful. Go forth to explore your pattern collection and raid your scrap bins with confidence! I need to plan a raid soon. The bins are getting a wee bit full...
Also, please share photos of your scrappy quilts! You can email me or share in my Facebook Group. I'd love some scrappy inspiration.
Happy quilting,
Joanne
