Once you’ve sorted your scrap stash, it’s time to choose what pattern you’ll stitch it into.

There are a few things to look out for when deciding on what you want to sew, the first and most important is what size are your scraps?

Because the whole point of doing this is to not need to go out and buy more fabric. That won’t help the situation that we’re trying to fix here.

So the aim is look for patterns that use pieces that are the same size or smaller than what is in your stash – remember how we spoke about sorting into size as an option for how to divvy up the scraps – then you can work out what scarps to use and what to save for the next quilt (because there will be one).

I like to peruse Pinterest for ideas for scrap quilts because there are so many options. Pinterest is a great way to utilise the resources of the internet BUT be very careful about infringing on someone else’s intellectual property, copyright and trademarking. When you start looking for ideas make sure you follow it all the way back to the original source/designer/quilter and if you really love what they do there are a few options –

1. Buy the pattern from them (if there is one).

2. Contact them and ask for permission to use their design, explain what you are doing and what the end use will be; personal quilt, quilt for sale, charity donation etc. Then make sure that what you are doing is okay with them. I always like to get this in writing.

I will speak in more detail about copyright, trademarking and intellectual property at a later date, but basically when in doubt about a pattern or design ask and if you can’t find the original designer don’t use it.

Often with scrap quilts you will see that the scraps are used with a solid fabric in a neutral colour (white, cream, grey, black etc). This is a great way to showcase your scraps and downplay the busy-ness that comes with lots of fabrics that may not necessarily match or come from the same sorts of fabric ranges.

Here are some quilts that I like, that I found via Pinterest, that you could make using scraps (this doesn’t mean that they were designed this way) –

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/246994360786475452/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/256564509996618993/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/172192385724753266/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/34691859602370021/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/30751209925435163/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/128915608058993940/

If you prefer hand-sewing you can use your scraps to do some English Paper Piecing – hexagons, apple cores, clam shells etc.

Just back to the copyright for a moment –

If you choose to use one of my designs: