Revisit Scrap Basket 2 - a Wedding Gift

In preparation for a family wedding - my nephew, Matt and his wife to be, Candace, I gathered their input for a wedding quilt.  Let's be serious, I gathered Candace's input! 

My ask, which of my quilts designs would you like for a wedding quilt? 

Much to my surprise her choice:

My original Scrap Basket 2 quilt.  Yes, it is a scrap quilt.  Any of my quilting friends know I love neutral quilts and have amassed a large stash and scraps in this color palette. 

Working in a neutral palette can be a challenge.

With the assistance of our digital cameras/phones, you can master this challenge.

"Color gets all the credit, but Value does all the work!

When I asked about a color palette for the wedding quilt here was her choice:

My first reaction, lovely how serene.

My second reaction, let's dive into my stash.

My last reaction,  I'm missing some greens!  Yes, I too had to go shopping for those sage greens and yes some darker greens.

Absent some variation in values, my design would become mud.  

Let's change up the palette to black and white to demonstrate the concept.

.Here is the same image in black and white. The color swatches at the left show little of the different values in the inspiration photo.

This was purposeful on the part of Orangetree, as it was a color palette for interior design purposes. Whilst this will work for interior design, it would pose a challenge in a quilt.

We need the range in values to define the design in a quilt.  

Absent the value range we have mud.  Whilst I understand this, I hope my niece will understand this as well as I add a range of values to their quilt.

Let me illustrate!

At left my image in black and white.

At right my image in color.

Do I have a range of values?

Perhaps yes!

Are you along to create your Scrap Basket 2 quilt?

Let's get started.

Consider using a monochromatic color palette in 2 - 3 colorways.  Try to include one Solid fabric per colorway.

The first step is to sort your scraps.  If your scraps are not sorted by color, the first step is to sort by color.  Then sort your scraps by value.

Color and value is relative.  Pick one fabric of the first colorway that "appears" to be a mid value, and start a new pile.  Then select another fabric and compare it to the original.

Is it darker or lighter?  I like to work left to right, lighter left and darker right, creating three piles for this colorway.  Essentially you will have created a light, medium and dark pile.  

Take a photo in black and white.  Look at the image, do you have some outliers?

If yes, adjust your piles and take another black and white photo.  Continue this process until all your fabrics are sorted.

Here are my fabrics sorted.

Join the Quilt Along and tame your scrap piles.

The quilt will finish at 60" x 72 and is constructed in 6 - 24 1/2" square blocks (there are blocks within these blocks) and 6 - 12 1/2" square blocks.

Download the instructions for Step 1 in the link below.

Scrap Basket 2 - Step 1

Feed your soul, take time to create.  It's not about keeping busy, it's about being at "piece"!