Today I’m excited to tell you about a new book from author Judy Gauthier, owner of Bungalow Quilting and Yarn in Wisconsin. I first met Judy when we were both panelists for a discussion about how to store your stash at QuiltCon earlier this year. (You may notice recognize a few of the people in the pic below – it was quite the panel!!)
Left to right: Judy Gauthier, Rossie Hutchinson, Mary Fons, and me at QuiltCon 2016
During the discussion Judy mentioned how much she loved working with scraps. This all makes sense to me now, with the release of her book, Quilts for Scrap Lovers.
Quilts for Scrap Lovers by Judy Gauthier
I never really considered myself much of a scrap quilter until I realized that I loved color-blocked quilts. A good example of color-blocking is shown on the cover quilt – Sunshine and Shadows, where a block is made from scraps of the same color. In order for scrap quilting to work effectively, Judy states that, “there must be a high degree of contrast between the colored and neutral fabrics.” I totally agree with that sentiment and Judy has done a fabulous job creating contrast in the 16 beautiful scrap quilts contained in her book.
Let’s take a look at a few more of the lovely quilts from Quilts for Scrap Lovers:
House Divided, 72″ x 82″
I think House Divided is a really clever design. Notice how the blocks can either look like houses, or like modern arrows!I love it when negative space is used in the border, creating more white space around a design. This is definitely my favorite quilt in the book. I bet it was so fun to gather the scraps for this one!
Modern Anvil, 53″ x 69″
Modern Anvil really floats my boat, too. Just look at all that low-volume scrappy goodness in the backgrounds! Those brightly colored anvil blocks with pops of color in the borders give this quilt lots of movement. It’s another effective example of high contrast fabrics.
Chevron, given in Three Sizes
Judy’s Chevron quilt is another great example of color blocking. It’s also shows that you can make an effective scrappy quilt even when you don’t have any background at all. Her clever placement of color provides contrast in between each of the chevron stripes so that the design doesn’t get lost.
The golden rule of book-buying is that if you like at least three of the projects in a book, then it’s worth the price. Trust me, you will like ALL of the quilts in Judy’s book! I think my favorite part is in the front of the book where she includes lots of great tips on how to combine fabrics together.
The last thing I want to share with you is the introduction, set against the backdrop of another lovely house quilt included in the book. (Click the image for a larger view that’s easier to read):
Pick up a copy of Quilts for Scrap Lovers today!
Giveaway Time!
Judy’s publisher is generously giving away a copy of her book for each of the blogs on the book tour below. For your chance to win, leave a comment letting me know if you’d ever made a scrap quilt (or three). Winners will be chosen at the end of the week. Happy reading friends!
Christa Quilts 
I love making scrap quilts. I think they are so charming.
I have made scrappy quilts, inspired by Liz Porter. I still have not managed to make one that I still needed to buy a few more fat quarters to finish!
I have made a few scrap quilts and am always looking for new inspiration.
I love scrap quilts! I’m currently working on Bonnie Hunters mystery quilt from last year and eagerly awaiting the start of her new one. The book looks fun! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
What a gorgeous book! I have made quilts from large leftovers, but am still collecting scraps – have been cutting them up into ‘pre-cuts’ so they will be ready to go when inspiration strikes – I think I may be getting closer to actually having enough to make something!
Scrap quilts so colourful & creative
I have made a scrap quilt and love the ones you have pictured.
I’ve made lots of scrap quilts. They are usually quilts for babies or small quilts. I’d love to make the modern anvil.
I love making scrap quilts, and I have made these for both family members and for charity. I would love to get inspired by the book!
I would love to try my hand at making a scrap quilt…I even have scraps I’ve inherited from my mother’s collection.
I love mixing up the colors of my scraps, and have made 6 scrappy quilts! Looks like a great book, would love to win it! Eileen
I’ve never made an ‘honest’ scrap quilt. I usually end up buying a piece or two to add into the mix. Would love to make the house pattern that is featured on the back cover!
Hi Christa. Yes I’ve made scrap quilts. I’ find I even go scrappy if I’m following a pattern that doesn’t call for scrappy.
i HAVE MADE MANY SCRAP QUILTS. i LOVE THE CHALLENGE OF TAKING THINGS THAT DO NOT IMMEDIATELY LOOK LIKE THEY BELONG TOGETHER AND MAKING THEM PLAY WELL TOGETHER
some lovely quilts in this book think I need to go over and check it out at Amazon, maybe not available here in the UK yet but will have a look
I am making two scrap quilts right now. It is difficult to just use all the scraps as I want to match up colors and fabrics.
I am slowly working on a scrappy string quilt for my hubby. I never turn down the offer of scraps and am always looking for new patterns to get excited about!
Can’t wait to try one of these lovely quilts. I’ve kept all my scraps but need inspiration to use them! These look fantastic
Back in the dark ages, when Desert Quilters of Nevada was new.. we were few but enthusiastic. We also had no treasury. We needed a program…so we had everyone bring all their scraps, no matter the color or size. Using the old folk legend that a young girl needed to collect 999 scraps, all cut from the same template – square, rectangle, tumbler, hexagon, etc. The 1000 piece was to come from your true love. At the starting signal, we all rushed the tables and began rough cutting pieces of cloth to cover our template, tossed it into our bag , and grabbed the next piece…we were careful not to cut up anyone’s shirt tails! Some of the ladies were able to get close to their 999 goal! Yes, I did cut a piece out of one of my husbands shirt for my 1000 piece. My favorite piece was a small piece of fabric I had that had come from a maternity dress my mother had worn when she had carried me! I come from a long line of fabric hoarders! I still have the quilt.
I just finished a scrap quilt–a sampler.
ive beencollecting all the scraps from sewing projects forever,long before istarted quilting, some a yard, some teeny tiny bits, and wheni started quilting about a year ago, i realised that my “scrap pile” was a gold mine!!!!!
I love the introduction statement that Judy wrote for her wonderfully inspirational book!
In the true sense of Judy’s meaning of scrap quilts, I’ve only made one… and I loved it!!
(The other “scrap” quilts were of the coordinated-fabrics variety, and not anywhere as interesting as that one True Scraps quilt!)
I would love to see Judy’s book!
Thank you!
Pat T.
I have made a few scrappyish quilts in the past, but I am totally ONLY using scraps for the Splendid Sampler QAL, it’s been fun but also challenging at times to ONLY use my scraps….but that was my challenge to myself this year!
My favorite quilt is a scrappy log cabin that I made using up my scrap bag! Thanks for the chance! churcae(at)auburn(dot)edu
I haven’t made any scrap quilts yet, but that is my goal. My grandmother homesteaded in this area and never threw a thing out and I got her genes. I have ideas for everything thing I’ve saved and now that I’m retired I hope to make use of them. I’d love this book for the inspiration.
I’ve made two scrap quilts. Well, they were a combination of scraps and charm squares.
My favorite scrap quilt is one I made for our dog Teddy. I used fabric from each of the quilts I’d made up until then, and fabric I had saved because it was “too special to use”, and even fragments of fabric my mom had used to make gifts for her friends one Christmas, long ago. It’s a log cabin quilt, my favorite pattern. Love, love, love that quilt.
Yes, I have made a few scrap quilts. I love when quilt shops have scraps for sale–it reminds me of playing in my grandmother’s scrap box.
No, I have not made a scrap quilt yet.
Yes I have made many scrap quilts and still love making them. They are often more time consuming but worth the extra time and effort.
All I seem to do lately are scrap quilts. My stash seems to grow when I’m out of the room! The latest one I’m working on is a bed quilt for my daughter. Finally, one for her big girl bed. But wait, she’s almost 9!
I have made a few scrap quilts and find it challenging. Would like to get better at this and I know that this book would help. Thanks
Yes, I have made several scrap quilts and love them all to pieces!!
I love scrap quilts. Yes I have made a lot of them but I like the new ideas presented here.
Learned about scrap quilts from my grandmother lots of years ago and have made lots of them. Looking forward to this book. Oh, and I loved that panel at QuiltCon
My favourite quilts are scrap quilts. I have made a few and would love more options for scrap sizes to cut leftovers into.
Scrap quilts are the BEST, they are made with memories of previous quilts. Scrappy Quilters Unite!
Scraps are the BEST! Each piece is a memory of a previous quilt made with love. Scrap Lovers Unite!
I love scrape quilts and have two in the works now.
Never made a scrap quilt but have made scrap pillows!
My first quilt was a scrap quilt…but I needed to buy more fat quarters to make it as large as I wanted!
I love scrap quilts. I make them most of the time. Out of the thousands of yardage I have (I have been quilting for 40 years), my scraps are treasured. I give away a lot of yardage to newer quilters but never my scraps!
Yes, I have made quite a few scrap quilts including a very heavy postage stamp quilt which I love which was made out of 1.5″ squares. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of this book, The patterns are lovely and use what I call proper scraps – small pieces of a huge variety of fabrics.
I have made one scrap quilt and would love to make more 🙂
I haven’t made a scrap quilt yet; although I am planning on joining in the Quilter’s Planner scrap quilt sew along in November.
My first quilt ever was a scrap quilt. For my sister’s 40th birthday I made a scrap quilt that represented all the things she had accomplished through the years.
I make scrap quilts often. They are my very favorite quilts to make. I have a neverending supply of scraps somehow, no matter how hard I try to deplete them, they multiply like bunnies, so it started out of necessity but became so much fun and just such a relief to be able to be creative and not follow a pattern or a color scheme that it quickly became my favorite. I love to give quilts as gifts and they seem to be the most popular as well as far as favorites among friends and family.
I love scrap quilts. Have made quite a number. This book will give help me in my scrap quilt making.
This was a summer of scrap quilts. Great for community quilts
I have made a few scrap quilts. This book looks quite inspirational.