A Complete Step-by-Step Tutorial

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What Is a Scrap Quilt?

A Scrap Quilt is a quilt made from leftover pieces of fabric, commonly called scraps. Unlike quilts made from coordinated fabric collections, a scrap quilt celebrates variety by combining fabrics of different colors, prints, and sizes.

Every scrap quilt is unique because no two collections of scraps are exactly alike.

Scrap quilts are one of the oldest traditions in quilting, originally created as a practical way to use every usable piece of fabric rather than letting anything go to waste.

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Quilting Vocabulary

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Choosing Your Scrap Fabrics

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is thinking that any scraps will automatically work together.

A successful scrap quilt should have variety with balance.

Try to include:

• Large floral prints
• Small floral prints
• Geometric prints
• Dots
• Stripes
• Tone-on-tone fabrics
• Novelty prints
• Solids
• Low-volume prints
• Bright colors
• Dark colors
• Medium-value fabrics

A balanced mix creates movement and visual interest.

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Fabric Requirements

For a throw-size quilt measuring approximately 60″ × 72″, you will need:

Quilt Top

Approximately:

• 5–6 yards of assorted quilting cotton scraps

Backing

• 4 yards of quilting cotton (or pieced backing)

Batting

• One piece measuring at least 66″ × 78″

Binding

• ½ yard of fabric

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Fabric Selection Tips

Try to include fabrics from different value groups:

Light

Examples:

• White
• Cream
• Ivory
• Pale gray
• Light blue
• Soft yellow

Medium

Examples:

• Sage green
• Medium pink
• Denim blue
• Lavender
• Coral

Dark

Examples:

• Navy
• Black
• Burgundy
• Forest green
• Chocolate brown

A quilt with only medium-value fabrics often lacks contrast.

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Essential Tools

You will need:

• Sewing machine
• Rotary cutter
• Self-healing cutting mat
• Acrylic quilting ruler
• Steam iron
• Ironing board
• Fine glass-head pins
• Thread
• Fabric scissors
• Seam ripper
• Fabric marking pencil

Optional:

• Rotating cutting mat
• Wool pressing mat
• Quarter-inch presser foot
• Walking foot
• Quilting gloves

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Preparing Your Fabric

Step 1

Sort your scraps.

Separate them by:

• Color
• Value
• Size
• Print scale

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Step 2

Remove:

• Frayed edges
• Uneven cuts
• Damaged pieces
• Thin or worn fabric

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Step 3

Press every piece flat.

Wrinkled fabric leads to inaccurate cutting.

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Step 4

Trim off selvages.

Never include selvages inside quilt blocks because they are woven more tightly than the rest of the fabric.

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Choosing a Block Size

One of the easiest scrap quilts uses 5-inch finished squares.

Finished size:

5″

Unfinished size:

5½”

Each square should be cut at:

5½” × 5½”

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Planning the Quilt

For a quilt measuring approximately 60″ × 72″:

Arrange:

12 squares across

14 squares down

Total:

168 squares

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Designing the Layout

Spread all squares on a design wall or floor.

Avoid placing:

• Two identical fabrics side by side
• Similar colors touching too often
• Large dark areas
• Large light areas

The colors should appear evenly distributed across the quilt.

Stand back several feet to evaluate the overall balance.

Take a photo with your phone in black and white to check the distribution of light and dark values.

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Sewing the Rows

Step 1

Pick up the first two squares.

Place them:

Right Sides Together (RST).

Align all edges carefully.

Pin if necessary.

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Step 2

Sew using a ¼-inch seam allowance.

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Step 3

Without cutting the thread, continue sewing the next pair.

This technique is called:

Chain Piecing.

Chain piecing is faster and keeps pieces organized.

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Step 4

Once all pairs are sewn:

Separate them.

Press the seams.

Most quilters press to one side rather than pressing seams open.

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Step 5

Add the next square to each unit.

Continue until the row is complete.

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Joining the Rows

Place Row 1 on top of Row 2.

Right sides together.

Match every seam intersection.

Pin each seam.

Sew using a consistent ¼-inch seam.

Repeat until every row has been joined.

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Nesting the Seams

If one row is pressed to the left and the next row is pressed to the right, the seams naturally lock together.

This is called nesting seams.

Nesting creates perfectly aligned intersections.

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Squaring the Quilt Top

Lay the quilt top flat.

Check for:

• Wavy edges
• Bowing
• Uneven corners

Trim only if necessary.

Never remove more fabric than needed.

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Preparing the Backing

Cut the backing fabric at least:

4 inches larger than the quilt top on every side.

Example:

Quilt Top:

60″ × 72″

Backing:

68″ × 80″

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Making the Quilt Sandwich

Lay the backing:

Wrong side up.

Tape or clamp it so it is smooth but not stretched.

Lay the batting on top.

Smooth from the center outward.

Finally, place the quilt top:

Right side up.

Smooth carefully.

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Basting

There are three common methods.

Safety Pins

Place curved safety pins every 4–5 inches across the quilt.

This is the most common method for beginners.

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Spray Basting

Apply temporary quilt basting spray evenly between layers.

Work in sections to prevent wrinkles.

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Thread Basting

Use long hand stitches to temporarily secure the three layers.

Preferred by some hand quilters.

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Quilting the Layers Together

For beginners, the easiest quilting designs include:

• Straight lines
• Stitch in the ditch
• Crosshatch
• Diagonal grid
• Echo quilting
• Organic wavy lines

Always begin quilting near the center of the quilt and work outward to minimize shifting and puckering.

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Trimming

After quilting:

Trim all layers evenly.

Use a long ruler and rotary cutter.

Make sure all four corners form perfect 90-degree angles.

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Making the Binding

Cut binding strips:

2½ inches wide

Join the strips using diagonal seams.

Press the seams open.

Fold the long strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides together.

Press.

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Attaching the Binding

Sew the raw edges of the folded binding to the front of the quilt using a ¼-inch seam.

Miter each corner carefully.

Join the beginning and ending tails neatly.

Fold the binding over the raw edge to the back of the quilt.

Secure it by hand with a blind stitch or by machine with a topstitch close to the folded edge.

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Final Pressing

Give the finished quilt one last gentle press.

Avoid excessive steam, which can distort the quilt.

Trim any loose threads from both the front and back.

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Caring for Your Scrap Quilt

• Wash in cold water using a gentle cycle.
• Use a mild detergent.
• Avoid bleach.
• Tumble dry on low heat or air dry.
• Store the quilt folded loosely in a cool, dry place.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight to prevent fading.

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Common Beginner Mistakes

• Using inconsistent seam allowances.
• Skipping the pressing step.
• Not checking fabric value distribution.
• Stretching fabric while ironing.
• Forgetting to square up blocks when needed.
• Using fabrics with significantly different weights.
• Not securing the quilt layers properly before quilting.
• Rushing the layout without evaluating overall color balance.
• Trimming too aggressively before attaching the binding.

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Professional Tips

• Keep a dedicated scrap bin organized by color and size.
• Cut leftover fabric into standard precut sizes (such as 2½”, 5″, or 10″) immediately after finishing a project.
• Mix large-scale prints with small-scale prints to create visual texture.
• Include a few solid fabrics to give the eye places to rest.
• Step back frequently during layout to assess balance and movement.
• Label your rows before sewing them together to avoid changing their order.
• Press after every seam for greater accuracy.
• Accuracy in cutting and a consistent ¼-inch seam allowance are more important than sewing speed.
• Remember that the beauty of a scrap quilt comes from its diversity—embrace variety rather than trying to make every fabric match perfectly.