Scrappy Winter Quilts Like Grandma Used to Make

Written by former editor of McCalls Quilting, Lori Baker gives us a closer look into one of her favorite scrappy quilts of all time, her grandma Brown’s brown quilt. She also gives us a line up of her other favorite scrappy quilt patterns, in case you’re looking for something scrap-tastic to keep you warm.

---

I want to show you a very special quilt. The construction isn’t great, all the brown background squares are not the same size or even the same color of brown, the points don’t always match, the light-colored bobbin thread used for the quilting is pulled up to the top in places, and I don’t even like brown…but to me, this is still an exceptional quilt.

A number of years ago, my mother gave me this brown quilt and told me its story. The top was in my Grandma Brown’s things when she passed. Mom took it home and it just sat for a number of years. But eventually, Mom decided to finish it. She added the borders and then machine quilted it with feather stitches on most of the seams. Mom said she decided to quilt it that way to reinforce the seams that were crooked and narrow in places.

My Grandmother’s Scrappy Quilt

Grandma Brown’s quilts were always scrappy. I don’t remember ever seeing one of her quilts that were anything else.

When I look at quilt patterns, the scrappy ones or the ones that could be changed to scrappy are the ones that appeal to me the most. I’ve made quilts that used a collection of fabric—but my favorites are nearly always scrappy. So now, I’m looking at quilts to snuggle under. Maybe it will be a mild winter but here in Colorado, January and February are usually the coldest months of the year. I’ve no reason to expect anything else.

I’m ready to start a quilt and I can usually finish one in two weekends so I’m looking at Quilting Daily for scrappy quilts like Grandma used to make. I want it to be big enough to cuddle under on the cold days that I’m betting will be here soon.

Some of My Favorite Scrappy Quilts

Scrap Vortex

I fell in love with Scrap Vortex by Abigail Dolinger when I first saw it. It’s a top contender. You’ll be able to piece together a colorful masterpiece with this stash-busting quilt pattern!

It’s a fun and eye catching design that will make use of any extra fabric you have lying around.

Scrap Lattice

Scrap Lattice is another pattern that I’m considering. I like that the background is pieced but still reads as negative space so it’s a place for the quilting to shine.

And I always love blue quilts. But if you wanted to make it you could make it whatever color you want.

A Scrappy eBook

And if you haven’t already, make sure to check out our brand new Creative Scrap Quilting eBook: 18+ Quilt & Project Patterns to Use All Your Bits & Pieces. This carefully curated collection features both the timeless designs and friendly, detailed instructions that you expect from Fons & Porter’s.

Our accurate, easy-to-follow patterns provide all the inspiration and information you’ll need to successfully create scrap quilts in a variety of styles, including ideas for alternate color palettes and design options.

Let’s Get Scrappy

You’ve kept fabric scraps from all your previous projects, intending to use them all someday, and today is the day. You’ve already got everything you’ll need to make colorful, creative scrap quilts—it’s time to get scrappy! The really bad part of looking at patterns (for me anyway) is that I just want to go start sewing RIGHT NOW! But I guess I better wait until the end of my work day.

I’m going to have fun in my studio and use some of my scraps at the same time. I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait until the weekend to start. How about you? Is there a scrap quilt in your future? Let us know in the comments below!