Book Review: Scrap Quilts From Crumbs, Strips And Strings by Emily Bailey

If
your

fabric
scrap
bin
has
started
breeding
in
the
corner
of
your
sewing
room,

Scrap
Quilts
From
Crumbs,
Strips
And
Strings

by
Emily
Bailey
might
be
exactly
the
gentle
nudge
you
need.
This
practical
quilting
book
turns
leftover
crumbs,
strips,
and
strings
into
useful,
beautiful
quilted
projects.

There
are
quilting
books
that
make
you
want
to
buy
more
fabric,
and
then
there
are
quilting
books
that
gently
point
at
your
overflowing
scrap
basket
and
say,
“You
already
have
everything
you
need.”

Scrap
Quilts
From
Crumbs,
Strips
And
Strings

by
Emily
Bailey
is
very
much
the
second
kind
—
and
honestly,
I
love
that.
Most
quilters
have
a
drawer,
tub,
bag,
box,
or
slightly
shameful
mountain
of
leftover
fabric
pieces
we
keep
because
“that
bit
might
be
useful
one
day.”
This
book
is
for
that
exact
pile.

Published
by
David
&
Charles,
this
paperback
quilting
book
includes

15
scrap
quilt

patterns

and
focuses
on
using
crumbs,
strips,
strings,
and
small
fabric
leftovers
to
create
patchworked
fabric
that
can
then
be
turned
into
finished
quilted
projects.
The
book
covers
everything
from
larger
quilts
through
to
smaller
makes,
which
is
especially
handy
if
you
want
the
satisfaction
of
using
scraps
without
committing
to
a
full
bed-size
project
straight
away.

What
makes
this
book
especially
useful
is
that
it
does
not
treat
scraps
as
second-best
fabric.
The
whole
idea
is
to
turn
those
tiny
leftovers
into
intentional,
colourful,
modern
patchwork.
Emily
Bailey
also
brings
in
modern
cutting
methods,
including
the
use
of
an
AccuQuilt
cutter,
to
make
scrap
quilting
quicker
and
easier
—
which
is
a
nice
practical
touch
if
you
love
the
idea
of
scrappy
quilts
but
not
the
endless
trimming
and
measuring
that
can
sometimes
come
with
them.

The
projects
are
designed
around
the
sort
of
scraps
real
quilters
actually
have:
uneven
strips,
little
crumb
pieces,
leftover
strings,
and
odd
bits
from
past
projects.
Instead
of
waiting
for
the
perfect
coordinating
bundle,
this
book
encourages
you
to
start
with
what
is
already
in
your
stash.
That
makes
it
a
lovely
fit
for
quilters
who
enjoy

zero-waste
quilting,

scrap
fabric
sewing
ideas,
and

stash-busting
quilt
projects.

I
also
like
that
the
book
has
a
very
approachable
feel.
According
to
Emily
Bailey’s
own
notes
about
the
book,
the
projects
include
a
range
of
makes
such
as
bags,
table
runners,
throws,
and
bed
quilts,
and
she
includes
simple
tips
for
colour,
fabric
combining,
crumb
fabric,
and
piecing
success.
That
is
exactly
the
sort
of
hand-holding
many
quilters
appreciate
when
working
with
scraps,
because
scrappy
can
go
from
charming
to
chaotic
very
quickly
if
you
are
not
careful.

If
you
are
already
using
an
AccuQuilt
system,
this
book
has
obvious
appeal.
It
gives
you
another
reason
to
pull
out
those
dies
and
start
processing
your
scraps
into
something
usable
instead
of
leaving
them
to
lurk
in
the
“too
small
to
fold,
too
pretty
to
throw
away”
pile.
AccuQuilt
lists
the
book
at

$24.99,
and
it
is
currently
shown
as
available
through
their
site.

For
newer
quilters,
this
book
would
pair
nicely
with
basic
quilting
tools
such
as
a

rotary
cutter,
self-healing

cutting
mat,

quilting
ruler,
and
a
good
neutral
thread.
If
you
are
building
your
quilting
stash,
AccuQuilt
is
a
natural
place
to
look
for
cutting
systems
and
dies,
while
Fat
Quarter
Shop
and
Connecting
Threads
are
helpful
sources
for
quilting
cotton,
thread,
precuts,
and
backing
fabric.

This
is
the
kind
of
book
I
would
recommend
to
quilters
who
already
have
a
decent
stash
and
want
to
make
something
useful
from
the
leftovers.
It
is
also
a
good
choice
if
you
love
scrappy
quilts
but
need
a
bit
of
structure
so
the
finished
project
still
feels
polished
rather
than
“I
emptied
a
basket
onto
the

sewing
table
and
hoped
for
the
best.”

Best
for:

scrap
quilters,
stash-busting
quilters,
AccuQuilt
users,
modern
patchwork
lovers,
and
anyone
drowning
in
fabric
offcuts.

Not
ideal
for:

someone
who
only
wants
perfectly
matching
quilt
kits
or
very
traditional,
highly
controlled
quilt
designs.

Scrap
Quilts
From
Crumbs,
Strips
And
Strings

is
a
cheerful,
practical
reminder
that
even
the
tiniest
pieces
of
fabric
can
earn
their
place
in
a
beautiful
quilt.
And
really,
any
book
that
helps
us
feel
less
guilty
about
keeping
every
last
scrap
deserves
a
spot
on
the
sewing-room
shelf.