Why are Scrap Quilts so Ugly?

Why are Scrap Quilts so Ugly?

Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”?

That phrase is most fitting when it comes to scrap quilting. When I give a trunk show, I preface the presentation with a warning label. “Some of my quilts are ugly, and it certainly doesn’t hurt my feelings if you point out which ones aren’t to your taste.” Every once in a while, I’ll find a guild, who, as a whole, protests that they love my quilts, and didn’t see a SINGLE ugly quilt during my lecture. (Well, ok, some guilds do like the scrappy look.)

And then, at the next lecture… the same thing happens. (Hmmm… maybe these scrap quilts aren’t so unappealing after all.)

And then, at the third lecture… the whole entire guild agrees very enthusiastically, that my quilts are- almost without exception- the ugliest thing they’ve ever seen. (Ah, yes… back to reality.)

So, what’s going on here?

Well, our perception of beauty is truly unique. Every person, during their formative years develops a visual palate, based on their experiences, their perceptions, and visual stimuli (including fashion, media, and real-life experiences). This visual palate, while subject to small changes over the course of a lifetime, will fundamentally remain constant in most cases. Thus, some people like scrap quilts… and some, don’t.

Scraps are an inevitable side effect of quilting, and almost all quilters feel like they should use their scraps…. someday. For the quilter who doesn’t love scrap quilts, it is possible to tame the chaos of overwhelming scraps by implementing a system to cut, store, and actually use your scrap stash. With a system in place to guide your scrap quilting, you can really explore your creative side and make scrap quilts that don’t look scrappy!

Want to learn how to make scrap quilts that appeal to you? Check out ScrapStashtic Quilts by Janellea Macbeth.