Scrap School + New Scrap Quilt Pattern

If you're like me, you might have some (or a lot) of leftover fabric scraps. I'm SO excited to share a new scrap quilt idea as well as a whole bunch of scrap fabric projects - perfect for putting all of your fabric scraps to good use!

This happy quilt was made entirely from scraps from my fabric bins. Would you believe I made this quilt a year ago? I've been dying to share it for a while now...

and now I can because it's part of a brand new book published by Martingale called Scrap School!

County Fair Scrap Quilt by Amy Smart

I felt so honored to be asked by the book's author, Lissa Alexander to contribute a scrap quilt design.

The idea for this quilt was inspired by my increasing collection of low-volume (white or cream background) scraps + this box of 2 ½" x 2 ½" squares. Any time I have small pieces leftover from 2 ½" strips or 2 ½" mini charm packs, I throw them into this box. All of the cross blocks in this quilt were made from favorite scraps from this bin. (You can read more about how I organize and store my scraps here.)

(As you can see, I still have enough 2 ½" squares to make a few more quilts. lol)

It's also the perfect pattern for using up leftover 5" x 5" 'charm squares' or 2 ½" precut strips you may have laying around.

Here's a closeup of some of the scraps I included - I had fun making this a sentimental quilt - whether it was using scraps from memorable projects from years past, my own past fabric collections, or finding scraps that depicted some of my favorite things. For example, can you spy the tacos and Union Jack in this picture? 🙂

It's also a fun one for fussy-cutting.

I used a lot of my Sugarhouse Park collection for finishing this quilt - including cornerstones, borders, backing and bias-stripe binding. (Sugarhouse Park is still available here and here.) The polkadot border is Swiss-dot in Cayenne.

Making this sentimental and very fun quilt last February came at a much needed time for me. Last February I felt like I was swimming upstream in a current of unknown future as we were trying to find a diagnosis for our son's sudden decline in heath. I was frequently emotional and overwhelmed and sitting and working on these cheerful, scrappy blocks was a peaceful dose of therapy that I needed at that time.

More Scrap Quilt Ideas in Scrap School

Here's a sampling of some of the other quilts in the book. There's such a wide range of styles and designs. (All images courtesy of Martingale Publishing.)

Two-Step by Amanda Jean Nyberg

It All Adds Up by Susan Ache

Charming by Sheri McConnell

Ombre Butterscotch Baskets by Lissa Alexander

And here's another glimpse of County Fair in warmer times - a quilt for all seasons. 🙂 And SO many more! 

In addition there are lots of excellent tips for choosing color palettes as well as alternate color/fabric examples for many of the quilts - to give you lots more inspiration and ideas for using your scraps with confidence.

As I mentioned, I am SO honored and tickled to be invited to be a part of the contributors to this book - many of whom are my favorite quilting inspirations over the years! There are 12 quilts in the book. Check out these Instagram accounts of all of them to see their inspiring projects and get motivated to use up those scraps you have on hand! 

You can find Scrap School at your local quilt shop or online from Martingale (in hard copy or ebook form) or Amazon.