Crumb Quilts: Scrap Quilting the Zero Waste Way by Emily Bailey
I saw this book referenced, or reviewed, in a quilt magazine. I thought about buying a used copy, which I have been doing a lot lately. Getting a book for $5 is pretty great. Ultimately, I decided to get it out of the library and I am glad I did. It was my first opportunity to use Link+ in awhile. What a great service!
This is essentially a project book. It starts out with a short introduction saying “Quilters are thrifty, resourceful and creative. ” (pg.4) I think ‘thrifty’ is aspirational, but quiltmakers are definitely resourceful and creative. I do agree that using scraps “…produces gorgeous original quilts full of interest and memories.” (pg.4). As an example, I really enjoy looking at my Scrapitude quilt as I move in and out of my bedroom. Different fabrics I used in that quilt remind me of other projects and make me smile.
The introduction is followed by the normal ‘Tools and Materials ” section(pg.6-9). Page 8 and 9 include extras that aren’t always in quilt books. I do think that the information about scrap fabrics (pg.9) is a guideline.
The author alludes to curating fabrics but doesn’t come out and say it, so I will. Choosing your scraps carefully will make your quilts look more successful. Also, DO NOT include ugly (based on your opinion or sensibilities) fabrics.
Don’t let Bailey’s size guidance limit your use of favorite fabrics. You can use any size that works for you. You may want to insert a super skinny strip. Go for it. If you have made quilts, you know this stuff. When I make my improv quilts I use whatever size piece of fabric works for me. Occasionally, I use very skinny strips so only an eighth or sixteenth of an inch of fabric shows.
The Crumb Quilting Method (pg. 10-15) provides good instructions if you have never made ‘made’, or crumb, fabric before. I particularly liked her technique for appliqué (pg.13-14) because it makes a lot of sense. She also has instructions for reverse appliqué (pg.15), which I haven’t seen in this context before.
The ubiquitous ‘how to quilt’ section is at the end (pg.116-121) and is called ‘General Techniques’. Emily points out that using a specialty ruler (pg.116) to cut certain shapes can be really helpful. I agree. There is a lot going on with ‘made’ fabrics, and not having to focus on figuring out where to cut can be helpful. Quilting and making a label are also covered in this section.
The rest of the book is all projects. Emily’s quilts are cheerful and happy, in general. The shapes she uses are simple but interesting as well. I like the curved strip piecing of Zoodles (pg.26-29). The curve is fun, and it reminds me of learning curved strip piecing back in the dark ages. Friend Julie pointed out that the grey in Zoodles was a little too dark. It didn’t provide enough contrast to show off the ‘made’ fabric really well. If that is the look you like, then GREAT! However, ‘made’ fabric takes a lot of time and energy, so I like to make sure that my individual blocks or pieces stand out or are shown off to their best advantage.
I think the Flying Geese Runner (pg. 38-41) is my favorite project in the book. I like the simplicity of the overall design. I also like the squares combined with the Flying Geese.I would, again, pay careful attention to the contrast with the background. There is a fine line between creating movement using different colors and losing parts of the design because fabrics used in the Geese are too close to the background color.
Some of the appliqué projects look a little forced. In general, I think it is the fabric choices and not the quilt design. However, there is one project that seems to have too much going on. ‘Made’ fabric has a lot going on to start with, so simpler overall quilt designs work better. Choose your fabrics carefully to achieve the look you want. The author may not mind parts of the design disappearing. I prefer to be able to see the whole motif.
Loose Change (pg.50-55) is an appealing pattern. The circles could be pieced into the quilt using the Clammy** or techniques by Ruth McDowell instead of appliqué, which could be more precise.
Remembering Ida (98-113) is a cool sampler quilt using ‘made’ fabric. Again, when making this project, be sure to pay attention to contrast so your hard work stands out.
All in all, this is a cheerful book with some good ideas.
**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this website.
