I Call This "Matchy-Scrappy" / Beauties Pageant 170

I remember years ago, when I first started quilting, walking into my local quilt shop and admitting that selecting fabric for a project was either my most- or least-favorite part of the quilt-making process. (I was too new to the craft to know for sure.) After all, picking fabrics was intimidating, and I had a whole quilt shop full of possibilities at my disposal.

Now, with dozens and dozens of quilts under my belt, I can honestly say that I love developing a fabric pull, and when I had the bandwidth to consider compiling options for a new (my second) Plaid-sh quilt, I was super excited. (Plaid-ish is a free pattern from Erica Jackman, of Kitchen Table Quilting.)

I began plotting this project by opening up a charm pack of Kate Spain’s Sunnyside collection. This line has been out of print for many years. Kate has such a way with color combinations, though, that I was happy to break into this stack of squares for the task at hand.

I picked the teal, periwinkle, and orange colorways from Sunnyside, forgoing shades of pale yellow, designs with avocado green, and prints with white backgrounds. I knew these first selections would make a good starting point. The Plaid-ish pattern is built upon three different color values: low, mid, and deep values. From the mid-tone teal, periwinkle, and orange, I could easily coordinate low and deep values from my stash and scraps.

But first, I considered all the other Sunnyside options, pulling low-value versions of my three-color palette and adding a pale gray to the mix ...

Then I dove into my scraps and stash. I had many more options than I originally thought for the dark tones. (I love when I can find all I need from what I have on hand!) See the picture at the top of the post for all three value categories laid out. Of course, I have many more squares and rectangles to cut before I have enough to start sewing.

I am calling this approach “matchy-scrappy.” I enjoy sewing projects from a single fabric line (to those who consider that cheating—including Past Michelle—I blow some messy raspberries your way!); I also enjoy super-scrappy projects. Matchy-scrappy marries the two. Sunnyside did the heavy lifting for me: Determining where to start with a color palette is, I think, the hardest part. But once that foundation was laid, I got to have fun finding coordinating fabrics from all the designers and manufacturers represented in my stash and scraps.

I think a disclaimer is called for here. Erica Jackman has a highlight saved on her Instagram profile about tackling a Plaid-ish pull, and she specifically encourages the viewer not to overthink things. Friends, I specialize in overthinking. This is my anal-retentive way of developing a pull for this pattern. It is by no means the only way or the right way (whatever the heck that means). Do you like to play fast and loose with your fabric pulls? Well, I am going to stand alongside you, cheering you on and applauding when you get to the finish line! : )

To read about my first Plaid-ish project, see this post and this post.

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