Sunday, January 1, 2017

Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2017

We've been doing this for... well... a few years now.  Somehow I don't seem to be out of scraps yet.  (Big Grin).  
One lazy Sunday, I sat playing with scraps, and for no particular reason, sorted them into brightly colored stacks.  Those piles of scraps held so many possibilities that my mind just couldn't stop running through them all.  The thought of using them all at once though, seemed just to overwhelming to ponder.
Instead, I thought it would be fun to take just one set of colored scraps each month and see what it might turn into.

And so began the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  

I invited my blog friends to play along, and tried to offer encouragement and ideas when I could.   The real fun began though, when the inspiration started to flow from one rainbow blogger to another.  It wasn't long before the weekly linky parties began, giving everyone a chance to share and sew together.

Sometimes I even planned out quilts ahead of time, and offered tutorials for those who wanted to join in.  The basic idea though, has always remained the same.  Take your scraps, and use them up, one color at a time.
Along the way, more than a few rainbow quilts have been born.
 Like this Mai Tai Sunrise.  
And this OMG It's a Churn Dash, which is still in the flimsy stage.  
Or even these crumb bricks which turned into my favorite snuggle on the couch quilt.  

So if you are looking for a little inspiration this year, I invite you to join in to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2017. 

Here is a list of the 10 colors we will be using this year, in case you want to plan ahead:

RED
ORANGE
YELLOW
GREEN
AQUA
BLUE
PURPLE                                       JANUARY
PINK
DARK (BLACK/BROWN)
LIGHT NEUTRALS
MIXED COLORS

I will choose a single color for each of the first 11 months, leaving the December for finishing.  

Start by grabbing a handful of purple scraps and turning them into something.  A mug rug, a placement, a single block.  If you like to plan ahead, you can start now making blocks that will be ready to turn into a rainbow quilt by the end of the year.  
Not sure what block to make?  That is where the weekly linky party will come to the rescue.  Just start looking at all the rainbow scrap quilts that others have made, and find the one that calls to you. Or just pick a block you really love and start with that.  You could even find an existing project featuring the color of the month and work to finish that up.  The details are all up to you.  It can be as simple or as elaborate as you like.  Remember, it doesn't have to be done right away, as long as you are taking your scraps, and turning them into something, you are making progress.  
So, for all the veteran rainbow scrap quilters out there, I am asking for your help.  Saturday January 6th will be the first ScrapHappy Saturday of 2017.  If you could have a finished Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt or two ready to share, it would be a great inspiration for the new people.  It doesn't have to be a new post, feel free to link to a finished quilt post from the past.  I'd love to bask in all of your accomplishments though, and to show everyone the power of using your scraps.  

43 comments:

margaret said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
margaret said...

Hope to join in this year though it might only be one block a month

earthmotherwithin said...

Have been meaning to do this. 2017 should be the year to start!

Kathy S. said...

I'm so happy and thankful that you decided to have the RSC. It's always fun to see who is "there" on Saturdays and what projects they are creating. I LOVE your Mai Tai Sunrise and of course you had me with OMG AND Churn Dash. Posting the pic of your Sawtooth Sampler has inspired me to get my Sawtooth blocks out and count them and see if I need any purple. I hope to add to those blocks this year. It's one of my 12 projects to finish this year. Have a great 2017! Can't wait to see what everybody comes up with this year.

Beth said...

I am jumping in! I am taking a fabric collage class the end of Feb...so sorting scraps will be a full time job for a bit What a great way to use (a FEW) while I am sorting! Thanks for the encouragement!

Bonnie said...

This is the year I "plan" to do RSC for the full year. Let's hope I succeed!

newsurfiegirl said...

I plan to finish my 2014 RSC quilt this year!

Lyndsey said...

I'm planning on joining in again as I love using up those scraps.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

All your quilts are so fun! I've grabbed my Purples - the race is on ( for me!) Happy New Year

sunny said...

I'm ready to start over again! Despite all that I've made from scraps in the past two years, the supply has not been diminished. And I've had so much fun. Thanks for keeping us going!!

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

While I may have gotten sidetracked in 2016 I think I will make additional blocks for my sawtoothed square blocks and have it a RSC 16/17 quilt.

The Joyful Quilter said...

Nothing wrong with going back to the basics!! Thank you for your continued encouragement. We'll take it from here... one scrap at a time!!!

Nancie said...

So happy to see you are planning to have the RSC again this year. Just finishing my 365 Challenge, so I'm ready to solve my scrap problem in 2017. I've been following and enjoying your Blog for several years.

Kate said...

I'm very glad you are going to keep the challenge going for another year. It's been such a fun challenge to participate in. I've got my blocks all picked out for this year. Now I just need time to get started on them!

Lin said...

Planning to join in this year after following several blogs that do the RSC. Looking forward to it. xx

Crystal_235 said...

So it doesn't matter what we make for the month of January. The idea is to use the color purple?

Michelle Ridgway said...

Thank you so much. Really looking forward to starting.

beaquilter said...

it was great! and I still have some RSC16 blocks to turn into quilts, but at the end of the year I emptied out my scrap bins as a request came in from my daughter's school and she brought a HUGE garbage bag stuffed full of scraps......but you bet my bins are starting to fill up already ;)

Tami Von Zalez said...

I made some fun quilt blocks but don't have the purple to tie it all together! Heading to the fabric shop so project to be continued ...
http://thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com

claudia said...

I've been looking forward to today to see what the color of the month is. I plan on joining in, because it all looks like so much fun, and boy! Do I have scraps!
Thank you so much for creating such a fun project!
Looking forward to all 2017 has to offer!
Happy New Year!!!

Quiltdivajulie said...

I am in for 2017 -- and I can definitely plan my Jan. 6 post as you've suggested. This group is so talented, giving, and fun! Thanks for sharing the 11 colors!!!!!

Nann said...

Hooray! I have my pattern chosen.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

2016 was my first year to participate, and I had such a blast! So I'm definitely in for 2017! Thanks for hosting us, Angela!

Meloney said...

I was not going to join, but I keep coming back to it. I have too many scraps. They are never going to go down if I don't use them. I have a Sparkling Sampler that is being done on another group, and I think it would work well with scraps.
So, I will be joining in.

Sheila said...

Thank you so much for hosting another RSC Year! This is my favorite "Sew Along" and I look forward to another year of colorful fabric fun. I'm already pulling my purples.

Magpie Sue said...

I appreciate the list of colors planned for the year ahead. That will help me make some decisions (I hope!). I'm not sure I have a single rainbow scrap quilt to share. My blocks tend to end up with others in an assortment of quilts. If only the photo fairy would come visit my computer and get my pictures organized for me...

kiwikid said...

Thank you for this challenge, am going to give it a go this year.

Terri said...

Glad to see you're continuing. I had thought to participate in the past but time was not on my side. This year, I had a plan before you even announced, and have already sorted out my purples.

Fiona said...

2 other girlfriends and I sew together regularly and working with scraps this way is going to be our projects..... thanks. Glad I found you via another bloggy friend...
Hugz

Anonymous said...

Did I miss the announcement or presentation of a 2017 button?

quiltingbydawn said...

I'll be joining again this year! Thanks for hosting this challenge. It is inspiring to see what scraps can make and the challenge and monthly reveal makes it fun!

Miaismine said...

I have been eagerly waiting for this post! I am in and planning to use my scraps in strip blocks! In the fall of 2016 I cut out strips from most of my stash in preparation for today! Yea! Thank you so much for hosting this event!

gayle said...

Hurray for another year of RSC! Thank you soooo much!
I've only been playing along for the last two years, but I've had buckets of fun, both with my own piecing and seeing what everyone else is making. And without RSC2016, I never would have made my piggy quilt! (My dad thanks you, too!)

Marsha Cooper said...

I don't know if I will have purple to start the year off with or not, but maybe! I started doing string blocks last year with the challenge and only ended up with 3 in purple due to not having long enough strips for more.

Can you do me a favor and email me a link to the button to share on my blog posts for the challenge? I somehow deleted the code from my files!

Thanks!

marsha.seiberling@gmail.com

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

This might just be fun - so I will try it! Love the quilts that you have shown in this post.

Mary M said...

Purple blocks done I am excited to be doing this.

Quilting Nonnie said...

I'm in again! I only did three blocks in 2015 and I'm going to pick up and finish one!

Teresa said...

I want to play! So do you tell us a color each month/week? And do we link to a page somewhere to show what we did?

Unknown said...

I love the idea of the RSC. I plan to start now or soon anyway

Linda said...

How do you join this challenge?

Unknown said...

How do I join your challenge I am going to be late starting but have so many over flowing scrap buckets!

Unknown said...

Came late, but love this idea. I stumbled on this right in the middle of a cutting and sorting project involving three very large baskets of scraps. I am talking almost laundry basket sized baskets. Is it too late to join in?

Anonymous said...

Is your background a hint on new color?