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Modern Scrap Quilts Book

Book launch and review

I am back with another book review, Modern Scrap Quilts. This book is perfect for the modern quilter and someone who has a basket (or 3) of scraps.

Modern Scrap Quilts… The official description

“The idea for this book was born when I decided to make a concerted effort to use some of my scraps and small cuts because they were overflowing my new sewing space. As a modern quilter, though, I found that most scrap quilt patterns were too traditional for my taste. Frequently, they require a consistent background fabric and use the scraps in the foreground. Negative space is often built into the block, but probably doesn’t include scraps. I love including plenty of negative space in my quilts, so the quilts in this book use the scraps primarily in the negative space. In some cases, the existing scrap quilt formula is flipped on its head by using consistent fabrics in the foreground, whereas others use scraps throughout the entire quilt.” — Excerpt from Modern Scrap Quilts by Sylvia Schaefer

Modern Scrap Quilts
Playing with Negative Space
Sylvia Schaefer reimagines modern quilting by blending scraps into
expansive negative space for depth and texture, with 10 creative quilt
projects and techniques using fabric scraps.
â–  Create 10 creative techniques and 10 fresh and imaginative quilt
projects offering endless opportunities to hone your skills and bust
your scrap pile
â–  Learn how to create gradients, ghost blocks, interspersed improv
blocks, and add background accents
â–  Learn about design elements that might detract from the overall
design, along with tips for smarter fabric purchasing

The book…

The appeal of Sylvia’s Modern Scrap quilts book is that it shows you some fun and practical ways to make the most of your scraps and create quilts with lots of interest and depth of design.
Not just sewing all your scraps into blocks and using them up, but creating a level of interest and fun with the placement of colours.

The chapters lead you on a journey through using scraps in blocks to making your own fabric from scraps and using that creatively. Now I know that concept is not new but the ideas Sylvia has shown and the quilt designs are fun and fabulous.

The variety that can be made with using scraps in the negative areas of the quilt is just gorgeous to see and I am even keen to try the quilt in chapter 8 which is titled Structured Improv Piecing, sounds perfect for me. I have a heap of strip scraps so this might be the perfect way to use them up.

The other chapters that really intrigue me are the 2 that talk about gradient and fading of colour, oh those projects get my fingers itching to get to the scrap bins.

Front
Back

The Author

Sylvia Schaefer has been quilting since 2007. I earned a PhD in marine science before moving into quilting full-time, and my background in science often inspires my quilt designs, both directly and indirectly. Sylvia’s quilts and patterns have been published in magazines both online and in print

Join Sylvia’s email list here for all the latest news.

Want the book?

You can head over to C&T Publishing to grab your copy of Modern Scrappy Quilts by Sylvia Schaefer

or using this affiliate link head to Amazon and order your copy.

Want to win a copy?

I am able to give away one digital copy of this fun book. Head over to Instagram and follow Sylvia @flyingparrotquilts and @sunflowerquilting. At the end of the book launch, 19th November 2025 someone who is following both accounts can win a digital copy.

Add a comment below or on my instagram post when you have followed both accounts on instagram. C&T publishing will check all the requirements before sending the digital copy.

Feel free to share this blog post with a friend who might like to add their name to the draw.

The launch blog tour

Have fun checking out everyone involved in the Book Launch and add your name where possible to have a chance to win a digital copy of Sylvia’s Modern Scrappy Quilts book.

Happy Quilting

Raylee

Disclaimer – the affiliate link above may provide my business with a small revenue from Amazon.

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4 Comments

  1. Always interested in ideas for using scraps. The book looks fabulous!

  3. I follow both Sylvia’s instagram account and your instagram account and am very glad that I do.

  4. Interspered Improv blocks would be interesting. I would enjoy finding new ways to use neutral scraps for backgrounds.

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