It’s the dog days of summer. You may feel lazy and your mojo may be a little lost. Here are 12 scrap busting tutorials go get your creative juices flowing. Each one is beginner friendly and are quick and easy to follow. Simply click on the bold underlined text to go to that tutorial. Let’s get started.
Pre Cut Friendly
If you’re like me you end up with parts of layer cakes, jellyrolls and other pre-cut fabrics. These tutorials are perfect for those leftovers. They also work with a fresh from the quilt shop pre cut bundle.
First, on of my most popular tutorials is my scrappy plus block. Designed for layer cakes it also works with jellyroll strips and makes the cutest plus blocks. I put them on point in my Abundance quilt. The pattern can be found in Scrap Quilts.
Next are these sparkling stars made from charm squares. Quilters are welcome to make the star points all the same by using two matching charm squares or go totally scrappy.
The last pre-cut tutorial I’m sharing today uses layer cake squares. Did you know you could put two layer cake squares together and make the stunning Majestic Mountain quilt block? Well, you can and it’s easy. If you can make a half square triangle you can make this block. Discover how twisting and turning it you give the block a new look with these patterns.
Strips & Strings
My scrappy strip bins are always overflowing. These ideas help me keep them form taking over.
For instance a patchwork braid is a great way to make a dent in your scrappy fabric strips. Feel free to go totally scrappy or a controlled scrappy like Flow, also found in Scrap Quilts, is an option.
String blocks are also popular. If you don’t like adding bulk or ripping of paper, try these foundationless string blocks.
I also like to play with strip sets. A strip set is a group of strips sewn together along the long side. Learn how to make a strip set and discover all the ways you can use them in this tutorial.
Wonky Improv
If your a quilter than love to embrace the wonk of free pieced blocks then these tutorials are for you.
First, wonky log cabins combine strips and improv for scrap busting playful blocks.
Next, wonky stars in all their sparkling glory. Be careful these are addictive. Make them all one size or play with scale as you make them in a variety of ways. Explore pattern options here or inside my Crumb Quilts with the Night Sky Quilt seen here.
One of my favorite improv methods is to make crumb fabric. I love sewing all those tiny bits of fabric together to create my own unique fabric. Both of my books are full of creative ways to use your made fabric.
Tips & Twists
Lastly here are a couple tutorials that take a classic block and give it a twist.
The Disappearing four patch takes the simple four patch and gives it a new look. It is perfect for larger scrappy chunks. Here is one example of what is possible.
Another fun play on a traditional block is the Twisted Rail Fence. This block gives an alternate pattern depending on how you arrange them.
Finally I’m concluding with my tutorial on how to combine blocks of different sizes. This is my favorite kind of puzzle. The tutorial will enable you to combine wonky and orphan blocks using your scraps for a beautiful quilt. I used this method with In My Garden, Enchanted Forest and several quilts in my books. 
I hope these 12 scrap busting tutorials get you excited to dive into your scraps and play.
