At Twig + Tale, we believe that even the tiniest bits of fabric hold potential. Whether it’s a teensy offcut from a favourite project or the small, intact corner of a well-loved garment, these small scraps can tell a story. That's why we're slowing things down with our Sewing With Scraps series, and embracing the relaxed pace and eco-friendly possibilities of quilting techniques, outside of far more than just quilts.
If you've ever found yourself wondering "What can I make with my fabric scraps?", crumb quilting is one technique that offers a beautiful way to stitch those stories together, turning what might otherwise be discarded into a zero-waste project rich with texture, colour, and meaning.
What is Crumb Quilting?
Crumb quilting, sometimes known as "crazy quilting" or "improv quilting", is a patchwork technique that involves sewing together small, irregular scraps of fabric, often too tiny to be used in traditional piecing. These “crumbs” are joined in a freeform way, building up fabric panels that are as unique as the scraps themselves. There’s no need for precision or matching seams - just a willingness to play, experiment, and let the pieces guide you. But don't let the small size stop you - these same techniques can be used with larger scraps as well, for a fun play on scale. What's more, crumb quilt blocks can be combined with other quilting techniques for even more versatility.
It’s a wonderfully mindful, creative process that invites you to slow down and savour the making. And, what's more, it offers one deeply satisfying solution to the challenge of textile waste and overflowing scrap bins. By incorporating crumb quilting into your projects, you're not only keeping fabric out of the bin, but creating one-of-a-kind pieces that are rich in history and heart. It celebrates resourcefulness, creativity, and the beauty of imperfection - values close to our hearts here at Twig + Tale.
A beautifully pieced Meadow Skirt by Jen M., incorporating both traditional quilt blocks + crumb quilting techniques
How to Get Started
There are no hard and fast rules, but here are some simple steps to guide you:
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Gather your scraps – Include a mix of colours, textures, and sizes, or opt for monotone scraps. Even tiny slivers can find a place - they need only have enough margin for seam allowances, and a little extra to show in the finished piece!
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Sort by tone or theme (if you like) – You might create panels based on warm, cool, or neutral colours, for instance, or focus on repeated patterns like florals for a cohesive feel.
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Begin piecing – We'll share a closer look at this process below!
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Press as you go – This helps keep the panel tidy and flat and prevents puckering in your final panel.
There’s no “wrong” way to crumb quilt. Let go of perfection and trust your eye - unexpected combinations can often lead to some beautifully unique results!
An autumn-hued Maple North American Leaf Blanket by Erica W.
A Closer Look At Crumb Quilting
Here's how to piece your "crumbs" together:
- Start with two scraps with straight(ish) edges - these don't have to be perfect. Just line them up together, and sew them with a straight seam.
- Press open, and repeat until you have a number of two-piece chunks. (You may want to take this opportunity to trim a new straight edge if your piecing didn't leave one - or, you can wait to do so until matching them with other scraps later.)
- Once you have a little collection of these two-piece chunks, start pairing them with each other, or other bigger scraps, to start building larger chunks. How you do so is entirely up to you!
You can play with angles, shapes, and more - just find (or trim) yourself straight edges as you go, and sew them together. You can even make multiple chunks at once by sewing small scraps down the length of a bigger scrap, and cutting them apart; or by cutting larger chunks apart to match in new ways.
As you continue piecing bigger and bigger chunks together, you'll find yourself creating usable size fabric panels...yay! Just continue until your crumb quilting panel is big enough to fit your pattern piece, and use it the same as you would any other fabric.
A note on fabric grain
When creating your crumb quilted panels, you may wonder how fabric grain comes into play.
If you are piecing your fabrics together for a small project, accessory, or play item, you may not need to worry much about this. Most materials will be stable enough once pieced together not to cause issues, especially when sewing with smaller scraps.
However, if you are piecing bigger scraps for a complete garment panel (especially unlined), you may find that you want to keep your grainlines running the same direction to help the garment hang nicely.
Stitching Things Up
Want some additional inspiration for how to use your crumb-quilted panels in your Twig + Tale® sewing projects? We've gathered up some amazing projects from our creative community, shared over years of slow-sewing creatively together. Come check them out in the final blog post of our Sewing With Scraps series!
Read more Twig + Tale sewing inspiration here:
- Adding embroidery to your handmade wardrobe
- How to sew appliqué by hand and machine
- How to make hand-stitched buttonholes
