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Tools: What’s on this student’s head?

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Okay, I’m cruising through all the photos of student’s work at a recent Sue Spargo workshop in Kokomo, Indiana and I paused. What is that on this student’s head? If you are like me or know someone over 40 you know we need more light to see as we age. Please someone tell me what this is and where you purchased it. I will not rest until I have one atop my head, just like Pat.

Editor’s note Feb 26, 2011: I have enjoyed reading each of your comments. Thanks for sharing with me all the ways you can use this head light and where to get one.  –Scarlett

Comments

  1. It looks like a basic headlamp. There are tons of different styles ranging in price at most hardware stores. 🙂

  3. It’s called a head lamp. You can buy them at most outdoor stores. We use them at our summer cottage because we don’t have any electric power. Perfect for reading at night and finding our way home in the dark. Great idea for sewing , quilting and art.

  6. My husband and I each used one last night at the end of our hike when it got dark:) Love mine! So nice that it’s hands free, especially since we hike with trekking poles.

  8. My husband and kids have them for camping. I believe we bought them at the local Travel Country store. Should be able to find them at a sporting goods store.

  9. I have a magnifying head thingy that also has a light on it that can move to shine wherever you need it. I got mine at Harbor Freight really cheap.

  10. LED headlamp – most handymen, mechanics have one. Available at places like Home Depot, Lowes…different styles
    My husband’s is made by Coast, it has an adjustable light.

  11. That thing on her head, a basic Energiser head lamp. They can be found all over the place, usually at Target, in the flashligh section. The head lamp runs under $20, closer to $10, if I remeber corectly. They run on 3 triple A batteries, and go a long time between changes. my family has replaced all the traditional flashlights with these, and loves them.

  12. LL Bean, REI, Lands End all carry them. We use them camping, walking the dog at night and they are a more directed light, so I can read in bed with one and the light doesn’t bother my husband. Pay attention to the reviews, they are all a little different. Mine is lighter than my husband’s and my son’s is bomb proof. These are great stocking stuffers and my girls use their’s all the time. My oldest uses it at night when she is on the campus. We have a joke about where we all keep ours.Watch out, mine can sometimes walk away and find itself in my husband’s toolbox.

  13. Like many of my fellow mail carriers I used one when delivering or collecting mail after dark. We must use both our hands to hold, “finger” and deliver mail, so “using our heads” to light our way is the logical solution. I have to admit I never thought about using a headlamp for close work when quilting or other handwork, but since I often do craft projects or read whenever we’re on driving vacations, I will certainly keep this handy tool in mind!!!

  14. I have been using a light like this for years. It is a simple head lamp that some use for camping or other outdoor activities. I spend lots of time waiting on my kids in a dark car so I use the light to keep knitting after the sun goes down and I’m in car line waiting to pick up the kiddos! I get mine at walmart.

  15. Looks like the Everready led headlamp I bought my husband in Walmart for about $10. It allows you to point it down and has several light settings so you can move the light where you need it and use a little or a lot of light.

  16. It looks like a hikers headlamp. You can buy them in all kinds of varieties at REI or Cabella’s. Really any outdoor shop will carry them 🙂

  17. You can also find at Walmart in the flashlight section….and some models even have a magnifiy capability

  18. You can get them at WalMart, Kmart any department store will carry them. You need to go try them on so you can get one that is not to heavy.

  19. My husband bought one for me so that I could walk at night. He got ours from LL Bean. It is one of the most useful tools we have. It’s used for many, many things and we both use it. I see it’s already been correctly identified.

  20. I now have two, I got them at an Electrical supplies shop. I bought the expensive one for me and it is too bright so I gave it my husband and I use the $10.00 version. It is just right and has is a led daylight type.

Have you read?

15 Best Quilts to Make Using Your Scraps (Beautiful Scrap Quilt Ideas That Actually Work)

If you’ve ever stood in your sewing room staring at a basket of fabric scraps thinking, “I should do something with these,” this article is for you.

Scrap quilts aren’t just practical — they’re often the most joyful quilts we make. They’re forgiving, colorful, and deeply personal. Every leftover piece carries a memory from a past project.

If you’re searching for the best quilts to make using your scraps, this guide goes beyond inspiration. We’ll talk about which patterns truly work for scraps, how to keep them looking cohesive, how much fabric you actually need, and which scrap sizes suit which designs.

Let’s turn that scrap pile into something intentional.

Why Scrap Quilts Are So Popular (And Why They Work)

Scrap quilts continue to trend because they:

  • Reduce fabric waste
     • Use leftovers from past projects
     • Feel nostalgic and personal
     • Save money
     • Encourage creativity without pressure

Unlike tightly planned quilts, scrap quilts allow flexibility. Slight variations in tone, scale, and print aren’t flaws — they’re part of the charm.

And for many of us, they’re emotionally satisfying. That tiny floral from a baby quilt? It shows up again in a new design.

What Makes a Quilt Pattern Truly Scrap-Friendly?

Not every quilt pattern works well with mixed fabrics.

The best scrap quilt patterns share these traits:

  • Repeated simple blocks
     • Uniform block size
     • No reliance on large focal prints
     • Strong layout grid
     • Balance of light and dark values

The structure holds the design together while the scraps bring personality.

If a pattern depends on exact color placement or large uninterrupted shapes, it’s usually not ideal for scraps.

1. Half Square Triangle Scrap Quilt

This is the ultimate scrap quilt.

Half square triangles (HSTs) use small squares and create endless layout possibilities.

Why it works beautifully for scraps:

  • Uses small pieces efficiently
     • Easy to chain piece
     • Allows strong contrast
     • Works with controlled or random color placement

You can create:

  • Chevron layouts
     • Diamonds
     • Broken dishes
     • Pinwheels
     • Modern gradient quilts

If you’re unsure what to do with your scraps, start here.

2. Crumb Quilt (Tiny Scraps Welcome)

If your scraps are small and irregular, crumb quilting is magic.

Instead of cutting into precise shapes, you sew scraps together randomly into larger “slabs,” then trim into blocks.

Why crumb quilts shine:

  • Uses the smallest pieces
     • No strict measuring
     • Highly forgiving
     • Great for improv lovers

Crumb quilts look chaotic mid-process — but once assembled, they’re surprisingly cohesive.

3. String Quilt

String quilts use narrow strips sewn onto a foundation.

Perfect for:

  • Long skinny leftovers
     • Binding offcuts
     • Strips trimmed from squaring blocks

You can sew strips diagonally, vertically, or randomly. When blocks are squared up, the quilt looks deliberate.

String quilts are fantastic for beginners because seam accuracy is less stressful.

4. Log Cabin Scrap Quilt

A true classic.

Log cabin blocks use strips built around a center square.

Why it works for scraps:

  • Uses varying strip lengths
     • Creates strong light/dark contrast
     • Looks intentional even when scrappy

Keep your center squares consistent for visual balance.

5. Nine Patch Scrap Quilt

Simple.
 Reliable.
 Endlessly adaptable.

Nine patch blocks use small squares — perfect for 2½” or 3½” scrap cuts.

Why it works:

  • Quick to assemble
     • Easy chain piecing
     • Beginner-friendly

Alternate with solid blocks or add sashing for structure.

6. Flying Geese Scrap Quilt

If you have medium-sized scraps, flying geese blocks are ideal.

Scrappy geese with a consistent background fabric prevent visual overload.

They create strong directional movement across a quilt top.

7. Irish Chain Scrap Quilt

This block balances structure with randomness.

Scrappy chain units combined with solid blocks create breathing space.

It’s a beautiful option if you want scrap charm without chaos.

8. Checkerboard Scrap Quilt

Sometimes the simplest layouts are the most powerful.

Equal-sized squares in alternating placement create a bold grid.

This design works best when you pay attention to light vs dark balance.

9. Sawtooth Star Scrap Quilt

Scrappy star points paired with solid backgrounds create stunning contrast.

You can keep star centers consistent for cohesion.

It feels classic but works beautifully in modern color palettes.

10. Rail Fence Scrap Quilt

Strip-based and fast to assemble.

Rotate blocks to create zigzags or woven effects.

This quilt is ideal for 2½” strip scraps.

11. Postage Stamp Quilt

If you love tiny pieces, this is your project.

Small squares sewn into a dense grid create a pixelated effect.

Time-consuming — but breathtaking.

12. Broken Dishes Quilt

Made entirely from half square triangles.

It creates a shattered-glass pattern that looks far more complex than it is.

High-contrast scraps work best here.

13. Pineapple Scrap Quilt

For confident quilters.

This design uses small strips in layered rotation around a center.

It’s intricate and dramatic — perfect for organized scrap bins.

14. Modern Negative Space Scrap Quilt

Use scrap blocks surrounded by solid white or low-volume background.

The empty space allows the scrap sections to shine without overwhelming the eye.

15. Sampler Scrap Quilt

Combine multiple scrap-friendly blocks into one quilt.

It keeps things interesting and prevents fabric fatigue.

Perfect if you enjoy variety.

How to Keep Scrap Quilts From Looking Too Busy

This is where many scrap quilts struggle.

Here’s how to maintain cohesion:

  • Use a consistent background fabric
     • Limit to 2–3 color families
     • Balance warm and cool tones
     • Keep block size uniform
     • Add sashing if needed

Even the wildest scrap quilt benefits from repetition.

Sorting Your Scraps Before You Start

Instead of dumping everything into one pile, try sorting by:

  • Light / medium / dark
     • Color family
     • Strip vs square vs crumb
     • Tone (warm vs cool)

This makes choosing patterns easier.

If your scraps are mostly small:
 Choose crumb, nine patch, or postage stamp.

If mostly strips:
 Choose string, log cabin, rail fence.

If medium cuts:
 Flying geese or HSTs are ideal.

How Much Fabric Do You Actually Need?

One common question is:

“How many scraps do I need for a quilt?”

Here’s a rough estimate for a throw-size scrap quilt (60″ x 72″):

  • Approximately 4–5 yards total scrap volume combined
     • Background fabric may require 2–3 yards
     • Binding ½ yard
     • Backing 4 yards

Because scraps vary in size, it’s better to measure by total coverage rather than count.

Scrap Quilt Color Strategy That Works

The secret to beautiful scrap quilts isn’t matching fabrics — it’s controlling value.

Value contrast (light vs dark) matters more than print style.

If everything is medium tone, the quilt will look flat.

Make sure you have:

  • Strong dark fabrics
     • Clear lights
     • A few medium fillers

Squint at your layout. If shapes disappear, you need stronger contrast.

Why Scrap Quilts Feel So Special

Scrap quilts aren’t just practical.

They’re memory quilts without trying to be.

That floral from your daughter’s skirt.
 That neutral from a farmhouse pillow.
 That bold print from a modern quilt you tried.

They all come together in one place.

That’s why scrap quilts feel layered with story.

Final Thoughts on the Best Quilts Using Your Scraps

The best scrap quilt isn’t the fanciest one.

It’s the one that uses what you already have.

Start simple.
 Focus on contrast.
 Trim carefully.
 Trust the repetition.

Your scrap pile isn’t clutter.
 It’s potential.