Scrap Basket Free Needlepoint Project

This flexible Scrap Bag Needlepoint ™ project uses any square stitch to make a charming woven design. The model creates a quilt that is 17 units by 21 units, but it can be expanded to any size you like. I used Mosaic Stitches as my square stitch, but you could use larger Scotch Stitches in the size of your choice.

The colored areas of the quilt are made of rows of three units. The direction of the units alternates, giving the lines a woven look. This look is muted by the changing colors of the scrap quilt.

You can also make a couple of cool variations:

• Make the colored rectangles stand out more by making the in a square cross stitch, such as Smryna Cross.
• Turn it into a quilt that looks like a real basket by using two closely related shades, one for each direction of lines and a darker shade of the same color for the background.

Materials Needed

To make a quilt the size of the model you will need:

• 7×8 inch piece mono 18-mesh needlepoint canvas
• 1 skein background thread
• up to 98 assorted scrap threads in colors, textures, and fibers of your choice

Stitching Scrap Basket

The pattern, below, is a map of the design. Because you chose the square stitch you will use for the project is up to you, this map just shows you the layout. Colored squares are made using your scrap threads. White squares are background.

I found it easiest to stitch a bunch of the scrap units, then fill in the background.

Because the scrap rectangles are small, this is a great project for your smaller bits of thread. But this also shows up a problem that can occur in Scrap Bag Needlepoint ™ projects. If the colors of threads in adjacent areas are too close in color, your design will have visual “holes.” There are a couple of these here.

Avoid this problem by keeping the colors in adjacent areas different. Also work to scatter attention-getting threads, such as metallics, around the design. You can see how this works in the picture of the model.