I make a lot of foundation pieced blocks, using clean old sheets as a foundation.
I have known of a time when ladies used the newspaper as a foundation (check out Wyoming about a hundred years ago).
They have even found some of those quilts with the newspaper still inside! or is it the blocks they found with the newspaper still attached ... either way,
TIP: If you choose to use newspaper as your foundation, use seasoned newspaper (a paper that has been in circulation at least two weeks).
one of my friends prepares her strips for these spiderweb blocks by separating out her strips of scraps and cutting them in predetermined widths. Then, creating her own "jelly rolls" by sewing the strippy scraps end to end (same sizes together) ...
in this manner, she can create "kits" ahead of a day we are working a marathon ...