Originally Posted by
Sue Fish
I have done miles and miles of the string piecing this way for borders, quilt blocks, etc...I use 3" wide paper and can when done, cut pieces for many many different patterns.
I like it sort of wonky rather than each piece cut exactly the same and sewn straight..but you can do either
I start with my paper in a box or in the pic you can see I use the thread holder...anything to keep it from rolling all over.
I cut my scraps anywhere from about 1" wide to 1 1/2" wide and about 3 1/2" long.
First you lay one piece right side up on the end of your paper...lay the next strip face down on that and sew as shown using 1/4" seam allowance.. Flip it back and finger press and then lay the next piece face down on that and repeat...I like to sew them at a little angle here and there to make them "wonky".....continue on as long as you like but I find normally I stopped at about 1 yard of the piecing and trimmed it as shown and then rolled it up and continued on...make sense?
I do nearly all my quilt borders this way, using a till roll. I use a small machine stitch and always start and finish each scrap with a fastening stitch to make sure it is secure when I remove the paper. I measure out the length I need and then stitch until it is all covered, making sure a little of the fabric overlaps the edges. It looks particularly good if you angle some of the strips. I give it a good press and then rotary cut along both long edges to trim to size. It's an excellent way to produce really straight borders that don't curve! (A word of warning - don't use thermal till rolls - they turn black when you press them!)