As a different type of string/scrap quilt, here's an idea that I plan to work on myself soon:
http://filminthefridge.com/2012/02/2...ck-a-tutorial/
It would be much more orderly if all your strings are 1x5, and much easier to cut your background strips.
This is another that I am burning to do, but it uses different length strips so if you could pull other strips together, you could use your 1x5s closer to the corners where it fits:
https://bloomingpoppies.net/tutorial...ipes-tutorial/