coopah

Ii agree. Once you do a QAYG, you won't look back. The only part that gets difficult is stitching the binding between the squares, but it's better than all that tearing, ripping and picking. Wash away would be my choice, too, if I felt I needed backing and didn't want to do QAYG. Before string quilts were a "thing," I made one successfully with left-over scraps and didn't have any backing. Turned out fine. Didn't know that kind of quilt had a name when I made it!

shasta5718

I have made string quilts with just the strings and no other backing and have had them turn out ok.

Jingle

To make string quilts without a foundation block. Sew several strips together and make a basket weave or a fence rail. If the strip is cut With a triangle shaped ruler you can sew four together to make it look like strings. To use scraps I just make a QAYG.

AprilM

Wow! You are all absolutely awesome!!! It looks like i have a lot more choices to consider now - thank you so much!

Here is the direction im heading... like i mentioned, i dont want the extra bulk that muslin adds. The idea of wash out paper appeals to me (unless it gets spendy). I would rather not use the “paper option” if i can avoid it cuz tearing out is a pain (but that doesnt mean i wont consider it). The lightweight interfacing or tulle sounds workable and not expensive.

How i plan to finish this (at least at this moment, but i havent started making any blocks yet) is to get the blocks all made and assembled into a top. I do like the idea of QAYG and have done that, but my goal is to turn this into another “summer weight” quilt with no batting. I want to back it with flannel like another one i just finished (jelly roll race - photos are in another post). I am thinking of practicing my FMQ on this and i like the “crinkly“ look it gets after being washed and dried. If i get brave enough between now and the time i start quilting i would like to try out my new Feather ruler that keeps staring at me from across the room!

My goal this coming year is to get outta my box and get a few more things done than i managed this year and to try new things even if they dont always turn out as i hoped. I know that sometimes i just gotta “jump in” but being able to ask you all what works and what doesnt is such an enormous help to me an others!

I thank you all so much for so freely sharing your experience and ideas with me! Sometimes its hard to think things through by yourself without a sounding board and people to say “oh no, you dont wanna do that - here’s what i did instead and it was a lot easier!” 😊

So far does anything jump out at you that maybe i might not have considered?

maviskw

You actually buy fabric for foundation piecing?

I have a stack of fabric that I have labeled "trash fabric". That is what I use. I needs to be very light weight and doesn't need to be new. The best thing to use is the top part of an old fitted bed sheet. The sides are probably still quite sturdy, but the top gets worn out first. I use anything that doesn't have an actual hole in it. And even a few small holes don't matter, as it is covered in whatever you are sewing to it.

Onebyone

I do. Either papers or muslin. I keep a bolt of cheap muslin on hand. It's like putting on a new pair of socks, it give me a little boost to use nice new fabric. The older I get the more about me I get. LOL

ILoveToQuilt

Had to laugh...how many of us read this as paper for people who sew? It is actually for use in septic systems (sewers)! Good use for this anyway. Will check it out next time I am at HD or Lowe's.

Onebyone

I have used some of the sewer paper. Not that especially great but works.

Judith1005

I'm using muslin on the back of my string blocks. But, because I live in Florida, I'm not going to use any batting in the inside. I'm just going to quilt it using backing fabric. Maybe Flannel if I can find something I like. I even thought about using a flannel sheet.

Good luck on your quest to find what you would like to use.

AprilM

Well, i think i may have found something that will work for what i want to do... Pellon 910 Sew-in Featherweight interfacing. It was available on a 10 yard bolt (20” wide). I ordered it online yesterday and it should be here by the end of the week. All i could find locally were the fusibles, but i really didnt want that for the string quilt foundations. I will experiment with a block or two and report back! 😊