A scrapy string quilt does not have to match anywhere. The colors can be random, if you don't want to plan, and the strings can be tapered alot, none uniform. And it doesn't have to start in the center. I've seen some pretty wild ones. The southern black quilts have been documented in several places, like the Gee's Bend Quilts, and their color combinations, you cannot even dream up........all gorgeous.

http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/quilts/
http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/sub.asp?key=15&subkey=498
http://www.auburn.edu/academic/other/geesbend/explore/index.html
http://www.shellyquilts.com/geesbend/
http://www.omart.org/galleries/exhibitions/GeesBend/geesbend.html

Awesome, now those are some string quilts that I was thinking of. I though they were radom, but now I think, get rid of the quilt police, they can be anything! DonnaRae

i'm not 100% sure i'm correct here, but i think the term "string piecing" refers to the way you create the "new fabric". (which is by using one of the methods already mentioned above)

once you've made your strips, you can do just about anything with them you'd do with any other fabric. your only limiting consideration is the added bulk if you strung to muslin, and from the extra seams.

does that sound about right?

Wow! The quilts posted and the pillow are absolutely beautiful. I did try sewing some strips (strings) together just to see what it would look like. Mine were more narrow than what I've seen on here. Mine were actually true scraps leftover from projects. It is pretty. I did mine straight up and down on my test block. I didn't use a foundation piece of material or paper??????

Miranda... I found out you don't have to use a foundation....to me it just makes it easier for stitching and squaring up.... I make these other quilts that I simply call my crazy scrap quilts and I just start with a center scrap and keep adding to all four sides until its big enuf to cut the size square I want out of it, and then square it up. I don't use a foundation for these. Here are two that I have made recently.

Patsy~
Those are great! Thanks for sharing.

I like them all. I have started a string and am really enjoying it. I am using 8 inch squares of newspapers for a foundation. My next will probably be the scrap squares. This is really great . no ripping apart. Thank You all for the info and help. I just might completely finish these

Wow I wondered what I was going to do with all of the extra pieces I cut out making these monthly blocks. Now I know. Ya'll are so smart.

patsy, is this string quilt as easy as it looks. by the way your quilts are beautiful.

Tia Sarah......if you go back a page I put a link in one of my posts for a site that has instructions for string quilts. I think they are super simple...I have made many of them over the years and plan to make more.

thanks for the nice compliments!