Can anyone point me in the right direction to make a string quilt?
 

Hi friends,
I've been working on a hexi quilt and have a lot of leftover 1 x 5 inch strips. I used a lot of charm squares and had the leftovers. I am interested in making a string quilt but have very little knowledge of going about it.
Thanks so much.
Susie

I've made lots of these. You can use adding machine tape as a backing or any other shape of paper. Ripping the paper off is messy. I've used dryer sheets as a backing. They do smell which some people may object to. I don't but the resulting quilt is rather stiff. I will wash it when finished with it to soften it. It's a wall hanging. I've also done no backing. Just sew strips till you get to a pre-determined size and then square it up. I love to make them (like eating chips--can't stop). Honestly though, I don't see that they reduce the stash. The strips still seem to multiply. Lots of pictures on the QB. Have fun with it!

I use thin muslin or cotton. I cut 8 or 12 squares, sew the first string diagonally then continue on each side. I usually vary the width of stings or you can do the same size. I like making them because they require very little thought

Bonnie Hunter has a tutorial with pictures.

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/...ng-primer.html

Be warned! Her site/blog/mysteries are addicting!

yep, Bonnie Hunter has tons of free patterns. have fun!!

here is a pic of one on this forum. it is lovely. https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...y-t297246.html

If most of your strips are 1" by 5", I would not attempt to make the string quilt shown on Bonnie Hunter's site. Your pieces are too small, unless you're going to make really small block. If all your strips/crumbs are that size, you'll have to sew them end to end to use them effectively. Then you would sew them side to side. The top one on this page will give you an idea of what I'm talking about. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/53...le-of-ufos#n=8

In the quartered strip block, your strip has to go all the way from one side to the other. a 5" strip would only cover the shorter edges. Look at some crumb quilts. That's not exactly what I mean, but it will give you another idea of what to do with the nice scraps.

Of course, Pinterest is full of photos. Of course, you can never find the origin of the post. I think it's designed to keep you going round and round on Pinterest and not find anything.

bkay

When I made a string quilt as part of a class, I went to Joann’s and bought a very lightweight type of interfacing. You sew directly onto it and never remove anything. It’s very lightweight and far better than paper.

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/

Sephie, thanks for the last link. I've not seen it done that way before. very nice.

When my ex-husband decided he was going to take up quilting in his retirement, I suggested a string quilt because it is a really good beginner pattern. I cut a bunch of 8" x 8" squares from inexpensive muslin for him and gifted him a bag full of strips in every color under the rainbow. This is the result - you can see that the binding wasn't done when I took the photo and I've cropped off his head, but he had a huge grin. You can do it too - can't wait to see yours.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]595265[/ATTACH]

Here is a stained glass stitch along using scrappy strings:
https://www.victorianaquiltdesigns.c...titchAlong.htm

1x5 strings may be too short for most “traditional” string blocks, but they would make a great piano key border!

You may want to sew two strips together end to end to get 10" strips, or larger, for bigger blocks. A 5" strip done diagonally will only make about a 3" block. Though tiny blocks done with 1" strips would be very cute! I also suggest using gift wrap tissue paper as your foundation as you won't have to remove the paper when you're finished. Tissue paper just dissolves and washes away so no need to remove it.

Cari

Google "string quilt tutorials" and then click on "images" to find one you like the looks of.

I love making string quilts, too. I usually use a paper (adding machine tape, phone book pages, cheapo newsprint) to help stabilize the blocks, and yes, removing the paper can be a pain.

I do have a question: I see the term "crumb" fairly frequently, but don't know what it means. Can someone enlighten me, please? TIA

https://quiltville.com/crumbspf.html this is one of many. left over fabrics.

I do the same only with thin thin white muslin (cheapy kind at 99 cents a yard.....back in the day when i bought the whole bolt)

I woukdn’t do a string with pieces that small. By the time you sew seam allowances, the width is only 1/2 inch. And 5 inches would only cover the diagonal if a tiny block.

Maybe try one coin collection block instead and see if uou like it. I do doll quilts in that pattern—but not with anything narrower than 1.5 . Just don’t have the patience to work with teeny pieces.

dang you sephie! now I have another scrap quilt calling my name! Thanks for the tutorial!

Keep in mind that dryer sheets are highly flammable. They are not something I would use unless I could get them off easily.

Thanks everyone!!!
It does sound like they may be too small but the idea of using them in a border is fantastic!
I still want to do a string quilt though so thanks again :)

I participated in a QAL last summer hosted by Amanda Jean. It uses 5 inch strips to make a fun quilt.

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2...al-week-1.html
She has a great book that is on my wish list...No Scrap Left Behind.

Thank you for the link showing the HST scrap stripe blocks. I like the modern look and there is she shows so many design layouts to consider.

I also used 10" muslin squares for my scrappy string king size quilt, and to paraphrase Scarlett "As the one above is my witness, I will never again make a king size quilt using muslin for the blocks":) That thing weights a ton.

Thanks for the suggestion of tissue paper. Good idea! i have used dryer sheets but only after they have fulfilled their intended use. A quick press with a warm iron and you've got a foundation. Plus the satisfaction that you are recycling.

Too, I have used short strips of fabric sewn end to end to create a long strip and then created a jelly-roll race type quilt. Used up a lot of strips without having to think much what was happening. The only consideration might be lights, mediums and darks alternating but jelly-roll race quilts are almost as addicting as the stack'n'whack.

You could do them in a herringbone style. Off set them so when you trim them up you will have a bunch of little dog ear scraps. Just a thought. That would use them up nicely.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/searc...c&action=click
This will give you an idea of what it will look like; just narrower strips in each one. Hope this helps.

Yes, I was just going to say Bonnie Hunter is a good source but I see some quilters already suggested this. I haven't tried string quilting but it's on my to do list :)

If your strings are only 1" you are going to have to sew your seams very carefully. Only a 1/2" of fabric will be showing after sewing with scant 1/4" seams on both sides. I do a lot of these and unless your blocks are small you can get a lot of wavy seams, if you are not careful.

Thanks for all the great tips, everyone!!!