Sashing and scrappy strippy blocks!

I like to make string quilts with them because they look so pretty when the blocks are put together.

Search for "Austrailian Sunset" on this site. She used 1.5 inch strips but all of coordinating colors.

I almost couldn't get my 'dark' 1 1/2" strip box closed a year ago (12 qt) and and had a shoebox of light 1 1/2" strips. Now, all of my strips fix easily into the larger box, and I might even be able to get them back into the shoebox.

I made a large log cabin quilt from most of them, plus started on a postage stamp quilt. Now I'm making 3" spools from my 1 1/2" strips. I've got 50 made and need about 350 more. I'm going to have to cut more strips to get a better variety before I'm done. Like others, I've also used my strips in string piecing. I don't think I would buy a honey bun - but then I don't often buy pre-cuts.

I'm using 1 1/2" strips right now for a scrap quilt. A center medallion of a 64 patch block set on point and then triangles in the corners of the 36" sq quilt.

Funny, I just ran into a pattern using 1 1/2 in strips when sorting thru my mags.
It is in American Patchwork And Quilting by Better Homes and Gardens. Its called Scrap Happy and its in the issue for Oct. 2008.
Makes a 6 1/2 in block and uses the strips cut in different lengths around two strips of the same color. Kind of a log cabin but not quite.

I use l.5" strips and a varity of small width strips for mug rugs, pot holders, table runner, etc. I do a lot of strip piecing, so I have quite a stash of strips. Never throw away your strips. If they are too narrow, use them tie your plants. The only time I toss out fabric is when I put the small stuff (also lint from the dryer) out on top of my shrubs for the birds. They take it for their nests.

The only thing that I use a narrow strip like that is for the scrap quilt that I am working on where I am sewing strips together on muslin in a triangles that are sewn together to give a scrappy spider web look. Other than small borders if the pattern calls for it I probably wouldn't buy that small jelly rolls.

2" is the smallest I've used and that was for a stop border.

I tried these for string blocks, but it worked on my nerves after awhile... would rather work with wider strips