How is this quilt made?
 

Hello fellow quilters. I want to make my son a quilt to take to college. He wants something very scrappy and random. This is very hard for me because I like matching and order. I have about twelve 1/2 yard cuts of random (but looks pretty good together) fabrics and then some odds and ends scraps that I'd like to use. I found this quilt picture on Pinterest. The gal says "foundation pieced on paper", whatever that means? I am not the best at math and figuring stuff out (usually my husband helps me, but he's on a man camping trip, great time to start a project!).

Can I just cut various size strips, sew them together, than cut on a 45º angle? How do I do it and not waste a bunch at the ends? Or do I cut my strips at a 45º and then sew them together? If someone could explain the best way to do this I would be forever grateful. :)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dotdot...l-1846806@N20/
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I've made this type. I used a muslin square that I then sewed on the center strip and kept working my way out. I used lots of scrappy strips. You just need a foundation to sew onto. It is a very quick quilt. After you cover the muslin with the strips you square it up. I think I did the foundation block at 10" but you can make it whatever size you like.

Here is a Youtube tutorial on how to create this block with a paper foundation. You can also use a muslin foundation, as patski describes, in which case you leave the muslin in (with paper, you have to remove the paper before sandwiching).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ02NM9-USw

Edit: In your photo, it looks as if the blocks were rectangular (either paper or muslin).

Edit #2: You can simply sew strips together and then trim into a block. However, it can be quite difficult to keep these blocks uniform because the strips are not stabilized. Using a foundation makes it very easy to use up scraps and also minimizes waste.

Search google, or this site, for "string quilt". I think you'll find a lot of examples and methods. I've used dryer sheets for the foundation blocks, and it works well. Doesn't add much weight.

You could very easily do this without foundation piecing it. I made one very similar in this manner, only with squares instead of rectangles. Just sew strips that are cut the width of the fabric together, then cut diagonally. Since the cut edges will be on the bias, you might want to starch the sewn strips before you cut the blocks.

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You guys/gals are the best! The Missouri Star video was very helpful. Would wrapping paper work for the paper? I can't think of anything else I have on hand that is bigger than 8 1/2 X 11.

I don't think wrapping paper is a good idea. It tears too easily, and moisture could cause dye bleeding. Some folks use prewashed muslin or old sheets cut slightly larger than the final size, and trim the block down after sewing. The base fabric is left in to stabilize the blocks. Maybe cut freezer/butcher paper from a roll?

Gosh, I would just use copy paper for this one. The block looks like a similar size. A very cool pattern.
peace

This Heartstrings quilting website has been a favorite of mine for years. http://heartstringsquiltproject.com/
There are many links to roam through, an affiliated free Yahoo group, and the Maryquilts.com has wonderful free tutorials and patterns.

Although I like to recycle I don't recommend re-using the dryer sheets since the residue may affect the fabrics years from now. As a retired Nurse Practitioner I have to warn that if someone has medical sensitivity to the chemicals no one would suspect dryer sheets hidden inside the quilt. A person might have sneezing, coughing, or skin rashes leading to unnecessary tests and treatments. Imagine recovering from surgery and having the pain of coughing and popped stitches! I don't know how many washes it would take to completely clean the polyester scrim of the dryer sheets. I use clean sheets for a foundation.

I agree that wrapping paper isn't a good choice, although it's because the wrapping paper I use is heavy and would be hard to tear. Plus, it's expensive.
I got an end roll of unused newspaper from my local paper for free. It's about 4 feet wide and, even though it's the "end" of the roll, there's got to be a lifetime supply of paper there for one family. I use it not just for foundation piecing, but also for packing air pockets in boxes I ship, and the kids use it for drawing/coloring/painting.

Would used news paper be okay until I go to town tomorrow?

Previous posters on this topic have mentioned using old phone book pages as well as tissue paper. They have also mentioned shortening your stitch length so there are more perforations in the paper and it will tear off easier.

It can also be done as a quilt as you go project. Here is a tute from our very own ditter.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...lt-t60764.html

Old newspaper is fine, but it has to be at least two weeks old. If you use a newer newspaper, the ink can transfer to the fabric (although I do think it would wash out later). You may have noticed getting ink smeared on your hands while reading a new newspaper! Old newspaper ink won't smear like that.

I would test the newspaper by running a hand across the newsprint to see if any ink ends up on your hand.

I used old worn sheets as foundations...very thin and you don't have to worry about tearing anything off later.

missouri quilt has a great tutorial on how to make this

I have made one using yellow pages. Worked fine.

Inexpensive muslin or interfacing is what I would recommend. The "foundation pieced on paper" means that it was sewn to either a paper or fabric foundation. Very common in quilt to use up scraps. I like the rectangle look to this quilt. You might want to just draw a center line to guide you to get the same angle that the strips were sewn in the photo. Before deciding, make a test block first. If you use fabric, then you sew from the front. The fabric just gives the blocks stability especially with the bias edges.

I like to use old phone books, the paper is easy to tear off and I can get an 8" square out of most of them. If you want something bigger, you can use OLD newspapers. I say OLD because the newer papers could cause ink transfer but the older ones the ink has set in and they are fine to use. Also an old thin sheet cut into squares works well, but I prefer the Paper. You can also inquire at your newspaper office for roll ends of newsprint paper as they often sell them cheaply and a small roll lasts a long time.

String blocks are a blast. I use doodle pads from the dollar store. The paper is pulpy and because you have made your stitching smaller it cracks right off. I've found removing phone books paper is not as easy. It's easiest to sew across your block corner to corner - there's your 45 degree angle. I am making a herringbone quilt now that I'm doing with 4" wide x 9" long papers - these you have to draw the 45 degree's on. I am using one constant fabric as I start and it is giving me a really cool chevron effect. I love these silly things!!!!

Great quilt.... and pretty fast, too. I saw one where people didn't make the strips perfectly straight and that one was really cute as well. I don't think you have to be too fussy this this one. And, I would definitely use muslin as a background so there wasn't a lot of stretching since you'd have a ton of bias edges.

Something no one warned you about. These things are addictive, like potato chips.

Another thumbs up for phone book pages. I suggest you do 2-3 blocks at a time and just keep chasing your tail if you know what I mean. Just snip the previous block off, press, and keep going w/o removing everything off of the machine. I hope this makes sense. :-) It's very relaxing sewing.

That would be a good pattern for QAYG with batting and backing for stabilizer and then sewn together in size wanted. Sewing strips on would be the quilting.

Love Mary's site and many examples of heart string quilts. Love how the center string color can make the block and quick look so different.

Io have made several like peckish psted. Sewed three 2-1/2" strips together, then put another three strip section on top, sew both sides together, cut into triangles using a square ruler. sew together. I just use whatever strips I have and I think they look great. I have posted pictures on this board. Scrappies were hard for me at first because I like the matchy matchy. Now I love the random scrappies also.

I am using a large paper pad from the dollar store....it's working very well for my foundations, and the price is right!

I also use muslin squares or that thin batiste cotton material used nightgowns, etc. I have also used old flat sheets bought at thrift store. Just cut your blocks about 1/2 inch larger than what you want as you will do some trimming after blocks are constructed. I have used 10 inch up to 15 inch blocks. You can also play with the arrangement of the blocks. I start with strip diagonal in center and then add to left and right . As for your strips anywhere from 1 1/2 inch to 2 inches . Have fun and enjoy.

You could use tissue paper. Cheap and easy to tear off. You can get it in white. Also brown paper bags!

I also use old copy paper that jammed in my printer. You can get inexpensive copy paper in packs of 500 sheets for a few bucks or less with a coupon

Others have given you great advice but I still want to add my 2 cents since this is one of my favorite quilts. Choose your block size--I like 14 and 16 inch blocks--and cut the least expensive muslin you can find into blocks that size. If you want to make rectangles that's OK, it's just that I like squares better. Since you describe yourself as more orderly than scrappy, you might want to choose one of your fabrics to use as the center of each square. Cut strips 2 and 1/2 inches or 3 inches wide and lay the one you want for the center diagonally, from an upper corner to the opposite lower corner, right side up. If you are going to be orderly, choose a strip from the next pile, lay it face down on the first strip and sew it down, 1/4 inch seam is fine and if you get off a little, it won't matter much if the seam is straight and not wavy. Press that strip down, pick up the next strip and repeat until you get to the side of the block. Turn your foudation around and repeat the process and lo!~ you will have a block. It will likely need to be squared to 13 and 1/2 or 15 and 1/2. Make as many of those as you want, decide how you want to arrange them--there are a jillion ways, sew them together and you have a quilt that will need a back but no batting unless you really want one. It will need to be quilted or tied and bound.

Strip quilts are such great fun, can lie across the back of a recliner or a couch or cover a bed or be folded up for the dog to nap on! And wonderful for scrappers. It is almost impossible to mess up a strip quilt. If you lay your strips out in order, you can sort of, maybe, keep them in order. froggyintexas

The only draw back to using large pieces of paper for your squares is you can't use all your small scraps. If you start out with a 3 or 6" block you would be surprised at how small a scrap you can use up.

You can just sew the strips together and starch heavily before you trim to size. The starch stabilizes the fabric to hold you're squares shape. Then you don't have to worry about the muslin or rip paper. I did this with all kinds of scraps and it was delightfully fun!