I don't get what the 'reciept' is for when making string quilts
 

Hi.. I've been watching and I just don't get it.. I've been trying to figure out why people 'sew' onto reciepts to make string quilts. Wouldn't it be the same if you just sew the fabric together to begin with? Also.. I have lots of 'small' pieces and I see lots of people put them together and use them as crumb quilts. So how are these put together? I mean.. if they are small and you use a 1/4" seam how is that going to work.. don't they need to be turned under so they won't unravel? I know lots of questions sorry... thanks ladies

You will just have to make one using a paper base and one without to see the difference.

I have a friend who makes her string quilts without a foundation. It can be done.

It is a foundation in order to use small strips that would otherwise not be easy to sew together. You then usually cut to the size of the base. In the olden days newspaper was used but mostly a foundation fabric. The foundation could be cut in a number of shapes. I have some old blocks that the foundation was a diamond then sewed together to make stars. It was and stil is a "use up"method of making use of otherwise unusual sizes of fabric. irregular width of strips could be used to make a new fabric.

When I was a kid, we cut up old sheets and used them for foundation. Back in those days, the sheets were 100 percent cotton and white, and you had to iron them!

I have a very old quilt top that was made using strips of what was once white fabric. The strips are various is widths but each one has many little pieces sewn onto them and then the strips are sewn toether. I doubt this would have worked very well without the foundation strips.

Diannia

i don't understand the word "reciept" where did you read this.

Someone recently mentioned using old receipts as a foundation for string piecing.

I think maybe she is talking about the cash register receipt rolls. I read somewhere that you could use these, then cut the excess off the edges and you would have a straight strip. My grandma and great grandma used pages out of the Sears catalog. Folded one end over to make a square then cut off the excess. Made the perfect block for sewing your strips to. I remember sewing these for them when I was a kid. I've used paper, muslin, scrap fabric (ugly) haha and interfacing scraps.

Wow, very confusing. I'd never heard of using receipts. I have heard of using phone book papers or newspapers.

I don't make my string quilts with foundations. I cut strips across the width of the fabric, piece the strips together, then cut triangles. However, if you're trying to use oddly shaped pieces from your stash, this method won't work.

I have used telephone book pages same as your grandma did. I also folded one end over to make a square. This gives the 'pattern ' to shoot for. Then when it's full, turn it over and rotary cut along the page. Magic!

I use adding machine paper....it is easier to sew small strips together....you just have to cut the sides even when you have a whole roll finished ...got the idea on th QB...i`ve done quite a few quilts this way...

How cool that is! love your quilts! I am just sewing strips together using a square of cheap muslim but I've got bored and didn't put a quilt together. I found your method more versatile to create a quilt.
thanks for the pictures
andrea

I still use NEWSPAPER for my foundation on my scrappy quilts. It sure helps me use up all different sizes of scraps.

I don't get it. I understand WHAT you're doing, and the WHY of it all, but help me understand how you get it OFF afterwards? When you wash this quilt, it's gonna be all gunked up inside with wet paper-mess. (???)

ok finally someone else who is on my side.. lol... ok ladies we just 'don't get it' also can you plz answer the second question also about sewing the small crumb pieces..

You tear the paper off after you have finished your block or strip. It's like paper piecing. At least, that's what I do.

WOW - that is a great method. Thanks for the into. Perhaps I will use that for piano key borders, as I seem to have trouble with those!

Google crumb quilts and you'll find lots of different instructions. 1/4" is not as important with crumbs, although you still want to have enough seam allowance that the pieces don't fray apart. Here's one from Bonnie Hunter. http://quiltville.com/crumbs.shtml

LOL you remove the paper after it is all pieced together....actually I remove it as I go(piece the quilt together)

ahhh nowwww it makes sence... wooo hoooo... awesome.. thanks soooo very much for all your information.. ok off to find some reciept paper.. lol...

this helped alot... now I'm going to be able to figure out what to do with all these small pieces that I've got laying around here.. lol.. thanks tons for all the information..

For crumb quilts you WANT the edges to fray. That's the charm.

"CRUMB" quilts are supposed to fray? Or do you mean rag quilts? I've never seen a crumb quilt with frayed edges. We are talking about the Bonnie Hunter type of crumb quilts, right? Or is there a different kind of crumb quilt? Help!

I thought I got this pattern until I tried it. Oh dear what a mess. I as doing what the class described as an easy table runner. Give me an intermediate pattern an time. I PM a quilter on here who has made a spectacular 3 braid runner for a wedding present. She sent me a list of titles of some excellent books. Go through pictures and look for the 3 braid quilt in warm reds. You may need to go through a few pages but it is a beauty. Good luck.

huntannette, thanks for posting pics. I was not really interested in doing one of these until I saw your pics. I especially love the one with the red sashing. Did you do the quilting freemotion? Really nice!

I finally found a roll of adding machine tape to do this. I usually chain sew my strips, how do you do the adding machine tape-sew and cut the thread each time you add a piece? I guess I need to go find the original tutorial. I think I have it bookmarked.

When my crumbs quilts fray it's because I wasn't paying attention when sewing and missed a seam, my 1/4" seams is closer to a 1/16" or 1/32"

Are you sure you are thinking crumb quilts?

Check out the fantastic Tutoriahttp://www.quiltingboard.com/tutorials-f10/string-piecing-adding-machine-paper-t56940.htmll by Sue Fish!!

If you want to see a really WOW crumb quilt,check this one!!! Made by Izy!!http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...on-t13771.html

I usually use a foundation of a very long (say 90") strip of muslin as my foundations. Then, I start somewhere in the middle of the strip. I lay down two sort-of rectangular strips on each then chain sew the strips. It can be awkward initially as there is lots of unsewn fabric hanging out. After about a foot or sew, I can sew down both sides of the strip in a chain-sew, without cutting until I've attached pieces to all the foundations.

for some reason, I am unable to upload a pic. Sorry.

Amazing what I learn here!!
I'll never live long enough to try out all the neat ideas and tricks from the great board.

Finally I get it. Great idea, and the pictures of finished quilts really helped.

crumb quilt vs. crazy quilt
 

besides the fact that there is no embroidery stitches over the seams, it seems that crumb is the same as crazy?? I thought crumbs were bits of fab to small to sew w/seams so were put onto a foundation and either fancy sewed all over or even covered with a piece of tulle and then sewed over using various emb. stitches....not as a full quilt, but rather a decorative thing. So what is this technique called....thanks......

You can also use used dryer sheets for foundation for string quilts. We had a national teacher come to our guild and she made one with fabric from every project and eventually had enough for a top and rememberane of each project she had completed.

Thanks for the wonderful explanation and examples. I am going to get a roll of paper real soon.

I agree that she is referring to adding machine paper or cash register rolls of paper, not actually receipts. I too, have used the same as Teddybear for foundation piecing.

No I didn`t ...wish I couldactually that one was done by Charisma in one of our trades.....my sis-in-law got that one.....i was a bit puzzled as how to quilt it but C knew what to do.....

You don't need to go out and buy paper. Use trash fabric. Old bed sheets work perfectly, especially the parts that are very worn, but not worn through. The sides of a fitted sheets are usually not worn much at all, and if you use those, you will add a lot of weight to your quilt. I tear mine in different widths, from 2 1/2 to 4 or even 5 inches, and piece them to make strips a little longer than I want my quilt to be.

I put a piece of fabric, face up, on the top of one strip, then put the second piece face down, Be sure the side you will be sewing on is STRAIGHT. The edge of the first piece doesn't have to be straight, just the next piece. Sew it in a seam, anything wider than an eight of an inch will do. Flip it so it covers the next spot on the foundation strip. Then add the next piece. Here is where I start a new strip so that I can chain sew. I usually have four going at once; sew a piece to all four then cut off the first three and bring them to the front and sew on another piece. All those long tails sometimes get kind of tangled, but I've learned to handle that. After all the strips are covered and you have enough for the width you want, sew them all together. A scrappy binding looks good on this. Use all your left-over binding pieces and sew them together. If some are very long, I cut them up.

I've made three like this. They are called Confetti Quilts.