Making a String Quilt
 

I have bags full of 2 1/2 in strips saved to make a string quilt. Now I wonder if all the same width will work, or shall I trim them to different widths to make it more 'stringy' looking? What do you think?

Jenny Doan has a couple of tutorials on string quilts and she uses all 2 1/2" strips in one and scraps of different widths on the others. Just search for String quilt with Jenny and they will pop up for you.

I usually think of strings as being between 3/4" and 2". Strips 2" and above I save as strips, not strings. So if I were starting out with your strips, I'd cut them down to various sizes for variety (or stringiness, LOL).

I think for a more scrappy string quilt it would look more scrappy if the strips were of various sizes and various fabrics.

I use anything from 1" - 2-1/2" for string quilts. Sometimes I cut the 2-1/2" strips to 2". I'm not wild about the big strip.

If you have so many 2.5" strips, maybe you should look into jelly roll patterns.

On my first string quilt, I had the same question. I just made one string block (I used a 10" square base) with the 2 1/2" strips and found I didn't like it. Made another out of strings of various widths and liked it much better. So I suggest just sew one block and see how you feel about it. And if you decide to cut your 2 1/2 strips up, I didn't measure the widths, just folded and cut. sometimes 2 strips, sometimes 3. I really like the narrower strings best.

I've made several string quilts and, like the previous posters, found that 2.5" was just too wide for my 8" bases and I preferred the look of 1" - 2" strips.

I prefer my strips to be different widths. Some 1 1/2" at one end and 2 1/2" at the other end. This is one block I definitely want scrappy with no seams meeting. More fun for me. Just cut and sew.

It really seems to be a matter of personal preference. I like 1 1/2” strips for my string quilts. :-)

If all your strips are 2.5 inches, you can make one like Jenny does.
My strip quilts are made with any width, from 3/4 inch to 2.5 inch. When I am sewing strips to a foundation on the bias, I found that when I get near a corner, I would really like a larger piece so that the seam is not so close to the corner. I dug into my scraps and found triangles that were cut off other projects, and they were perfect to put on as the last piece in the corner. That makes a really cute pattern when four of these corners end up together.

I really like the Amazing Jelly Roll Quilt by Three Dudes. You sew strips together into large squares, then cut them on the bias both ways. A lot less waste, so easy, and they look fantastic. And you can use strips of any size for these, too.

Ummmm...would someone please define a string quilt for me? I keep hearing about them, but I am not sure what makes a string quilt versus not a string quilt. Thanks!

A "string quilt" is, to me, just another way of using scraps--even if they are narrow. There is no denigration in making a string quilt, just a great way of using up those last bits of your scraps.

I agree. I use 3/4" to 1 1/2 for string quilts. but if you have gigantic blocks, 2.5 would work...but I would cut them in half. (ouch)