Question about a string/strip quilt
 

I am making my first string/strip quilt. I'm sewing them diagonally on 10" squares. The instructions I've seen say to remove the paper before sewing the blocks together, but for stability, I'm wondering if I could sew the blocks together and then remove the paper. It seems this would keep the blocks from stretching as I sew them together. Has anyone done this? Are there pitfalls I'm not anticipating? Thanks for any help.

if you feel better doing it your way, it can't hurt, it will keep them stable for now, incase you get sidetracked into doing something else.

I've done that, no problem. The only thing i'd recommend is to rip the papers out after you have a section together. If you wait till the quilt is finished, its huge and hard to handle.

I've made my string quilts by sewing the fabric strips onto square sandwiches of batting and backing (aka, the quilt-as-you-go method), so I can't tell you for sure. But I think Lynnie is correct in saying it can't hurt to leave the paper in the blocks until you've sewn them together.

it would be like paper piecing, in a way, and I leave my papers on until I am finished with an entire block, but have been known to leave them on longer still.

I left the paper on until all the blocks were together. Then sat in front of the tv and removed all the paper at the same time. You can remove the paper when ever you want to.

Usually when paper piecing I leave the paper on at least one side.

I done my using thin muslin for stabilizing. For a summer quilt, i dont put batting just the backing.

Thanks everyone--I appreciate the advice from all of you.

I am also making one now. The first two blocks I did as your directions stated. I had a really hard time with it because of all the stretching. From then on, I left the paper on until I had sewn 4 blocks (5") together. Then I removed the paper. It was MUCH easier to work with, and is much more stable now.

So... I would definitely follow through with your idea!