Questions About Making String Quilts
 

I am planning to make my first string quilt after the holidays. What I have in mind is the common design of strips of fabric sewn together then cut in the square block size with the strips on the diagonal across the block. My questions are: (1) is a separate foundation necessary? (2). If yes, do you recommend a muslin or paper foundation and what are the pros/cons of each? (3) are there any other tips or potential issues I should know? Thanks for your advice!

I have done all of mine on paper. I have seen pictures of them done without foundation--but I'd worry about stretching. If you use muslin, it won't be removed, so that takes away one step vs. paper. The quilt would have an extra layer of fabric, so I assume it would be warmer.

Something to watch for: if you use a single color in the center of each block to create a pattern, position it carefully and consistently, so it will line up across blocks. String blocks are very forgiving since they don't have to match along the sides, but the center strip is important if you want to create a pattern across the quilt.

Have fun--these are my favorite blocks to make! :)

great advice.
i'd use a light wt fabric, maybe muslin white prewashed. that has a tendency to shrink a lot, and selvages not so much. PLEASE, show us your blocks. love string blocks.

I have made three string quilts. My first one I used no foundation and only a kite shape to begin with and added strings on both sides. My 2nd and 3rd, I used fabric that was really thin and a pale neutral color as my foundation. I cut pieces of it into about 6.5 inch size and then began sewing on strings. # 2 I used a common fabric for my center starting strip so that made the design in the centers look joined. My 3rd, I again used really thin fabric and sewed selvedges. I did that one as QAYG. I really like the idea of using the thin fabric (muslin would be great, too as Lynnie said) because I hate ripping off the paper. I just used a lightweight batting and they were just right when quilted. After the strips were sewn on and foundation covered, I re-trimmed to the size I wanted them to be. You could choose any size for yours. Just cut out oversize pieces of foundation to start off with.

I use muslin on mine.
don't like to rip paper off

I did the spiderweb quilt using the papers from MSQC and it went very fast. Tearing the paper went quickly too, but I think it kind of distorted the triangles and I had to square them up to keep the center from bulging. I have not tried cloth so can't say which is better.

I like using inexpensive, thin, muslin for foundations. The up side is you do not have to remove the foundation. Removing all the paper is tedious and very time consuming. Some people do not like how heavy the quilts are, but around here we like heavy quilts, so that is not an issue

I have made many string quilts as well as "sew and flip" block quilts, and I always use old thin sheets for foundation. There is extra weight and thickness with a fabric foundation, but it works for me.

For those who use muslin foundation - do you then add batting and backing and quilt as usual?

Cheryl

I just sewed mine together without any paper or muslin. I don't think I had any strips that were less than 1-1/2". I didn't have any problems. I have had a problem with another type of quilt that was a triangle with a large base that stretched so I do starch my material now. I sew by hand so it is probably different than sewing on the machine.

I save tissue paper like you get with shoe boxes and tissue paper by the package is cheap. I 20x30" sheet will give you 6 10" layer cake slices. I save all my tissue paper. And I usually tear the paper off after I have the sheet filled. It's one of those things you can do at the computer or in front of the tv.

I have heard about using Pellon 830 for the foundation. This what I plan to use when I make a string quilt. It is very thin but strong enough.
When I was about 9 or 10 yr old, my mom taught me how to make string blocks by sewing strips onto squares cut from pages of an old Montgomery Ward catalog!

I have backed them with muslin, thin material and phonebook pages. (I don't mind ripping off the paper!) And yes, then add batting and backing and quilt as usual.

I have also used muslin. There is a product out kind of like interfacing. It stays soft and is lightweight. Makes for nice blocks that don't stretch. I oversize the blocks and trim after sewing my strips.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]503575[/ATTACH]

I made this one using paper from Missouri Star Quilt Company. Didn't mind tearing the paper off... mindless work can be a good thing! :D

I used muslin when doing some small baby quilts. I also used a thin batting. They weren't heavy but they also weren't very large.

I am in the process of making my first string quilt. I make a block a day using paper from MSQC and a very small stitch. The paper comes off easily for me and I have had no distortion.

I plan to start one next year and I plan to use muslin just because I don't want to try to remove all that paper from the back of the block.

I'm glad to hear good reviews on teh papers from MSQC. I bought some last year and haven't tried it yet...

Jeanne... I've used both with no preference, both fun. You asked for any tips.... when you get near the "tips" of the square, use a strip larger than 1 ½" so you don't get too much bulk in your joining seam. Some of mine have pretty small little pieces near the edges. I'll post a picture of a care quilt (used paper foundation on this one) just to try to show you what I mean. [ATTACH=CONFIG]503576[/ATTACH]
You see where the blocks come together to form a square in this setting...lots of little pieces.... and I used all different widths of strips with no plan which one came next.

I came across this pattern at Mary Quilts. http://www.maryquilts.com/amish-stripes-and-strings/
I think this is just beautiful, and plan to make it next month. It is a free download pattern, and the black print seems, to my eyes anyway, to calm down the strips.

Muslin or old sheet foundation squares are easier for arthritic hands than tearing off any kind of paper (at least for mine!). I love these quilts - your strips don't even have to be straight (or your seams!), and you can put it away for years if you'd like, then pick it up and just get going again. I like either white or dark strips for the center. You can arrange the blocks in diamond or zig-zag patterns. These are fun!

I use a very thin muslin and add batting and LA as usual.

If you use a muslin or other fabric foundation, putting your blocks together with a walking foot and pressing seams open makes construction easier IMHO.

My tip is to make your foundation larger than finished size. I usually use muslin on mine but find that they tend to get skewed and need squaring when done.

I made a queen size (still a flimsy - I plan to FMQ) top using the kite shape. I wasn't happy with the stretching, so after the first couple of rows, I started using up my very thin fabric (too thin to piece quilts out of) as foundations. This top is so so heavy!!! It will be a monster once batted, quilted & backed.

I cut my strips in random widths. I cut them with a rotary ruler - but did not even attempt to make both edges exactly parallel. I'm with thimblebug6000, you need to make some of your widths much wider than you think, especially on the last corner. Some of my corners are barely in the quilt, but I had to put them in, just so there would be a seam allowance. My suggestion is to measure the width you want (edge of kite to corner of block) then divide by the # of strips you need. Add & subtract the same width from your to get your various finished widths, then add seam allowances.

Say it's 5 inches, kite to corner. First of all, add 1/4 inch, cuz your corner needs a smidge more seam allowance. Four (finished strips) would be .75, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, and cutting widths would be 1.25, 1.75, 2, 2.25.

Regarding finished design: I was using up random blacks & random blues. I put half the blues on the right of the kite, and half on the left. This made blue diamonds going one direction and black the other.

As I continually laid the quilt on the floor, I discovered there is also a four petal flower motif possible. If my graphing is correct, to get the flower motif (say pink & orange flowers):

One quarter of your kite blocks would be pink-pink, one quarter orange-orange, one quarter orange on the left, and one quarter orange on the right.

As I contemplated my borders, I didn't want my kite color as borders, nor did I want to use the blue or the black, as all three touched the edges. It's a scrappy top, so thought bringing in another color element would be too junky-looking. Then, I realized, if I took the kite color to the edge of the quilt, then the diamonds end up floating on the quilt. So, I used my kite color as a foundation, and just put the strips on one side or other to finish off the diamonds as needed. It turned out well.

I like big blocks--14 to 16 inches--placed on very lightweight muslin. Unlike other people, I don't cut the blocks into quarters and rejoin them. Instead, I am pretty careful about placing the first diagonal piece--the one that goes from corner to corner down the middle. I'm looking right now at the one that had red Christmas print in that position, surrounded by random scraps. It is really a pretty quilt. The advantages of using big blocks include (1) it takes a smalll number of blocks to make a wide quilt, e.g., four 16 inch blocks will come close to make a quilt 64 inches wide; five 16 inch blocks will come close to making a quilt 80 inches long. If you put a four inch border around it, you've got really good twin size quilt. (2) Because there are fewer joining seams, there is less bulk to be quilted. (3) Because there is less bulk the quilt washes and dries faster. Good luck with your string quilt. They are my favorite quilt to make. froggyintexas

I have made several strip quilts. I made a couple by sewing three strips together, 2 sets. Sew them ontop of each other, sew both sides, cut into a triangle and flipping ruler up and down, opening up and sewing four together for a square. Finishing like any quilt. I made one QAYG. Lots of ways to make them.

For foundations: phone book pages, tracing paper, old newspaper, newsprint roll ends from your local newspaper publisher, etc. old sheets, ugly fabrics that you are sure you will never use, old shirting or lightweight fabric from used clothing, thin muslin, etc. There are many possibilities. When the blocks are finished they need to be measured, trimmed and then assembled into a quilt top. They are then added to batting and backing and quilted or tied. They make wonderful gifts and are a good way of using up the scraps.

String quilt QAYG method
 

I used the quilt as you go method and was very pleased with the results.
Bottom layer - I cut up a sheet that I had on hand in a plain color.
Batting - I used Warm and Natural.
Top layer - I sewed the strips diagonally.
I used black fabric for sashing.
It made a wonderful charity quilt at a low cost.
I posted a picture of it on this site.
Each block was created in a different color family of scraps.

Bonnie Hunter uses pages from an old telephone book and those are easily torn away. When I PP I use smaller stitches, which makes tearing away very easy and quick.

Oh, that is like lightning strikes! How unique. I need to change plans on how to set mine together.

I have done them with paper..with material..and without anything..I prefer material backs..to me they are the easiest..but then I don't remove any of the back as I have seen others do..also if u cut say a 10 inch square for the back..u can see how big of sizes u need

I made mine using parchment paper as my foundation. I didn't want small blocks so I cut the paper 13 inches then trimmed to 12 1/2 when I squared them up. I also would like to say that the parchment I used came from the dollar store, so it's not as expensive as using your good baking paper. If I am not mistaken I believe I bought 5 boxes for a queen size quilt and didn't use all of them.

Has anyone used a foundation that is a rectangle shape (longer vertically than horizontal)? I saw a picture of a finished quilt like this, and liked it.

Welcome to string piecing Jeanne. I used fabric once, didn't like it, now use doodle pads from the $ store. It is a thicker, pulpy paper and when you shorten your stitch it cracks off easier. Be sure and google string quilts and see what they have to offer. Our swap group did a string block exchange with the herringbone pattern. Google it and see how cool this pattern is. I've done a few this way and they are great looking. I also have used bits and pieces from other quilt projects and usually have some larger triangles made up for the corners. You don't want to put short strips in corners because of seaming issues when putting blocks together. I, also, join up shorter pieces and I like the interest it adds. When I want to quilt, but don't want to think and agonize I string. LOL Enjoy and shows us your blocks.

I did one and loved it. Here's a link to its picture in our gallery: http://www.quiltingboard.com/members...56-333828.html
I think there are a few others in the gallery that are done with rectangles.

I made a pillow top using the string quilt block method and used muslin because it would take a lot of use and be more sturdy. It turned out fine. I have purchased newsprint for the foundation for my next quilt, and I have a lot of fabric already cut. I plan to make the paper around 9 inches square and cut them down to 8 or 8 1/2.

I did one years ago and used interfacing for the foundation. Less expensive, lighter weight and thinner than muslin and doesn't have to be removed.