String-aling
 

This Labor Day weekend I am planning on diving into my messy craft room and kill the beast! I have so much in the way of scraps....but I hate throwing them away. Someone suggested I make a string quilt with them....just keep the scraps I will need for a string quilt. That sounds good, but I never made one before.

What is a good measurements to keep scraps for a string quilt? One inch wide, two inches wide? 2 to 12 inches long? I do want to be reasonable, but I don't want any regrets in throwing too much away.

Don't string quilt blocks need backing, too. is that paper or muslin?

I've seen some of the videos and how-tos....I'm just looking for some scrap/string organization tips.

Thanks!

~Crispy~

The nice thing about strings is that you can use any size (length and width). I don't use a stabilizer.

I also make my own "fabric" by simply sewing together the odd pieces of fabric. Then I straighten one edge and add to it. The piece just keeps growing. When "done" I use it to sub-cut into pattern pieces.

As for throwing away scraps - shudder my heart. I only toss true scraps - something smaller than 1"
Recently I saw someone post that they sub-cut all their left-overs into strips and sorted the strips by width. They cut @ 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2 and so on depending on the widest cut they could get out of a piece. Then when they were looking for something that width, they would consult the bin first.

Check out Bonnie Hunter's scrap taming method. She works primarily with scraps.

I have made a few string quilts. I have done some with muslin, as the foundation - those I did not put in any batting, just quilted top to back. Also have done some with old phone books, as the foundation - took some time to tear out, but the phone book was free. But the foundation that I like the BEST - the super light, see through fabric that one can read the newspaper through (a 'friend' gave it to me).

String blocks can be ANY size you want them to be. I usually like 8 - 11 inch block. As far as the size of strings, Larger then 1" - smaller than 2.5", IMHO, it is more interesting when they are of various sizes. I have seen them with about 3" strings, not my cut of tea. They DO NOT have to be perfect rectangle strips, wonky is okay.

As far as organizing your scraps I agree with MadQuilter, check out Bonnie Hunter's "Scrap Users system", her blog:
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/ then go to Tips and Techniques, where you will scroll down to "Scrap Users System.

I'm going to a big quilt retreat next week for five days. I am stuffing all my scraps into big trash bags. I'm taking the bags and dumping on the scrap heap free for all at the retreat. That is so much fun to rummage through. Retreaters come and look during the retreat for one color or another or some will fill bags with scraps. Doesn't matter, take as little or as much as you want. What is left is really scrap and goes in the trash. It feels good to get the scraps out of my way, I know I'll have more with the next quilt.

I organized my strings in two bins:

1) 2.5 inch
2) 1" - less than 2.5, and 3"+

I don't cut the length down till I need to (never know if you'll end up making a 5" or 10" string block or whatever).

I press each one before putting it in the Strings bin so that they're ready when I am. Nothing kills my motivation quite like
wanting to sew NOW but finding a wad of wrinkled scraps. Believe me, you'll thank yourself for ironing them (I do that while listening to a podcast if I'm not in a sewing mood).

I use the 12" square Art Bin brand stackable cases w/ carrying handle. They work really well for all kinds of organizing and are easy to label.

If they haven't been ironed, they go in a catch-all bin I label "scraps to process".

My reason for having a separate 2.5" is that I find myself wanting all 2.5" width for quite frequently, or 2.5" squares cut from length. If a strip is 3" or more wide, I can always cut it down later, but I like to keep them as wide as possible till I need them.

Hope that helps you think through your goals.

I don't use widths less than 1" because, after seam allowances, it's too narrow for me to enjoy working with.

Crispy, if you have no plans for using 2 inch strips for another project, I would keep anything under 2.5 to 1 inch. wide for strippy quilt. I agree that you want to store it in such a way to reduce wrinkles. I cut strips to fit a long box - less waste.

Good luck taming the monster and playing around with your string blocks. (Which reminds me, I started one a while ago with adding machine tape. Now I wonder where that is...). There is taming in my future, too.

the question when do we stop quilting the "planned" quilts and move on to the string/scrap quilts?

You're surely not really going to throw whatever you decide to toss in the trash, are you? You could post them on here and people would jump for joy in getting them. Strings can be whatever width you want. You can also use muslin or paper, or do without.

Just wanted to say that I would use "String-Aling" as a name for your scrap quilt.
Very clever.

I also like strings of different widths. I usually use strings from 1" wide to 2 3/4" wide. I would not cut any lengths until you are sewing them onto the block, then just cut them as you need them. I like to use a thin paper foundation or a washable Pellon foundation cut into the size square you want for your block--I like 8" to 10" string blocks. The foundation really helps stabilize the edges of the strings and helps you know where to cut off each string. Here is my favorite string quilt.

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You did such a great job on this quilt. So many ideas incorporated. Love the colors.

I know I don't have that many scrap strips of the same color like your black and white, but yours is magnificent ...even the backing matches.

As to foundation. I like using dryer sheets that are beyond their intended use. They are about the same thickness as interfacing and ready for tossing. They are a nice size for making a block. Handy for using for applique, too. Stitch around the piece, slit the back, turn and ready to stitch in place.

Jeannie S.......very nice quilt!!!

I made several strip quilts before they became a "thing." I used leftovers from other quilts. Strips were mainly 1 1/2 to 2" wide. No stabilizer and no problems without it. The quilts are used daily...no problems.

I like to make them without a stabilizer. they feel too heavy and stiff with backing fabric and I hate to remove any paper. I just make the approximate size I want and trim to size. Really the possibilities are unlimited. Have Fun!

I definitely want to make a string quilt. Jeanne, I love yours!

We have a group that makes charity quilts and about 50% of them are string quilts. Pics attached are some of what we have made.

I like them all! I have made 1 string quilt and have almost enough to make another.

Thanks to everyone for your input! I have gotten so many good ideas! I just love all the gorgeous quilt pictures that were posted. Now I am inspired to clean up the mess.

I roll my strips, like the jelly rolls that you can buy. Then they are ready to sew, no pressing out wrinkles!

I separate my scrap strips by color into gallon size zipper bags which fit nicely onto one shelf side by side in the standing upright position. I don't seal the tops, so after each project, it's quick and easy to pop the scraps into each color appropriate bag. And they look pretty too!

This way if I want to make one color in a block, that is easily done by using just one bag, but if I want scrappy, I can just grab a handful from each bag and mix them up in a pile to pull from.

I only do strips less than 2.5" this way, as anything 2.5" and larger goes into my strip containers; plastic see thru bins that I go to for actual quilt piecing, as opposed to string piecing.

This is what I do too and separate them by color.

If you find you won't use your scraps and belong to a guild, put them in zip lock bags and save them for the next guild meeting or show. I've been to several shows where the member's boutique sold bags of scraps for a dollar or two and they were always snapped up.

I love making string quilt tops. I use full size paper towels for my foundation, I put a white strip in the center to make a diamond design with the blocks. I keep my scraps in two big bins in no particular color order. I just like to make sure I get as much color in a block as I can. Once it is sewed I cut the block down to a 10" and use 49 of these to make a top, then I put a row of string blocks in the center of the back for interest. I like to buy fun fabric for the back, I made one with a zebra print backing last year that I love. Have fun making string quilts.

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Here is another pic of a color combination we like to use in our charity quilts.

Jeanne, that is gorgeous. The yellow really sets off those gorgeous black and white blocks.

Railroad, I love, love, love your black and white and red string quilt.

I love the idea of using paper towel backing. I buy those in bulk. What would it be like after several washing?

I would think that paper towels would be very linty, no?

The paper towels are removed after I square up the block.

Yes, they are kind of linty when you are working on them but not too bad. I use them because they are the perfect size to get a 10" block.

roll them like a jelly roll for 2 1/2 inch, it works well for that size but for strings which for me is anything that is less than 2/12 inch I lay them flat.

I have seen patterns in magazines for string quilts. That is what I would do. They will give you yardage for sashing and some structure to your project.

Thanks to everyone who posted...good information and great pictures! I sort by width size and if my bin is overwhelmed, then I ziploc bag by color. Just keeping them in bags helps to prevent the tangles. I need to take your suggestion, zozee, to label the "to process" bin!