I do string quilt blocks on phone book pages I use best press before I square them up and then sit a few minutes and remove the papers. I would be overwhelmed if I waited until they were all sewn. Then I press again with Best Press. Also use a tweezers and small scissors to remove paper, seems to work well for me. I store them in a plastic square storage container.

Every time I get a phone book I throw it out. Next time I'm keeping it.

It's so easy to use Stable Stuff and not have to remove it from the blocks. One pile of string blocks was all it took for me to know I'm not wasting my time tearing paper from blocks ever again.

Does the ink from the telephone book rub off on the lighter colored blocks?

Well, phone books are getting scarcer and smaller and smaller every year that I do get one. So best to hang onto any you get. Might ask a neighbor to save hers for me too.

Yes - but "learn and live" - it wasn't a major disaster - but I found out that trying to pick paper out from between two seams that are 1/8 inch apart was not fun - especially in the intersections.

I've done several string quilts with phone book pages - the books have been printed for quite a while so I think the ink is pretty stable, unlike freshly printed newspapers. I've never had any ink come off and stain the fabric.

I have said this before and will continue to because It is one of the best things I have learned to do that has improved my piecing.

Elmers Washable School Glue is wonderful for holding bias seams in place for sewing. I also use it to hold intersecting seams where I really want points to match, long seams, attaching binding (especially bias binding). It is a great sewing tool.

As for string quilts or any paper piecing, which I love to do, starch the fabrics well, remove the paper after I finish a few blocks and starch the blocks again. It is such a chore if I wait till the end of making all the blocks. Doing it a few at a time is much easier, emotionally.

So sorry for all the trouble you encountered. Keep seeking easier methods and never give up!

peace

EDIT: Taking the paper off before sewing blocks together has never been a problem and with string blocks, if they get a little distorted due to stretching, just trim them back to size, no problem.

I always do string blocks on cheap muslin foundation. Like the ones in my avatar. I do overstitch the corners to keep them flat.

I always string piece on USED fabric such as the sides of worn cotton sheets or thrift store cotton flannel blanket but my favorite was on squares cut from a quilted bed skirt. The last only needed a lining and a little tacking. Just cannot deal with that paper!