Some months ago I was at a tag sale at the home of a fabric designer. Among the many wonderful finds were several HUGE tubs of fabric strips in varying lengths and all exactly 2" wide. So I sorted them out into color groups and started sewing them side by side. Then I realized that I probably should have pieced them on a foundation. Too late! Anyway, I'd like to make random slices through them and insert a contrasting strip for interest. Should I just slice away or put some sort of backing on it or maybe just starch heavily?

I wish I could remember where I saw it on TV - I think it was Fons and Porter - someone was doing something similar and I guess because of the "undisciplined" nature of the quilt, the hostess looked distinctly uncomfortable!

The first one I am working on is mean to be a utilitarian throw for my new love seat for when the dogs try to sneak up onto it. My walls are hunter green and I was thinking of putting strips of burgundy throughout, but maybe not.

The second one will be made from a wonderfully riotous collection of bright batiks. I can't wait to do that one!

oh my Krystyna!! what a great find! I'll have to watch this thread - I've always wondered about string quilts without using foundation.

I can't wait to see the fabrics and what you make with them :)

Kris

I think I have seen a blog where they do it without paper. I'd think starching them would help before cutting. Go for it!!!

you could also check out some of the tutorials on the Missouri Quilt Company.

I would starch the snot out of them, especially if you're going to be dealing with bias. I think that would be easier than sewing them onto foundations. If you sew them on foundations, how would you do it? Would you sew over each existing seam? Or just sew the foundations on around the border of the block? You could use a fusible interfacing, but then your quilt would be kind of stiff....



Good luck!

I made a strip quilt with the blocks finishing out at 9" and did not use a foundation. I sewed the strips together, and then placed my template on the strips diagonally, and cut. I have to admit after I got it started, I was nervous about not using a foundation, but I starched the heck out of the fabric before I cut, then starched the blocks. I took it to a long arm quilter to be quilted, and she did not have a problem with it, but I think if I ever made another one with that size blocks, I would use a foundation, especially if I were going to slash the blocks and reposition them.

I made a strip quilt with the blocks finishing out at 9", and did not use a foundation. I sewed the strips together, and ten placed my template on the strips diagonally, and cut. I have to admit after I got it started, I was nervous about not using a foundation, but I starched the heck out of the fabric before I cut, then starched the blocks. I took it to the LAQ to be quilted, and she did not have a problem with it, and the quilt is quite nice. But I think if I made another one with that size blocks, especially if I were going to slash the blocks and reposition them, I would use a foundation.

Peckish, you make me laugh!!! Is "starch the snot out of them" an official quilting term????

As long as you're not actually USING the snot ... Oh my. I didn't say that, did I?

Lol too much time spent with my boys, maybe? Which reminds me of a joke - how can you tell the difference between broccoli and boogers?

Kids won't eat broccoli.

Okay, I'm ducking all the tomatoes you guys are throwing at me... :)

i can't wait to see your creation with these strips

Looking forward to seeing your quilt I love crazy patch and string quilts.

I have made them with and without foundation.

I too would starch them well before cutting.... I have found starch can do wonders for controlling bias cuts... looking forward to seeing the quilt when done :-P

I've posted several string quilts. It really is so much easier and you get a much nicer, finished project when you use a foundation of some sort with these. The bias edges will come back to haunt you otherwise and you'll be happier using a foundation.

If I read you right...after sewing some strips together, you want to cut crosswise and insert strips...right? I just saw Anita gross an Solomon and she does this all the time...but she fuses a strip of interfacing before making the cut so that on both sides of the cut is interfacing which corrals the bias.

I know with a foundation is better but until I knew that I did it without and have a number of very pretty, I think, quilts that have done fine without the foundation. And I didn't even know to starch them back then. :)

they should be pretty.

ROFLMBO :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: I've got boys too, :shock: I feel your pain LOL

UPDATE: What I thought was going to be a very fast, very simple project is ending up incredibly wonky. I absolutely will not do this with my batiks. They will get a foundation or QAYG treatment. Ugh. Some consolation that this mess is for my dog.

I have sewn 1/8th inch in from the cutting line with a longer stitch length and then cut. It will stabilize your diagonal blocks.

I've made three-all with a foundation. They were easy to sew together that way after trimming. My foundation was used dryer sheets sewn together & cut to the size block I wanted. They finished out at about 9". My avatar is one of them.

wouldn't SNOT act as a starch?


oh man.. I'm gonna be duck those tomatoes too!!!

I've done strip piecing without foundations. But I also use a lot of starch when pressing.

But I'm not sure about the random stripe you want to add-maybe starch it some more?

Yup. Just like I had said.
:wink:

Further update - got it all put together and added a border to make it closer to the size I wanted and happily started to stipple quilt it on my Baby Lock and **CLUNK** the machine froze. I am freaking out just a little bit. OK. A lot. Need that machine for my business. So in an already jam packed day, I will be trotting it off for repairs. Since it's less than a year old, I hope it won't be too bad. *SIGH*

Oh no!!!!!
:thumbdown:

Need to hear the rest of the story-the fabric pieces sound wonderful-the sewing machine-not so wonderful!

Think I'm getting jealous of all your finds.. I hit some estate sales, and don't find much of anything.. I get the Newsday, and maybe I'm not looking in the right places..
Barri

Barri, keep looking. You'll find one sooner or later. I've stopped going. Tooooo much fabric!

OMG you guys are hilarious!!!!! It's "snot" really that funny..............oh jeez lolol

I would just starch them really good and cut all I wanted.

I very rarely use a foundation with my string pieces
and I have had no problem with them

:mrgreen:

Perhaps using 2" strips you may not have a problem. Usually, the string quilts I've seen are various widths.

I use paper for the foundation or sheer curtains or fine tulle for a lightweight foundation which is light enough for easy repositioning stitching and quilting.

starch the snot of them...OR iron them on freezer paper!

Just recently there was a thread where she used paper that was headed for her shredder as her foundation. I thought it was a great idea as my shredder pile is about a foot thick.


And no.....it's snot funny at all..............sorry couldn't resist.....

I was doing some crazy piecing and I found I didn't need the paper. Go for it and post pictures!

[quote=Krystyna]Some months ago I was at a tag sale at the home of a fabric designer. Among the many wonderful finds were several HUGE tubs of fabric strips in varying lengths and all exactly 2" wide. So I sorted them out into color groups and started sewing them side by side. Then I realized that I probably should have pieced them on a foundation. Too late! Anyway, I'd like to make random slices through them and insert a contrasting strip for interest. Should I just slice away or put some sort of backing on it or maybe just starch heavily?

This was a fun project :-"A Quilt for friend's dog,Buddy. It gave me a chance to try some techniques and as the blocks were only made from scraps it didn't matter if I boo booed. I had so much fun making this little quilt. Btw no foundations.

Thanks for the smiles this morning. I needed them. :)