The least expensive muslin available at JoAnn or WalMart. I've tried paper and tearing it off was not fun. froggyintexas

this all I use....works great

I was taught to use squares of unbleached muslin when I did my first such quilt. I found that was fine but not to use heavy batting or the quilt is too heavy. But over the years I have used lots of things like old soft, well-washed, almost worn out sheets and to vary the batting depending on what you are planning on use the quilt for.

Old phone books are excellent. They are thin but strong and FREE!. When used with a very tight stitch length, they perforate and tear off easily.

I do the same.

I use thin recycled sheets, light weight muslin and dryer sheets. I find that if I am using narrow fabric strips, I like using the dryer sheets, less bulk in the seams. I always use a foundation. It holds the fabric firmly, and you do not need to use batting.

I seem to get lots of mail order catalogs, I take the staple out of the middle and I cut the pages to the size I need. The pages are thin and tear off easily when I'm done.
Sharon in Texas

Has anyone tried "used flannel sheets?"

I use a very thin interfacing, you can get it at Joann's on sale at 50 cents a yd. I usually buy a bolt of it when it's on sale at 50% off. you can just leave it in.

i like this idea... thanks

Sounds good, but then how do you attach all the blocks? QAYG? That's a lot of work to add all those strips?

This is what I use most of the time. And after reading on Bonnie Hunter's site that she also uses junk mail the possibilities are endless!

I use deli-papers, a box could last forever and if you buy at Costco, you have to buy a two pack, so you leave one box for your inheritors, or give one to you best friend. (grin)

you can also use - used - dryer sheets. Myself I seldom use anything I just starch the fabric and go to town!

My quilt guild recently did a sewing day of String Quilts...and we all used phone book pages, cut 7 inches square. With a bit smaller stitch, they tear off very easily.

String quilts or crumb quilts are usually made with scraps which may have bias edges. In order to keep them from stretching out of shape (and because edges may not be straight) you sew them to a foundation. This allows you to provide some stability.

What is the Joann's product called? There are like 50 different products on that interfacing rack. Thanks.

I used cheap broadcloth

Yes, I agree! muslin works for me.

I have made a few string quilts in my day and this is what I use as well. Thin and worn work well.

We had a speaker at our Guild who said to use 100% cotton batiste so the quilt wouldn't be so heavy; however it's hard to find. I've been using the lightest, thinnest muslin I can find.

Watch out for using dryer sheets. Many people are allergic to them, "unscented" included.

I was using old thin sheets. I was strip piecing on the diagonal with straight grained fabric. The block distorted. So, I've started using old telephone book pages along with the old sheets.