String Quilts
 

What do you suggest as the best foundation for string quilts? Thanks!
Pam

I am not sure what it is called but, at Joann's they have foundation that is great. They sell it by the interfacing. It is a non woven material that has little if no stretch. It will stay soft when washed. You can check out your LQS. They have something similar, maybe a different name to it.

I use old sheets. Cut them into the size squares I want and sew on the strips.

I generally use inexpensive ($1 a yard at Joanne's) muslin or, if I have some on hand a light- medium weight interfacing. but, mostly muslin. (or any 'yukky' thin fabric I've found that I would not use for piecing- as long as it's not too dark so it will show through)

I had some muslin that was given to me in a box lot. It was stained so I used it for foundations.

I just starch my material. I don't have to use foundation. It is easy. But wait--I hand piece so that might be different. So I guess I should keep still but I do like to use starch on small pieces.

I use thin old sheets that have been washed a million times.

These are all great ideas to get me started. Thanks!

Back in the day some people used newspaper. I once bought an old quilt top that still had some of the paper backing attached.

Gads, there are so man y options here. Drawing paper like the kids use, any thin paper, parchment paper. Just keep thinking out of the box. If $ is no problem then even wash away stabilizer.

My first crazy quilt I did a foundation piecing using muslin and found it was way to heavy for my liking.

I use light colored fabric but I also leave some of that fabric exposed in the block to create a secondary design.

that's a neat idea, Nannnie to 7.

I use pages from old phone books and remove them once the blocks are sewn together.

I'm glad I read this. I made a string block on a BOM quilt. I really enjoyed making it. I think we used paper, I'm not sure. But I'd like to make a string quilt and all these ideas are wonderful. Thanks for sharing. What a great group of people here.

I tried a light weight stabilizer for a lap quilt. When I finished, I decided the quilt was too stiff. I removed the stabilizer with a sharp seam ripper (cutting only the stabilizer). The pulling (I didn't mean to) was hard on my quilt and I had to go back and repair a few places.

I will stay away from stabilizer for my next string quilt.

I've heard of people saving grocery receipts too.
I used cheapo muslin 99/cents a yard.
dollar store paper note books too

I use batting on top of a backing fabric. When I'm done sewing the strips I'm done. No quilting needed.

I have used The very cheapest flat sheets from IKEA (used to be $3 a sheet). And I also use deli style paper sheets (the white "wax" paper kind that gyros are wrapped in) that I got at SAMs club. It rips off very easily.

I used old telephone book paper for my foundation on mine. It worked but had to remove it afterward. I did a tute on it, it's in the tute section.

Kyia

ive got some that used magazine pages that are peeled off when done. i would say any cheap fabric you use please prewash!

Very CHEAP inexpensive see thru flimsy muslin is my choice... Cheaper the better..

Someone bought table paper for our medical office, and it was too large for the holders.. It turns out to be the best paper for tearing off once it's finished.. I couldn't believe how easy it is..

This is what I do. Works great

Why do u use something as a foundation? Can't you just sew the strips together?

I was wondering the same thing.

If you have a small town newspaper, you should be able to buy paper roll ends for cheap. It is just newspaper, without the printing. It's on a cardboard roll so it's easy to store. Lots of other uses, too.

I got a roll of SUPER cheap muslin, years ago, still using it. It is almost like cheesecloth, it is so chintzy.

It's easier and stronger if there is a foundation under it.

Aged newspaper (so the ink is permanent), old phone books, dryer sheets, cheap sew-in interfacing, old thin sheets or thin fabrics that you don't want to use in the quilt top, parts of old shirts, aprons and other worn clothing, white tissue paper, etc. Lots of choices. I really like old phone book pages for smaller blocks. If you have a newspaper office they will often sell "end rolls" of newsprint paper cheaply and it lasts forever and is large enough for bigger projects.

I use old telephone books.

My new mattress came with a light interfacing type of covering, (not exactly free LOL) but I will go back to the mattress store and ask them to save a few for me. I am also going to check with my local furniture store to see if they get that same interfacing type of covering. Free is very good, if I don't look at the furniture!

True, but then you have to join those squares and hide the seams?

Muslin is great but pre wash it so it doesn't ruin you quilt the first time it's washed.

Foundation backing
 

I made a string quilt using dryer sheets. Used of course. This didn't cost anything and I asked guild members to save them for me.
Bev

Another idea I heard of - but it will make small strips - calculator tape/cash register tape. I used to work for a bank and when they changed the type of atm paper they were using for receipts i managed to snag two full rolls of it. it was not thermal paper and now i think most of them are thermal paper. not sure if that can be used or not?

I use pages from phone books. The phone company keeps giving them to us but who uses phone books anymore? They're free and easy to tear off Works for me!!

This is what I'm using to make one now.

Muslin is relatively inexpensive, so I use that. I also wash, starch and iron it before cutting to get the most accurate cuts, but that would be true for any fabric, in my experience.

I have used old telephone book pages.