String quilts without foundation piecing?
 

I just love string quilts. I love scraps. However, I do not like paper piecing- sewing through paper, ripping it out, ugh. I don't like piecing on top of other fabric because it makes the quilt bulky when I FMQ on my sewing machine. Does anybody have any successes with making strings without a foundation? I understand the benefits of using foundation piecing, but I would never complete a project with this method. Thanks.
Linda

I wonder if the water soluble stabilizer would be an option.

If you want to do this, plan on doing a lot of pressing and some trimming as you go along. I have done this, because I am hard headed, but I genuinely think it takes more effort. the advantage of the foundation is that it holds the shape. One of my guild sisters suggested using old phone book pages. They practically fall off

This works well I use it.

I don't foundation piece on string quilts. BUT my strings are all uniform and no less than 1-1/2" wide. I think if the strips aren't straight and/or smaller, then it will be more difficult.

My mom has made several string quilts with no foundation. And probably not much pressing either LOL . (She's not as lazy as I am but a big believer in fingers as irons.)

Hi from Germany! I have done quite a lot of string quilts and it never even occurred to me to use a paper foundation. If I needed a long piece of string "fabric" I did that by piecing a larger that needed piece of string-fabric and then cutting out what I needed. If I needed really long strips I did that in increments that I then sewed together. That way I could use very irregular strips too - I just didn't handle the pieces too often so any bias wouldn't stretch. Never had a problem that way!

I have done string quilts using the QAYG method. I like the lasagna quilt. I am a beginner quilter, and have had lots of success doing this.

I make a lot of string blocks without foundation. press and starch well before squaring up.

Since you don't like tearing off paper, and a fabric foundation is too heavy for your purposes, how about used dryer sheets? I save all of mine and then press them lightly to store in a stack. They're really light-weight and don't need to be torn off.

I don't do paper piecing either. I also don't care much for starching.
But I've done stratas before by pressing freezer paper on the back of the whole already sewn strata strip; then cut out the shapes -- especially if the edges of the shapes will be on a bias (like diamonds). I sew the shapes together with a short stitch length; crease the paper along the seam line; run my awl along the crease on the paper; then peel the paper off easily.

Jan in VA

I can be done, just make your blocks a bit bigger than required and trim them down after sewn. Starch your fabric twice on the back before sewing. Why twice? Try it to find out!
peace

Try looking at quiltville. Search was quilted string patterns .she is using a light weight fusible ?.. I made some and also but a soft fusible behind or she has other suggestions.

you can always use a very lightweight interfacing- which could be left in but the extra weight is next to nothing. of course you can piece without a foundation- it isn't as easy, but is certainly 'do-able'
the wash away products tend to be a bit expensive- but lightweight interfacing is pretty cheap. I've also used the least expensive, lightweight muslin i can find- the 99 cents a yard stuff...it too does not add much weight- interfacing is really easy to quilt through too- don't even really know it's there.

Looked and looked but couldn't find any reference to using a fusible.....maybe a link? TIA!

I'm trying to sort all this about "string" quilts and foundation piecing out! New terms to me: "strata"=the pieced blocks, right? "Lasagna" quilts=basically a jelly roll quilt, right? I've wondered if using e.g. muslin as a foundation would make the quilt more bulky once you add batting and backing? "Flip and Stitch" basically same as string piecing but string pcg are strips in a row on the backing and F+S can have the strips arranged around a center focus fabric? There are two threads about baby quilts I love that say they are basically a crazy quilt block using the flip & stitch technique: Focus Fabric from a Scrub, and Finished! by weasier22. I finally found one or two tutes on doing them this way or I'd never have figured it out myself! I hadn't been grabbed by string etc. piecing but am beginning to be hooked in! So many questions, so much to learn! And about using used dryer strips as backing, I'm going to have to quit cutting them in half to be frugal and leave them whole! Whew!

Like this idea, it goes on the list to try!

Pollytink, you can use muslin. It will add a little to the weight of the quilt but not a lot unless you use a very tight-woven muslin. The el cheapo muslin works best for this type of backing LOL .

three words for you: "Ditter's string quilt" -- it's got everything well explained for doing it quilt-as-you-go.
(type it into the search box at the upper right screen corner)

I love string quilts too

I love making string quilts. Sometimes I use foundations, sometimes I don't. It does add a little bulk. When I string piece without foundation the first thing I do is- if the strip is WOF (width of fabric) I remove the selvege ends and cut it in half. The strips are much more managable if 21" or less in length. The next thing is that I sew then press it from the back, using starch at least once. Usually I starch from the back then again from the front. Makes the cutting more accurate and when its done it slides thru the machine much easier when quilting it. Then when the quilt is done I wash and dry it, to remove the starch and soften it up. Hope this helps.

It can be done. My mother used to do string piecing without a foundation. It's easy to get distortion in the pieces, and, if you're not careful, you can wind up with some unwanted fullness in the finished quilt here and there. I generally use the roll ends of clean newsprint paper that I buy from our local paper for almost nothing. The paper tears off so easily that it isn't that big a deal.

I love scrap string piecing and with used dryer sheets it is easy to fmq on my home machine. Like its not even there and the quilt lays very flat. Also recycles a throw-away!

I really like string quilts and am getting ready to make another one. I do like the foundation pieced quilts though. If using paper sew with a small stitch, and use a semi-pointed object to "trace" the sewing lines. The paper is then easy to pull off.

When I learned how to make a string quilt, we used a very lightweight type of poly stuff, gosh, I wish I could remember what it's called. I do know it is similar to what I used to put in my collars and pockets when I used to make clothes. It is so light, we just sewed our strings on it and they turned out great, no removal of the stuff and no bulk.

Thank you everyone! I still will no sew thru paper- hate the sound, feel, and ripping out. I am willing to try lightweight interfacing as long as it doesn't interfere with dense quilting. I am going to try not using anything along with your hints and see how it goes. I just love scraps and strips.
Linda

Take a look at Ditter's string quilt. I have had good luck with her tutorial.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...lt-t60764.html

I just start sewing pieces together and then square them up when it's the right size.:thumbup: Then, what is cut off I begin to sew to once again. I do this when I'm not sure what I want to work on but need to sit at my sewing machine.

You can use lightweight fabric for backing and just leave it on, or the lightweight stabilizer meant for garment sewing, the cheap stuff (not iron on) and just leave it on.

You can use musling as foundation for the strip piecing.

I have a new iPad and screwed up the typing- I meant I WOULD try your hints in making strip blocks!
Linda

I concur with using phone book pages. I am 1/3 of the way through piecing with uniform 1 1/2" strips sewn to phone book paper. It really comes off easily and my squares look good.

I thought of dryer sheets and saved a bunch of them. I use Kirkland.
When I pressed them they melted.
Test before use, some might be different.
Or my iron was too hot??? Just a thought.

I have made many strip quilts without foundation. Just remember there will be some bias in some scraps. After I make a big piece I cut out what I need, square, etc. add the scraps from that to another piece of material and do it again.

I love string quilts and appliques cut from string quilt strips or blocks. I have made some without a foundation of any kind, heavy starch and careful pressing, however I like to use a very thin fabric foundation which controls stretching and makes the strings more stable. I go to thrift stores and look for curtains made from very fine cotton, or the discount store for these fabrics. They are so thin you can hardly tell you have a foundation, but no tearing paper away (ugg), and I go ahead and use whatever batting and backing I wish.

I have actually done two that way. One I had 2 1/2 inch strips sewn into a long strip. I then measured , cut and sew again, sort of like the Jelly Roll method. I then cut into 4 huge squares and sew them crisscross of one another. ( Strips going vertical and another block going horizontal L. Hope you know what I mean.

The other I made strips , sewed them and cut into 10 inch blocks. I then joined same as above. Both of these I quilted.

I honestly prefer to sew on thin material and or muslin.

That's the way I used to do it before paper piecing became do popular -it will work just fine!

I have made several string quilts also. The first one on fabric- left it on as a backing, that quilt (king sized) was quilted with poly batting and still was heavy. Second one was just strings, no fabric backing-no problems. The one I am working on now- I put on paper to try it. I don't particularly like doing the blocks on paper- but they do come off easy. tight stitches.......my strings are mostly 1" finished, so lots of stitching on a block. One thing I did notice- the paper rolled a bit and I pressed then from the paper side also. Not a big deal, just another step to remove the paper I'd guess.

Be sure to "wash" these before you use them, because there is residual chemical left in the dryer sheets. I just fill my sink with hot soapy water and swish them around, then put them in the washer to spin dry and press them. Another option for non-woven foundations is the wrapping around sanitary napkins / Depends pads. These are clean and have no chemicals in them.