String quilt fabric and size question
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 449
I use muslim backing for my string blocks which I cut 8 inches. Pick a color for a strip in the middle, black, white, blue, whatever, usually 1 1/2 inches wide. Add any color strips in all sizes, I cut mine between 1-1 1/2 inches wide. If you want to use wider strips, I would make the blocks at least 10 inches square. If I have any fabric 3 or 4 inches wide, I cut them in blocks, then in triangles for the ends of the block. I went to the auto glass place and had them cut a piece of plexiglass 7 1/2 inches square which I used to square up the block from the backside. Other people use paper foundation but after a few of these, I found I hated tearing the paper backing. This is just the way I do mine. Can't post pics cause I don't know how to do that. No method is written in stone. One more thing, they are addicting. Even when I'm supposed to be working on something else, nothing is as soothing to me as sewing string blocks.
#14
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,828
I use muslim backing for my string blocks which I cut 8 inches. Pick a color for a strip in the middle, black, white, blue, whatever, usually 1 1/2 inches wide. Add any color strips in all sizes, I cut mine between 1-1 1/2 inches wide. If you want to use wider strips, I would make the blocks at least 10 inches square. If I have any fabric 3 or 4 inches wide, I cut them in blocks, then in triangles for the ends of the block. I went to the auto glass place and had them cut a piece of plexiglass 7 1/2 inches square which I used to square up the block from the backside. Other people use paper foundation but after a few of these, I found I hated tearing the paper backing. This is just the way I do mine. Can't post pics cause I don't know how to do that. No method is written in stone. One more thing, they are addicting. Even when I'm supposed to be working on something else, nothing is as soothing to me as sewing string blocks.
bkay
#15
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 267
I want to make a string quilt. I have a lot of scraps. I have solids left over from bindings, scraps left over from I Spy squares, estate sales - you name it, I have it. However, a lot of it is really bright (I spy quilts). Do you sort them by color? By that do you do put all warm or cool colors? Or do you just put them in a bag and go with what comes out? ...bkay
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 335
love your quilt oksoglad and enough instruction for us to make a quilt..thanks...I think 2.5" would be fine but would look different. Need to also consider the weight of the quilt...small strips will make a quilt heavier especially if using fabric foundation so take that into consideration.
#20
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Between the dashes of a tombstone
Posts: 12,716
Thanks todiesmom...
Here's a link
http://lazygalquilting.blogspot.com/...-tutorial.html
Me, I just sew bits of 1 1/2" in one long strip...then cut about 11" before I sew the 10 rows together for a block. I'm working on a second quilt now. When I get 10 11" strips I layer them atop each other and roll them in a flat ball and store them in a plastic container. I keep tally on a piece of paper of the number of sets of 10 I have rolled...have 17 balls right now or enough for 17 blocks so more than halfway through for a 5 x 6 setting if that's the size I want this time. This is a great mindless sewing project.
As far as heaviness especially on a larger size...a nice piece of minky alone would work fine, too.
Here's a link
http://lazygalquilting.blogspot.com/...-tutorial.html
Me, I just sew bits of 1 1/2" in one long strip...then cut about 11" before I sew the 10 rows together for a block. I'm working on a second quilt now. When I get 10 11" strips I layer them atop each other and roll them in a flat ball and store them in a plastic container. I keep tally on a piece of paper of the number of sets of 10 I have rolled...have 17 balls right now or enough for 17 blocks so more than halfway through for a 5 x 6 setting if that's the size I want this time. This is a great mindless sewing project.
As far as heaviness especially on a larger size...a nice piece of minky alone would work fine, too.
Last edited by oksewglad; 01-29-2019 at 10:43 AM.
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