String Quilts - Paper, stabilizer, fabric or None?
09-25-2020, 05:02 AM
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,584
09-25-2020, 05:50 AM
#32
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 3,369
You might try making a few blocks yourself and see which you like best. I made a wall hanging with string blocks and used no foundation with the first block. I was amazed at the amount of stretch there was when sewing those blocks together. That project ended up all right, but I thought I'd try another project using a muslin base. It was definitely heavier, but I didn't need to be careful at all about stretching when sewing the blocks together. I then tried making blocks with paper meant for that purpose. The papers came off fairly easily, but were expensive. Then I discovered I had an old phonebook, so I tried blocks with that. That paper came off really easily and was free. I found it helped to fold the paper along the seam line to help it tear away more easily.
09-25-2020, 09:08 AM
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Posts: 9,475
I have the papers for string quilts I ordered from MSQC but then I saw Lori Holt do a string quilt and she used very light interfacing and she called it her summer quilt. This would be a great idea and you don't have to tear all of the paper off.
09-27-2020, 03:24 AM
#36
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,313
I made a pretty big one and trimmed everything into squares. I didn’t use any foundations and it came together nicely. My friend made 90 squares and so did I and we traded 45 of them so we really have a friendship quilt.
09-27-2020, 05:12 AM
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,066
This is my preferred method and I have done several string quilts. I still haven’t got the post a picture down so can’t show you the two latest, one of which is on its way back from MS having been quilted. I too enjoy sitting at night and removing the paper Since my eyes don’t want to knit or crochet in the evenings and it goes rather quickly
I have done string piecing without any foundation....but only when the strings were fairly wide and mostly on grain. you don't want edges off grain because they will stretch. I used my cutting mat as a guide on how big to make the string squares, made them oversized and then cut down with my ruler. I used a wider string at the top and the bottom so I had enough to square it up without cutting into seams.
I have used muslin ...but that really made the finished quilt heavy and you would have to wash and press first. I did not care for this method.
and I have made string blocks with phone book pages. I actually like this method best. I have not had problems with any ink rubbing off like you would get with newspaper....the older the phonebook, the better I hear as the ink is well set with age. I use smaller stitches so the paper is easy to tear off and do the tearing process while watching TV...it goes pretty quickly. I will also use a crochet hock or chopstick or something to get at the paper behind those narrow strings...I find starting at one edge and then working across the square works well as you have one lose edge of paper as you move across... Some folks think that phone book paper is the easiest to remove...and it has been the best for me.
I have used muslin ...but that really made the finished quilt heavy and you would have to wash and press first. I did not care for this method.
and I have made string blocks with phone book pages. I actually like this method best. I have not had problems with any ink rubbing off like you would get with newspaper....the older the phonebook, the better I hear as the ink is well set with age. I use smaller stitches so the paper is easy to tear off and do the tearing process while watching TV...it goes pretty quickly. I will also use a crochet hock or chopstick or something to get at the paper behind those narrow strings...I find starting at one edge and then working across the square works well as you have one lose edge of paper as you move across... Some folks think that phone book paper is the easiest to remove...and it has been the best for me.
09-28-2020, 05:41 AM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 619
I've been using the papers from the telephone books, they are easy to tear out, just sit and watch a movie and tear away. I think with muslin or a fabric backing your quilt would be a bit heavyier in the end and cost more as well.
09-28-2020, 09:42 AM
#40
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 269
The "more investment" way is to baste and then quilt as you normally would if you prefer a more quilted look
