Still have lots of scraps
 

I could probably make 10 more quilts like this and still have scraps left. I used muslin as the base for each block, but that makes the quilt quite heavy. Next time I will use something more light weight. What have you used that works well?

I love your string quilt! I generally use thin, cheap muslin for my foundation. I don't mind the quilt being heavy, we like them warm.
Ive heard of people using used dryer sheets- those seem too flimsy to me, but I haven't tried them so I don't really know.

I also used muslin for my foundation, cheapest I can find. Tried one without batting and I prefer the ones with batting. Have you tried the pattern by Dodi Poulsen where she puts a kite shape in the middle and adds strips. I saw her do this on a F&P show with Patrick Lose. She used black with white polka dots for the kites. When I did it, I used yellow(since that is the color of stars) and it came out quite well. Well, not quilted yet but the top looks nice. You can keep on using your scraps but they never seem to be used up.

I love string quilts, and scrappy quilts of any kind. I've made two string quilts, one was on a muslin foundation, no batting and backed with a heavy flannel. It is quite warm, and I actually like the weight of it. The other was done with an intentional strip of black across the center of a square of paper. I used doodle pads from the dollar store that had been cut to the largest square possible from the page, and reduced stitch length. When the blocks were done, I removed paper foundation. Bonnie Hunter (quiltville.com) uses string piecing in many of her quilts, she uses pages from phone books as the foundation for the blocks.

Great scrappy!! I also have a scrap box. I have made 2 scrappy quilts that took 4 yards each out of the box and I still can't get the lid on tight. I think they multiply at night...wink wink!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566362[/ATTACH]I am making Bonnie Hunter's String-X quilt with my strings. I use recycled copier paper cut to the size block I want and a small stitch length. After the block is assembled, I just trim the strings to match the paper size and tear the paper off by folding it back on the seam line and then tearing. It works really well for me, and I have the satisfaction of reusing the waste paper.

the last ones i made were on phone book pages

very nice !!

I have also used phone book pages for foundation, but my favorite way is to use squares of a non stretchy batting. This way, only minimal quilting is required. My 'new' bedroom overlooks an ugly shed, so I made a quick scrappy to cover the window.

Very Nice! The most recent one that I did was using QAYG technique. I just cut batting and backing to approximate size I wanted and pieced the strings directly to the batting, then I squared up and used sashing to join the blocks.

Rob

That's exactly my method as well. I make a master copy of the string block so that I can make as many as I need that's are the same. And I have straight lines to work with on the clean side of a recycled sheet of paper. I tried phone book pages, but the pages are too dark and cluttered with text that I couldn't see my lines.

beautiful quilt

I just found my pic of my insulting window quilt. No sashing. Stilt lots of scraps. DH wanted one over his recliner.

Kool. BrendaK

A friend of mine uses paper towels, she does not tear off paper leaves on, when you wash it doesn't wad up
, I haven't tried it yet. Might be worth a try.

Very nice. Good job

I have recently used phone book pages with a smaller stitch, and torn off the paper after completing the square. It is getting really hard to find old phone books. Because of the internet, etc., they aren't as plentiful as they were in the "olden" days.

You could use paper piecing method and tear it away

Very pretty scrappy quilt. Those scraps do multiply!

Try doing a spider web pattern for something different. Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville has a great tutorial . really like your strip quilt, very colorful. The bits of black add a nice touch of brilliance.
peace

I like how colorful your string quilt is... especially with the black center strip. I have a whole bin of strip pieces and make a 10 inch block from time to time but I, too, use cheap lightweight muslin for my foundation.

I have made two string quilts without any foundation. One of them I starched the material and the other one I just sewed by strips together-----by hand. Easy peasy. I had not problem with the strips. I squared them up and sewed the squares together.

I have used dry sheets. Once they are used I just press them and they are ready to go. Very light weight.

I took a class and we were told to buy this thin stuff like dryer sheets at joanns, it works great. Comes on a roll and the yardage is pretty cheap.

I use just lined school paper.

I began using paper but hated all the time spent removing it even though with small stitches it comes out easily. Then I used cheap muslin but have been using a product called Easy Pattern the past few years and like it much better. Easy Pattern is used to transfer multiple sized patterns. It is a non woven similar to interfacing You can leave it in the finished quilt and it is less than half the weight of muslin. And less expensive than muslin too! Cut the Easy Pattern a bit larger than finished size and trim to size when fully covered. My personal favorite and we use it all the time to make tons of Quilts of Valor string blocks.

PS I love your quilt! And yep those scraps multiply at night in the dark:-)

Well done...my scraps multiply like that too. I do mine on phone book pages.

I really like your string quilt and it looks like everyone has different ways of making one. I am considering making one also and will take in all of the ways the members have suggested for foundation. It is true----the scraps grow overnight!

I reuse dryer sheets ( in the laundry several times.. so they are pretty thin when I move them from the laundry to the sewing room , they hold up very well.. I too use phone books/ mag / or cheap undesirable fabrics...love scrappy

Am I missing something? I made a string quilt like yours and I just sewed the strings together without using a foundation. Should I have used a foundation?:confused:

Beautiful quilt.
I have used the center of a well worn fitted bed sheet. The outside edges of a fitted sheet would be to heavy, as that part does not get as worn. But the center works well.

I have used muslin for my string quilts. I thought the problem was that I used the wrong kind of batting and even questioned if I should skip the batting altogether.

I have bought lightweight facing to do the fons & porter wedge string quilting. I don't want the black polka dots.

Muslin is too heavy for me. I prefer to use a new sheet, sometimes dyed, as my backing.

I like your string and scrappy quilt. I like the idea of using paper of some kind for the foundation and taking the paper out before sandwiching and quilting. I am always concerned when I hear someone uses the poorest muslin because it is cheap. The problem is that it really shrinks when you wash the quilt. That is fine if that is what you really want. Perhaps you can wash it first. How about using some ugly fabric for your foundation?

I use thin sew-in interfacing;

Beautiful scrappy! The black really makes the colors "pop"

Love your scrappy ,great scrap colors. So colorful and it does look warm which is great and cosy looking.

I too love string, scrappy quilts. I've made a couple. I used scrap computer paper 8 1/2 x 14 or 17 if you can get it; shortened the stitch and it tears out easily - over a trash can or waste basket - while watching tv. Then just regular batting. Yours is gorgeous. And you're right - the scraps seem to multiply as you use them up! LOL