tessagin

Love the string quilts like HillCountryGal's

sandy l

When I'm making a string quilt, I tend to keep batiks and batik-like fabric separate from my other fabric strips. I usually go thu all my fabric and cut up more strips just to make sure I'll have a good mix. I use the "what-ever I pull out of the bag/box/bin" approach, as long as it is not the same color and/or pattern. It took me a long time to get comfortable with this, as when I first started, I kept trying to match stuff up. As long as I have the same color center strip to start with, I find that randomly pulling out strips work. At least for me.
Not sure if this will help you, just ideas on how I do it.

toverly

It's oh so hard to give up control. To help with the ease of scrappy. Try testing by throwing them in a tub and seeing what the mix looks like. If it's too blue, throw in additional colors till the mix is right. The center is the key. Whether you go light or dark depends on contrast. Once you realize, it will all work out, enjoy simply sewing without worry. Batiks are really just tone on tones. I don't mix because I love an all batik quilt.

KalamaQuilts

The viline will add a lot more bulk to already bulky seams. Just saying.
I use phone book paper. A big needle and a small stitch length and the paper nearly falls off in your hand.

I have a 2 sided box (I think it is made for cleaners) with light on one side and dark on the other
and pretty much pull at random, unless what I pull out is already in that block.

Rebecca_S

When I want to have randomness in my pieces but don't want to mix them up in a bag to keep them from wrinkling and fraying, I try to do some separations while cutting. Rather than cutting a few pieces from a piece of fabric and then stacking all the pieces from the same fabric together, I cut and then deal out strips like I was dealing out cards to a group. I will have 5 or 7 piles of strips and cut no more strips from a piece than I have piles, often only cutting 2-3 strips per fabric. Every once in a while I will turn a few of the piles upside down. That keeps me from having the same fabrics in the same order in every pile.

This doesn't result in complete randomness but does make sure I start off with piles where the same fabric doesn't touch itself or always touch the same neighbor. You could probably do the same thing with your strips now, it just goes faster if I do it while cutting rather than waiting until the end.

Bug Lady

[QUOTE=dorismae904;7306812]I love making string quilts. My size block of choice is 7 inches and I use really thin fabric but any size is ok. It does work nicely to put the same color in the center. I have piles of light and dark strips in bins--doesn't get so wrinkled and just pull from each pile. Sounds like you need some more colors--consider taking fabric from your stash that has been too long on the shelf. A lady that does doll clothes gives me her scraps and the tutti fruitee which I remember as seersucker made lovely blocks. Also the smaller size strips give a zing of color to the block. Do a block or two.

I agree. I usually determine what color I want my center color and stick with that color or fabric for every center. I also agree that small strips are more advisable that wider strips--if fact 2 inch are my widest ones.

Probably organizing dark versus lights is the best idea and then make a rule that once the center strip is determined or placed, then don't look but grab a fabric and sew. That is difficult for some of us to do but you may be surprised at the outcome. I made my son Jake a green, his favorite color string quilt and it was very nice. Actually it is his favorite and I have made him many. The centers are med to dark green and then used black, white, and black and white figured fabric. I also used what I call "naughty girls" on the back. He loves it.
Have fun with the quilt.

zozee

What I do is find a multi-color print I like and then find scraps in those colors. I also decide on the neutral for the center strip. I make a test block and then use it to guide me to mix up the order of the piecing.

Right now, for example, I'm making a chemo quilt for a baby--sadly, my friend's little girl was diagnosed at six months old with brain cancer. I chose a cheery print that has black, white, blue, pink, purple, yellow, green, and orange.

While I'm not a grab-bag personality (although I'd love to be) when it comes to quilting, I find mixing up the ORDER of the pieces is fun. And the results are fun to see.

I don't use many batiks but when I do, it takes a while to decide whether it looks right with a non-batik.

Anyway, that inspiration piece method for string quilts is what suits me.

mirish2

I think string blocks are a great way to get past the "matchy syndrome" that most of us learned in garment sewing. I keep a consistent center strip, not always the same fabric, just same color. When I first started this process, I was certain that I would have an ugly quilt. However, after a dozen blocks, which I put together for a charity baby quilt they looked okay. Just like many people, string quilt blocks have their own "inner" beauty.

illinois

My comment is more to the foundation than the matchy. Used dryer sheets make good foundations without adding weight. Also can utilize old sheets or poor quality muslin--doesn't need to be fancy. Whatever you use, be sure it's not going to shrink once inside the quilt. Used dryer sheets can be utilized for many things. Attach to the right side of the label, sew all the way around, slit in the middle of the sheet, turn right side out and the label edges are nicely turned under for slip-stitching in place.

sherryl1

Go to bonne hunters site. she gives a lot of direction on scrap quilts. she uses phonebook pages for her foundation and pieces 2 blocks at a time. just sews one then the other clips the first one adds another strip clips the second one .back and forth back and forth soon you have 2 blocks done and start the next 2. this really fast.