Finally an Intro!

Hello, it's P. (as in Paulette) from The Way I Sew It.  I've been enjoying reading the posts here and getting to know a bit about each of you.  I'm happy to be a part of the String Thing-Along too!

I love string quilts, and I've made a couple over the past few years.  The first one I made was for Heartstrings.  I threw everything but the kitchen sink into it!  I sent it to Mary, and she quilted and donated it for me.  I didn't have a blog at that time, but she posted a picture on hers, which can be found here.

A couple years ago, I was inspired by a photo of a vintage quilt and decided to make one like it, a double pinwheel string quilt.  I posted a tutorial for it on my blog, which you can find via that link.  Feel free to check it out sometime (and if you make one, please share a photo!).

Since then, I've bookmarked a lot of string quilts for the bucket list.  Funny how that bucket list just keeps filling up, isn't it?  Recently, I was inspired by another vintage quilt photo in Gwen Marston's Liberated String Quilts book, and that project is what I will be working on for the String Thing-Along.  You can read about how I got started on it here.

The first block that I made was a test, but I liked how it turned out and made it into a wall hanging.  Then I decided I might make one block per month, and by the end of the year I'd have a quilt.  Now that I've joined this group, I may have to kick it into gear and move that plan up a bit!

Here is the block I worked on this week.  I don't have the center added or it appliqued onto a background yet.

The way I've been making them is to make four or five different strata, or layers of strings, trim to 6-1/2 inches, and then use the Easy Dresden ruler to cut the wedges.  

There are 20 wedges in each ring, and by varying the fabrics in the different strata, I can get some interesting scrappy variety.  But I'm trying to keep the color scheme to cream, gray, blue, red, and green.  Might seem strange, but I think it's going to work, and besides, I like all those colors!  I also like to mix vintage fabrics with contemporary, and even throw in some recycled plaid shirts.  I think the eclectic mix adds interest.

Thanks for the opportunity to share my plans and progress with you.  I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone's projects turn out!