Back to Basics

I haven't posted on this blog in literally years. I'm sure any of us who have been quilting for many years have recognized the ebb and flow of interest in patterns and techniques, even in our own work. So after a hiatus I have returned to some string piecing.

There are so many different ways to work with strips and/or strings! I'd cut width-of-fabric strips from older yardage a few years back in an effort to clear out and update my stash a bit. But then I found I wasn't using a lot of those strips. I tend to work with specific size patches rather than long strips or strata. Or at least that's what I've been doing most recently.

I was inspired to cut my long strips into 8.5" lengths by a post over on Confessions of a Fabric Addict. I do love a Chinese Coins style quilt! And now I have this basket full of strips all the same length but in varying widths:

I'm sewing the strips together randomly, up to about 12-13 inches long so I have rough blocks to work with. When I have the number I figure I'll need for the quilt I'm building I can arrange and rearrange them before sewing them into columns, and then the columns into a flimsy. Here's what I have so far:

I didn't really expect to get this far this quickly! My basket still seems pretty full. I may very well have enough strips for two good size quilts. 😀

Magpie Sue

Autumn Strings

It has been forever since I've posted anything here! I just finished this top though, and had to share. :- )

This began as an effort to use up some of the older batiks in my stash. At the same time, I needed a project to sew that wouldn't require a lot of mental effort. I chose to use the layer and cut and shuffle technique to create the 9" blocks. Both Karla Alexander and Gwen Marston talk about this technique in their books. Karla has devoted whole books to it!

Here's a detail shot:

You can read the full story on my blog if you like.

Magpie Sue

A Couple of Recent Flimsies

After I made my very first foundation pieced string block for Brenda's challenge I went on to make about 45 more. ;- )

I tried out several arrangements. This first one is pretty much how they landed on the wall as I finished each block.

Then zigzag...

And all going one way...

In the end I decided on this sort-of-barn-raising arrangement:

You can see more about this project on my blog here.

After that I took inspiration from one of the quilts in Freddy & Gwen Collaborate Again and created this top:

It doesn't get much scrappier than this! While the first top I showed you was made out of my strings box (skinny, oddly cut strips)  this one was made primarily with precision cut 1.5," 2.5," and 3.5" strips. I did throw in the occasional wonky strip though. Both of these tops will be finished by members of my local quilt guild and then donated to children in Foster Care here in our community.

Magpie Sue

Just Like Potato Chips

I couldn't stop with just one! After I'd made this block:

I went through my stash and cut up more foundation squares. Two days later I had this on my design wall:

Now I'm scrounging around for more foundation fabrics and looking at my stash to see what else I can cut up into strings. These appear kind of dark to me; I want to throw in more light and color. Rearranging them will help to distribute the lighter blocks too. This is just how they ended up on the wall as I completed each block. I don't know whether to be grateful that Brenda finally moved me to try out this technique or to bemoan the fact that now I have even more projects I want to make!

Wheee!

That was fun! I had no idea my strings were so skinny, or that it would take so many to fill up an 8.5" foundation square. Here's my block before I trimmed it:

And here it is after:

I can see where this would be yet another great way to keep chain piecing between the seams of other blocks, as long as you had foundations and strings handy. I believe I'm going to have to cut up some more muslin or cheap flannels from my stash to make more foundation blocks! Thanks Brenda!

Magpie Sue

Purposeful Strings

I say "purposeful strings" because I made my string blocks from yardage rather than scraps (for the most part). I used the layer and slice and shuffle method to make 6.5" blocks.


Then I arranged and sewed most of the blocks into four columns. The leftover blocks were cut down to 3.5" and sewn into three narrow columns.


I used sashing strips that finished at one inch to separate each column from its' neighbor.


Another one inch frame went all the way around before the six inch border was put on.



Ta-daa!

I'm really pleased with the way this turned out. Can't wait to get it quilted so I can cuddle up with a good book. ;- )

All to Pieces

I was inspired by Tonya's Legos quilt last fall to piece my 1.5" bits into strips/strings. I didn't follow her process exactly, of course. I started with four liberated log cabin blocks (six inches each) and then went round them with my pieced strips. There's one strip of "sashing" between the four blocks, and I added a couple more rows at the top and bottom.

I have it basted and pinned for quilting. The more I think about it though, the more I'm thinking I'm going to tie it instead. I plan to donate this to the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study; the ties will give the recipient something to fiddle with...

Edited to correct the name of the donation destination and build in the hyperlink.