String Quilt Tutorial

I like sewing string quilts.  You can use any width of a fabric strip. The pieces don’t have to be cut precisely.  The choice of fabric color or design is random (although you can plan your design if you want).  It uses all types of fabric. And you are able to use up scraps.

The only thing that needs to be consistent is your paper or fabric foundations.  You can use any size or shape as long as it can be sewn together with other string blocks  or fabric pieces (like corner blocks – that will be another blog post) to make a square.  For this tutorial I am going to use an 8 ½ inch square of copy paper.  You can use any paper, even ones with printing on it (I usually recycle old exams from the classes I teach at a local college).  You just need to make sure that they can easily be torn.

Foundation paper

Since the paper is going to be torn away from the sewn fabric, you might want to make sure you use tiny stitches.  If you use bigger stitches, they will pull out when you pull off the paper and you don’t want that.

If you are using a fabric foundation, this will remain with the sewn strings.  No tearing involved.  You do want to make sure it is pre-washed cotton fabric.  Make sure the foundation fabric is light in color so the color or design of it doesn’t show through a light colored string.  Also make sure it is pre-washed so if you are using a colored fabric for the foundation, the dye won’t bleed into the strings when you launder the quilt.

I found that adding a seam allowance to the foundation is helpful.  I usually add a ½ inch.  But one suggestion I read is to make the foundation one inch bigger so after it is sewn you can cut it to the desired size.

Often when I use a foundation, I start in the middle and work my way to the edges.  And when using a square foundation, I like sewing the strings on the diagonal.  I just think it looks more interesting.

I always start the first piece wide enough to cover the corners of the square.  I think if a seam is sewn at the corner, it makes that corner weak and likely to pull apart as you sew it to other blocks. You want to lay this string face up on the foundation.

Fabric string on foundation paper

I also pin the first piece in place when I am working with a long string.  This way as your sewing, the string doesn’t move and get puckered.

Pins on string

The next step is to find the next string you want.  Try to make it a contrast in color and design from your first string.  Otherwise the two fabrics will blend together and look like one.

Second string added

Once you found the piece lay it face down on top of your first fabric.  Take it to the sewing machine and sew up the edge. I usually extend the fabric off the paper so if it does move a bit it won’t leave any of the foundation paper exposed.  You can pin it in place before sewing if you want.  (Hint: - I also found that it is easier to work with the fabric if the strings are ironed but that is not a hard and fast rule as you will iron them as you sew.)

                                   

Strings sewn

foundation paper side of seam

              

 Now is where you do want to iron to press the strings open and in place.   (Hint: Be careful if you are using paper with ink on it for example, newspaper, phone books or old exams.  Sometimes as you iron the ink will rub off on your iron and get the face of your iron dirty.)

I used two pieces which were close to the same width but you don’t have to do that, you can use even very narrow fabrics.  Depending on the size of the foundation, widths from 3” or less can be used.  (I might not use anything less than ¾” as the seam allowance will use all of the fabric up in the piecing.) And remember since this is being sewn on a foundation, you don’t have to worry about the grain of the fabric; the foundation will keep it from stretching. 

More strings added

This also means you can use whatever type of fabric you want: cotton, polyester, rayon, flannel, or knits. The foundation paper or fabric will keep it all in place.  Right now for this block I am using cottons or cotton polyester blends because that is what I have available in my stash.

Remember this is a scrappy quilt so you want lots of variety in color and prints.  This is also a quilt where you can color coordinate combining two colors like red and green for Christmas or three such as red, white and blue for a patriotic quilt.  Right now I am working on a quilt where each block is a different color scheme to give it a rainbow look.

Continue adding the strips until you have covered the entire foundation paper.  Trim any excess fabric to the edge of the foundation and just for an added bit of stability, I stay stitch around the edge of the block to stabilize it more.    

Finished block
                    

You now have a string quilt block. You can remove the paper now when there is  just the individual blocks or wait until you have the quilt altogether.  Make as many as you need to make the size quilt you want and arrange them in any way you want.  You can put them so the diagonals go in the same direction.  

Block diagonal going the same direction

Or arrange the diagonals so they make a diamond type pattern.  Or even arrange them so they make an X type pattern.   

Diamond layout

X style layout

                               

I sure hope you try the string quilt.  It’s a lot of fun and it can help you

get rid of that stash of fabric you might have.  

©  2017  Cheryl E. Fillion