Do you make string blocks?

You know i don't throw much fabric away....i save most all pieces. i have the tubs to prove it. LOL

i save the ends of bindings left over...the strips left after cutting parts....all strips go into a tub. the tub was too full to close any more, so it was time to make some string blocks. 

this is a project i do while the embroidery machine is running. i usually don't run the longarm with the embrodiery machine because it is too noisy and i can't tell if the embroidery machine 'needs' me for something. it gives me all kinds of beeps and tunes and noises...depending on what it wants. this is a bath kittie that i am doing for my sister...there are 6 of them and they are cute as can be.

so, while i let it embroider i am usually at the next table piecing something. i have lots of piecing projects. this is my piecing workhorse. all it does is a straight stitch...nothing fancy. but it does cut the thread with a push of a button...gotta love that.  this machine is about 10 years old and never had to be repaired. it started its life and was designed for a quilting machine on a small frame. it's a Baby Lock Quilter's Choice Professional. it was set up on an 8 foot table with a small quilting frame and i quilted many small quilts for years before i got my longarm.

this week i decided to make some string blocks. this is the way i do it.

i have a stack of batting squares....these are cut to 6".  i have made them larger and usually that is the way i go...much faster. but i had loads of batting strip leftovers from quilts so this is the size i wound up with. these batting squares are from Warm and Natural batting. this is my batting of choice. i have tried and used other battings in these strip blocks, but the fatter batting is harder to control so i usually don't use it for this.

And a stack of backing squares...also 6".  these don't all have to be the same fabric...you could mix them up. but i had a few yards of this so decided to use it.

And here is my tub of strips. all different widths and all fabrics. of course, you could do a controlled color scheme...like my friend Marilea would HAVE to do. LOL  or you could put the same fabric in the middle each time and the whole quilt would look more cohesive. but, i just want to use up these strips, so it is very random. and crazy looking.

as i am embroidering or quilting....as a spool of thread comes close to the end....it lives here next to the workhorse. or leftover bobbins with thread from quilting get placed here, too. luckily the bobbins i use on the longarm also fit the piecing machine. in piecing most things i don't really care what color thread i use...unless it will make a difference. so, for the string blocks, everything is fair game. i don't care if the thread matches or not. this is a GREAT way to use up all that thread on your leftover bobbins.

Since i had worked on these string blocks in the past, i already have some done...see?  i am making a queen size quilt (eventually) and figure i need about 200 blocks. so far, i have 88. but i have LOTS of strings.

so, here is how i make mine. first, you lay a backing square down on your table...right side DOWN. then place a batting square on top of that. and lay a strip down the middle....corner to corer...right side up. i usually use a wider strip for the middle strip.

 

then you lay another strip on top of that....right side DOWN. with edges lined up on the right. you are going to sew this down and then flip it over. 

keep adding strips till you cover that side all the way to the corner. then flip your block around and do the same thing to the other side.

i don't worry about ironing these...just press the seam with my finger after stitching. finish the second half the same as the first....lay down a strip, sew it down, flip it...repeat.  your square will look something like this.

i am glad this happened, so i could show you what NOT to do. LOL   as you are adding strips, you might want to check and make sure your backing fabric is laying like it should. i have done this more than i want to admit and you will have to rip it out and start again. 

 

now, i flip it over and stitch all around the edge...real close to the edge. what you want to do is catch all the strips and sew them down so it will be easier when you attach them all together. i try to get as close to the edge as possible but don't fret over it. i zip right along at this step. make sure your little corners are laying down as they should as you edge stitch this....they tend to flip back....don't ask how i know. LOL  (see last picture).

 that's it....one strip block done - takes less than 5 minutes.. i trim the edges even with the backing fabric. after i am through sewing them for the day, i take them to the cutting table and trim them up. they are quick and fun. while the embroidery machine worked for 2 hours, i got about 25 of these little blocks done.

some day, when i have my 200 or more blocks, i will put them together and make a quilt....and will blog about that process, too. but don't look for that any time soon. i'm a long way from 200+ blocks....but some day.

just so you know i actually finish things....ahhahaha...here is a string quilt that i finished a few years back....it is reversible....and i kept the color pallettes similar on each side. on this one, half of the block was a solid color so i could form a pattern. when doing it this way and wanting a pattern on each side...it is a job to keep each side straight....you do need a clear head.