I wrote about making the blocks for this quilt last month. They were the 80 blocks I took to our guild meeting last weekend to show how easy it is to remove the papers. I prefer using paper instead of fabric foundations. Some ladies even joked that I was tricking them like Tom Sawyer but I’ll never tell! 😉
Stephanie, an Australian member of our Heartstrings online group, came up with this layout so I’m calling it “Rainbow over Australia” to give her full credit for such a great idea. She’s not just a gifted quilter but an extremely prolific one as well. Quite a feat considering she quilts everything on her domestic machine.
I finished stitching down the binding last night then worked a bit on a new patriotic Brick Street quilt, my favorite 3 Yard Quilt pattern by Fabric Cafe.
I’m behind on frankenbatting, which will be the very next item on my to-do list. I need to use up the small amount of thread left on my longarm bobbins while I’m at it.
My list of inspiration quilts is still untouched so I need to focus on rotating between string quilts, simple Villa Rosa or Fabric Cafe type, and my bucket list. I also want to keep cutting a few scraps at a time to prevent them from overflowing the basket. I need more hours in my day, and more days in my week!
The next quilt will be one from my bucket list. I think I’ll chose the one that looks to be the closest to the finish line.
My doctor’s appointment went well yesterday. Good thing because I need to live a long time to finish all the quilts I want to make. 🙂
In December, I wrote about the online Heartstrings group’s informal annual string block challenge. Today marks the beginning of a new quarter and I’m eager to see how I’m doing. This calculator shows that 90 days have passed, including the start and end dates, so I don’t need to check my calendar to count the actual number of days. I was recovering from a short stint in the hospital after Christmas and didn’t do any sewing in January. So I wondered, did I still manage to make at least 90 blocks??? 🙂
I don’t count my blocks until the quilt is completely finished. Here are the ones completed since the year began. If I remember to do this every quarter, it’ll be easier to total them up at the end of the year.
When I looked back, I realized I never posted a photo of the one I finished on March 13th.
I used 12 string blocks for the sashing. I began with 10″ x 12.5″ rectangle string blocks, then cut each one into 4 units measuring 2.5″ x 12.5″.
Here are the other three. For the Kaffe Fasset and patriotic string quilts I used the easy method of making two half square triangles at a time. For that reason, I’m only counting half as many blocks as you see in those two quilts.
So, let’s count:
12 – patriotic sashing (finished March 13)
24 – Kaffe Fasset 48 HST’s (finished March 6)
60 – patriotic 120 HST’s (finished February 27)
20 – puppy quilt (finished February 21)
116 blocks total
Yay! The patriotic half square triangle blocks only measure 6″ finished instead of 9″ but, I’m giving myself a break on that. I think the pieced blocks in the sashing quilt and the needle turn appliqued puppy make up for it. 🙂
Today I’m stitching the binding down on an 80 block string quilt so I’ll be ahead of my goal. I’m ready to get to my other goals for this year, these bucket list quilts! I think I’ll choose the easiest one first, or maybe one I’ve already made a little progress on. I could always number them and pull one from the hat… hmmm. How to choose?
Each year, several members of an online group called Heartstrings Quilt Project challenge themselves to make 365 string blocks. Yes, that works out to be one a day but most of the quilters make them in sets of 24 or 48 blocks at a time. The group is informal and quilters are encouraged to make and donate their quilts locally. They also share photos, inspire each other with new fabric combinations and setting ideas, and cheer each other on.
I saw a photo on the Heartstrings Quilt Project page many years ago and it has always been an inspiration. I don’t have any rights to the picture so I’ll just share the link to it. Go check it out because it’ll probably inspire you too! It’s HERE .
I don’t have much time to sew during the holidays but that doesn’t mean I stop thinking about it. 🙂 I’m adding the 365 string block challenge to my bucket list for next year. I absolutely love making string quilt blocks and no doubt, I have plenty of strings that really need to make that leap from storage bin to finished quilt.
There’s a separate page of my string quilts but, the one below made from batik strings is probably my favorite (so far).
I realized a couple of weeks ago that I need to really focus on using my strings and scraps to make space for new ones as they accumulate. I know from experience that having a plan is essential for success so that’s what I’ve been busy doing.
I decided patriotic fabrics would be my first target. In this post on August 18th, I wondered how many string blocks I could create from two small drawers. I decided to clear out a bin of patriotic scraps in my cart at the same time as that was also pretty full.
You can see the full little patriotic scrap bin in the cart, second shelf down – on the left.
As of tonight, the patriotic strings and scraps are both empty. Yay!
It doesn’t mean the quilts are finished. Not yet anyway but, the hardest part is done, sorting, planning, and cutting up chunks and pieces.
I feel good about the progress and I’m looking forward to putting these together so I can tackle the next group of fabrics. Here are the 130 string blocks I made from those two drawers with just a little added from the scrap bin as I was cutting those up.
I have more of the adding machine tape strings to stitch but the last remaining pieces have all been cut to width and are ready to go. I’ll be adding bits and pieces as I finish the other quilts so this one be the last of the group finished.
You can see the plans I made in the photos below. Each “kit” is bagged up minus the large pieces of fabric I’ll need to go with them. Those are labeled and in a separate pile on one of my fabric shelves. These photos will help me remember what I was planning too!
The string blocks for this layout are 12.5″. In the scrap bin were the 32 waste triangles leftover from the patriotic round robin I finished last month.I decided to set the blocks with a friendship star type sashing to use them. Most will end up in the outside border. I’ll need a few more than what I have but, I’ll use the sew & flip corners on the sashing pieces to make them rather than making separate HSTs.
These 60 string blocks measure 7.5″. They’ll be used to piece 120 large half square triangles for this setting. I made this quilt last year from thrifted men’s shirts using the same layout. I like how that quilt turned out so I decided to try it again with string blocks.
This set of 48 blocks measuring 9.5″. All of them were made with the same red center strip. When I was looking at the diagram I drew for the HST quilt above, I got an idea to try a similar layout for these blocks. I’ve probably seen it before but I don’t remember when or where.
The diagram was changed by rotating these two blocks in each corner.
Stephanie (who lives in western Australia) is a member of one of the online groups I’m in. At the beginning of each month, she pulls a paper out of the hat to chose a type of fabric for us to target using that month. They’re usually things like strips, fQs, charms, scraps, strings, orphan blocks, etc. It’s meant to encourage us to use stash that may we may otherwise tend to overlook. I don’t always play along but this month is “shapes” so I decided I’ll use my Go Cutter to cut 3/4 square triangles. I’ll be making 12″ red /blue stars to use with my string pieced units. I can work on my string project and play along with the “shapes” suggestion this month. 🙂
These string units measure 5″ x 12.5″. I plan to cut them in half so they’ll be 2.5″ x 12.5″. I want to use them to frame my blocks.
I’ll then add white sashing with cornerstones so they’ll end up forming 9 patches between the columns and rows. I’m really anxious to see how this one turns out!
My final string quilt will use those adding machine tape units made with the tiniest strings. They measure 13″ long and 2.5″ wide.
I’ll cut them in half to 2.5″ x 6 .5″. I’m trying to use wide pieces in the center of the adding machine tape where I’ll have to cut the strip in half. It seemed it might be easier to make 48 long strips than 96 short ones!
The string units will be center strip in a rail fence block. Half will be flanked with blue strips for the horizontal blocks and the other half with red strips for vertical blocks. I want to use a consistent red and blue for the blocks to showcase the string units better. I have plenty of red and blue choices from that big Joann haul just for times like this.
This project will need a border to reach my preferred size, and I have several pieces of American flag fabric leftover from backing cutoffs to use.
I purchased a bolt of flag fabric on eBay last year. The seller asked me what my plans were for it and whether or not I might be able to use a second bolt. I told her I make quilts to donate and I definitely would be able to use it for backings, if the price was right. She didn’t want to be paid for it and even covered the extra postage. She said her father was killed in the Vietnam war and she wanted to donate it to honor him.
I paid $25 and ended up with 30 yards. I’ve used it to back all my patriotic quilts and I remember her kindness every time I use it.❤️
Once I decided to use the patriotic scraps up too, I put aside the pieces that were large enough for the Evening star quilt until I was ready to cut the fabrics for it. I did need to add a couple of pieces from the red and blue scrap bins but, not many.
The squares are cut 8.5″ and the sashing 3.5″x 8.5″. To bring it to size, I’ll add a border because not only did I not have enough pieces to make more blocks but, I didn’t need to increase the size by 11″ in length or width.
I know what I’ll be using for the border but forgot to add it to the photo, however; it is labeled on on the stack with the other fabrics I’ll be using to finish all these quilts.
This will be the other scrap quilt. I was inspired by Robin Pickens’ Showering Stars pattern. I don’t own the pattern but I can tell from the description that the quilt would end up much larger than I wanted make. I didn’t see a viable way to downsize it and keep the original design elements so I decided to try something a bit different for the “showers” – French braid piecing.
I love the dark background in the pattern photo so I’m going to use a deep blue. My big 16″ stars will be red rather than white in order to use up several 4.5″ HSTs leftover from making the Transport pattern.
I have enough scrap pieces to extend the braid both over and below the star blocks. I’m not sure if I will make braid columns with the stars floating in them or, just use the braid either above some or below the stars. I’ll decide once I get the quilt the blocks on the design wall and see how it will look.
Photo from Kate Colleran Designs
The braids need to have white center squares (like the gold ones in the photo above). Most of the scrap pieces I had to use wouldn’t result in wide enough braid sections unless I use the squares to lengthen them. I hope it doesn’t ruin the effect.
At the end of the day, the only thing left of these scraps and strings were a few partial binding bits and some 2.5″ wide strips I’d set aside for scrappy bindings. I’ve added them to the bin of kits to bind one or two of the quilts.
If you were keeping count, that’s a total of 7 patriotic quilts. I’ll have to remember when a drawer is even half full, it’s probably enough fabric to make a quilt top!
I have a few other commitments to work on in the next couple of months but, I’ll work on fitting in time for these too. Until they’re all finished, the bin of kits will live on my long arm table so they’re not “out of sight, out of mind”. 😉
I completed another string quilt last week, and I’m really happy with the result.
I do need to make few quilts that are almost entirely strings to use more of them. I’d have been able to use double the amount of strings had I just pieced the 9″ blocks together. I used 12 blocks rather than 24 that I would have otherwise.
It is fun looking for ways to incorporate string sections into other patterns! I figure as long as I’m being intentional about using them often, rather than let them accumulate it’s all good. 😉
I took some photos while making the blocks using grocery store ads on newsprint paper.
Once the blocks were trimmed and the paper removed, I cut each 9″ block into 4 1/2″ squares. I forgot to take a photo of that step.
Each time I sew a string to the blocks I stop and iron them before adding the next string. Not everyone bothers to iron as they go but the extra step seems to make my blocks lie flatter than I think they might otherwise. It’s also a good opportunity to make sure the paper is easier to remove later. I to that by folding it back, sliding my thumbnail across the crease to sharpen it, then folding it back in place so it’s ready to add the next string.
Rocky (our cat) has his own little piece of batting to lie on and nap, watch me, or look out the window. I know people have cat allergies so I’m careful to keep the rest of my batting covered.
Today I’m cutting 2 1/2″ strips from Kaffe Fassett scraps for my next quilt. I didn’t think I had enough until I laid them out!
Any leftovers and narrow pieces will go into my next string quilt. It’s better to use them now than save them for Ron. (Late R On ;-))
Time to Quilt 
