Step by Step String Block

I've been asked how to make the string blocks that I used in my Zig Zag quilt I showed last week. Photo step by step as follows.  Here is the finished block. 

Choose what size you want your block to be and cut your solid square that size.  It can be any size as long as they are all the same.
Mark a line 1/4" away from "corner to corner"  as your guide for your first strip. 

Now your base is ready to go. Notice the line is NOT corner to corner, it is offset by the 1/4"

Take your first strip and lay the raw edge even with your DRAWN line.  Make sure the strip extends over the block on each end.

Stitch using your usual 1/4" seam allowance and this will start your string side of the block.

Press over the stitched seam and your corners should be covered by the strip.  Your strip will overhang the edges.  DO NOT TRIM.

Put your next strip down, RST, and line up the edges.  Stitch with 1/4" and flip it over.

Pick your next strip and repeat.  DO NOT TRIM any of the overhang.  You will do that at the end.

I dug through my scrap bin for a triangle shape for the last piece.  Make sure that last piece overs the whole foundation fabric.  Remember that you will be sewing your blocks together so having thin strips right to the corner can make for bulky seams when you join the blocks.

Here is my finished block with all the strips stitched down.  I do press with an iron along the way, and I don't worry if my strip is not exactly straight.  A little wonky adds to the charm of strip piecing.

Flip your block over and use the base as your guideline for trimming.

Using your ruler, trim the overhanging strings right to the edge of  your base.

Both sides are now trimmed,

Flip your block over and admire your new string block.  It's that easy!

The bigger the base, the more strips you will need.  Make your strips various widths for interest.  Set the blocks in any pattern that uses 1/2 square triangles.  I have used different blacks in my piece.  I do think it's best to stick with one color for the base block, but using shades and tones of the same color can add some interest.  Be careful though, these blocks are like pototoe chips, you can't just make a few!

Keep stitching,
Sharon

Doll Swap by Humble Quilts

For many years, Lori at Humble Quilts has been organizing Doll Swaps. This year I almost missed it, and that would have been a shame. Getting in right under the wire meant that my name went to Liz B. from Lucas, TX and lucky me, this is what she made especially for me! It's hanging on the wall in my studio so I get to look at it every day.

Here is the one I sent across the country to DeEtta B, from Fiddlehead Finery  This little tumbler one block piece has traveled all around. I started it on my trip to Thailand last May (where I should be right now, but that's just the way the world is turning). It has also traveled to Toronto, ON and Maui, HI. It finally got finished in Birch Bay, WA and now has a home in WI.

If you get a chance to participate in one of these swaps, I highly recommend it.  You never know what treasure will appear in your mailbox. Thanks Lori!

Keep stitching,
Sharon

Zig Zag Strings

My zig zag quilt has been shared before, but I'm going to be posting about each of my string quilts over the next few weeks. First off, I LOVE this and wish I had stayed the course and made this into a king size quilt. Yes, you heard me, KING.

My love for 1800's reproduction fabrics had consistently been met with "Civil War prints are soooo drab."  I've learned a few things about this over the last few years. I now refer to these prints as 1800's reproductions since the Civil War time frame is only about 15 years.  1800's reproduction prints and designs span 100 years, so there is plenty to pick from. I do gravitate to the brighter side of things and this piece showcases many of the scraps in my sewing studio.

Did you notice that the blacks are not the same? It was a great way to use up those smaller, random solids of black that seem to kick around the studio. Not enough for a whole quilt, but too big for the scrap bin. The method I used for this is the "stitch and flip" method so the black fabric is the base behind all the strings. I start with a bigger block and then trim down after the strips are sewn down. After that, they are simply a 1/2 square triangle and you can have a lot of fun arranging them on your design wall.

I do love a good zig zag! And use your favorite fabrics. If you don't have a long enough strip, just add onto it. They don't even have to be the same color. You can see I have cobbled together two strips to make this block.

This is a fun and relaxing way to stitch up some blocks, and burn through some of the boxes, bags or bins of left overs that seem to multiply overnight.

The best part of working with strings is that you don't have fuss and it doesn't take much concentration; something I seem to be lacking these days.

Keep stitching,
Sharon

String Stars

Everything I love about quilts and quilting are in this string star piece.  It was made in 2013 with the help of the amazing Gwen Marston during a retreat on Lopez Island.

It contains strings
It was created using Gwen's liberated star techniques.

The cheddar border bleeds into the corner blocks for a unique look, and that is a result of "using what you have".

It's hand quilted and has feathers in the solid red areas.

 The diamond border is all half square triangles that were bonus blocks from a Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt. And no matter how hard I try to keep prints away from each other, this usually happens.  Really?? 3 plaids so close together??

The outside print gave me a grid for the border hand quilting.

 

It's red and cheddar and we all know "cheddar makes it better".
I hope you get out for some activity and fresh air this weekend.
Sharon

May Day

When we were in elementary school we used to have a May Day celebration.  Right now those words seem more like the distress signal a captain would use.  Here in WA we got our "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" orders extended to May 31 with a slow roll of openings.  There is a 4 stage plan that takes us into July!  As we all are anxious to get 'back' to our daily lives, here are a couple of quilt backs.

My work quilting has essentially been at a stand still.  Each of us has made different decisions based on our own personal situation.  For me, I have been very strict with our movements, prior to our government asking us to stay home.  Having quilters drive to my place for a non essential item just didn't sit with me as I too, was not going anywhere non essential.  No judgement on how each of us has handled this unprecedented time in the world.  I was ok with my decision and that's what was important.  However, I can't wait for the CA/US border to open up so I can go visit my Dad

My studio will be back open for customers once we can start moving around outside our close circle of family/neighbors.  I've got a list started so if you'd like me to quilt something that you've finished in this "stay at home" time, please shoot me an email or a text.

Feathers, straight lines, all over designs.  Whatever your quilt top requires, I can handle it.  I'm still stocking Hobbs 80/20 and Hobbs Tuscany Wool and have added the Hobbs 80/20 Wool/Cotton along with a roll of Thermore. (great for runners and wall hangings)

Stay safe, stay healthy, and when things start to open up again, and we find our new normal, take it at your own pace.  We all have our own internal guidance that we can follow. I hope you have been taking care of more than housework.  As for me, my house looks the same, OK, it's dustier!  This new housekeeper we have isn't very good at keeping up with cleaning, she's rather be stitching.

and where the heck did April go?  It's like "poof" and now it's May???
Be kind to yourself, 
Sharon

Clean Up as You Go

As we all continue through this very trying time in our lives, I thought I'd get back into a bit of blogging.  This project has been in the works for at least 4 years. This is a sampling of the 81 blocks that I have finished.

It all started when I saw a 16 patch blue and white quilt at a guild presentation.  Somehow mine turned into a 49 patch.  One by one, the squares got cut and sewn together.  No strata's were used in the making of these blocks.

My rows of 7 blocks were together and I had four bundles left to sew into blocks.  A light spray of Magic sizing and the blocks were pressed.

Here is my TIP.  After pressing your blocks, clean up the threads that are between the seams.  Sometimes its a frayed thread from the fabric and someitmes it's a thread from sewing.  Some of them can be very hazardous when getting your quilt longarm quilted.  If the hopping foot catches on a thread that is sewn into the seam, it can cause havoc.  Here is a freshly pressed block.

And here is a cleaned up block.  If you do each block as you press, you won't have a big job once your blocks are all sewn together.  I'll have a second go at this process once I sew the sashing between the blocks.

threads from one block

and threads from four blocks.  That's a lot of thread that can get stitched onto your top when it gets quilted.

Before I packed up all 81 blocks, I scratched out the measurements for the sashing fabric, corner posts, backing and binding.  Fabric for sashing will be purchased from my LQS when they open up.  Yes, I could order online, but that online store doesn't have a meeting room for my stitch group to meet, or a room to rent for my retreat group.  Shop local and keep your quilt shop LOCAL.  The backing needs 9.75 yards and I have a bolt of solid cornflower blue that has 10 yards on it. 

My second TIP  People talk about changing your needle after so many hours of sewing.  How anyone can keep track of the time they actually are sewing is beyond me.  Projects are not sewn start to finish in my studio so that doesn't work as well.  My needle gets changed every 10 or so bobbins.  At the same time, I clean my machine and wind a new row, so I'm always ready to continue when my bobbin runs out.

My nice neat row of Auril 2310 thread that I use for almost every project I made.

Stay home, stay safe and let's all be part of the solution.
Keep stitching
Sharon

Swapping Stars

Another great swap in in the works.  Barb, from Fun with Barb hosts swaps every so often and I always try to join in.  This time was no exception, even though I knew I would be under some pressure to hit the deadline.  I signed up for making 40 blocks using 1800's reproductions prints.  Here is a sampling of my stars. 

This piece has been in my stash since 2004.  I bought yards of this when I came to the US.  I didn't know anything about 1800s reproduction fabrics, but I was drawn to them immediately. I used this for curtains in my first place here.

Barb sends out very clear instructions and parameters for her swap and that is why I love doing them.  I trust the workmanship of the participants and know that I will be getting back good blocks.

In the process of making my stars, I dug through a bag of these.  Over 100 - 6 1/2" churn dash blocks from a previous swap. 

They have been patiently waiting to become a quilt top.  I've started adding sashing on one side of each block and I have the fabric for the corner posts.

thank goodness I've started adding notes to my boxes, and bags of projects.  That is a game changer when you get back into something from over a year ago.  Counts are there, color notes, cutting measurements, etc

I only had to make 29 more blocks, per my notes.  Since I had out scraps of muslin and a variety of reproduction prints were stacked up on the cutting table, I got busy moving this project forward a little bit.

Now that I have all the blocks made, a pile of muslin scraps folded up in the bag, a few sketches of ideas, this will be a perfect project to take to retreat at the end of the month.  Lets hope I don't take this long to put the star swap blocks into a top.
Keep stitching,
Sharon