Strings of Flamingos

 

I got to spend some time with my Singer Model 15 (treadle) sewing machine and a box of flamingo strings this weekend.

After making a hexie quilt featuring flamingo fabrics, I had lots of scraps.  I decided a string quilt was in order, and sliced lots of leftover fabric into 1.5 inch strips.  

 

I have made lots of string quilts, but never one using the diamond shape.  I cut the templates from a roll of newsprint-weight paper I had hanging around.

 

Once the strings were stitched onto the paper, I used an acrylic ruler and rotary cutter to trim the edges to fit the diamond template.

Before long, I had six diamonds pieced, enough for a string star!

I originally thought I would set the diamond shapes in herringbone-style strips, but after looking at the star setting I had some other inspirational thoughts.  I'm still working out my ideas, so we'll have to wait and see where inspiration leads!

String Star Memory Quilt Update

For the past 8 years I've been using my late father's collection of plaid and striped shirts to make memory quilts for family members.  I've managed to use up a good bit of the shirt fabric over the years, but lots of strips and strings remained.  To use up those scraps, I chose to make a version of the Spring Clean Quilt, which features stars made from strings.

Earlier this year, I finished making all the string blocks needed for the quilt - 144 blocks, to be exact.  Since my design wall was empty this week, I decided it was time to start assembling the star blocks.  The 144 individual blocks get assembled in sets of 16 to form a star.  So far I've completed 4 blocks - leaving 5 to go!

Each star block is 32 inches, making it difficult to photograph them on the design wall.  Instead, I spread them out on my dining room floor.  BTW, not every fabric in my string blocks is shirt fabric - I also used some novelty fabrics related to my dad's hobbies, etc.

Of course, once you put quilts on the floor, the dogs have to come and help out!  My golden retriever/English lab mix McKenzie was the best helper; Bailey, the black lab mix, was a little less enthusiastic about helping!

A Week of Scraps

A lot of scrappy stitching happened this week.  Not all of it was Rainbow Scrap Challenge related, but scraps got used and goals were reached.

The RSC color for January is light blue.  I pulled several 1.5 inch strips to make a 49-patch block using Bonnie Hunter's Scrappy Trip Around the World technique.  

I also stitched up 2 quarter log cabin blocks using repro light blue fabrics.  

Best of all, I finished stitching all the string blocks needed for my memory quilt version of the Spring Clean Quilt.  I needed to make 144 blocks for this version of a string star.  Earlier this week, I decided I was tired of the stringy mess on the sewing table and pushed myself to finish stitching the remaining blocks.  If you've ever stitched a long-term string project, you know how messy all those strings and bits can get!  As soon as I finished the blocks, I tidied up and snapped a picture of my milestone.  Now I need to assemble the blocks, but that won't come until a little later this year - there are other projects clamoring for the space on the design wall.

I haven't had a chance to look at this week's Rainbow Scrap Challenge link-up yet, so I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone was stitching up this week!

Revisiting RSC Maverick Stars

One of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects last year was Maverick Stars (or Liberated Stars). 

 

After making colorful, scrappy stars all year, I decided I needed some string-pieced alternate blocks to add to the quilt design.  Since I didn't want to start any new orange RSC projects for April, I decided to focus on finishing the alternate blocks to go with the Maverick Stars.

 

I still don't have all the string-pieced blocks finished, but I pinned everything up on the design wall to take a look.  Once I had the blocks tentatively arranged, I started thinking about the next step in the design process.  I've played with a few "liberated" border ideas, such as free-pieced spiky (rectangles) and dogtooth (square) blocks, but haven't decided for sure yet.

 

I did trim and piece a few blocks together to get a better feel for how everything is going to fit together.  Now to finish all the necessary string-pieced blocks, trim them and pull off the paper foundations.  Sounds like the perfect job for a rainy afternoon - which is just what the weather forecasters are saying about today and tomorrow! 

If you need some more scrappy inspiration, stop by the RSC link-up for this week!

 

A Throwback to the Tropics

It's been a dark and stormy day in the city.  Silly me, I believed the weather prognosticator's claim that rain wouldn't start until late afternoon, and got pretty thoroughly soaked while I was out and about for work this morning.

When I got home, my dogs were huddled under my desk (I work from home) for protection from the thunder...which continued for hours.

So you can imagine that a bright and cheerful throwback memory brought a smile to my face!

 

This wall hanging dates back to 1993, when I was struggling to use up a lot of scraps from a tropical-themed friendship quilt.   I string-pieced lots of scraps onto a fabric foundation, leaving the narrow, center "neck-tie" section clear.  When the blocks were assembled, they formed a star shape.  I machine-quilted with metallic silver thread to echo the star shapes.  Instead of adding the side and corner triangles, I just bound the blocks in their irregular shape.  I was quite surprised when Dixie Haywood, a member of my quilt guild at the time, asked to include it in a book she was co-authoring on foundation piecing.  (confession time:  the quilt was gifted to a friend long ago and I scanned the picture from the book!)

If you've been following me for awhile, you know scrappy quilts like the starry throwback above are dear to my heart.  I've discovered Diane Knott, of Butterfly Threads Quilting, is also a scrappy quilt lover - so much so, she has written a book about it!

 

There's a blog hop going on to help kick off Diane's book, and of course, there will be opportunities to win copies of the book.  Here's the menu of blogs to visit - I hope you'll check them out and get inspired by Diane's scrappy ideas!

3/21    C&T Blog http://www.ctpub.com/blog/

with Diane (that’s me)www.butterflythreadsquilting.com

3/22    Bonnie Hunter http://quiltville.blogspot.com/

3/23    Lori http://humblequilts.blogspot.com/

3/24    Karen http://nanagirlquilts.blogspot.com/  

3/25    Audrey http://quiltyfolk.blogspot.com/

3/26    Pat Sloan http://blog.patsloan.com/

3/27    Valerie http://myplvl.blogspot.com/

3/28    Kelly http://pinkadotquilts.blogspot.com/

3/29    Victoria Findlay Wolfe http://bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/

3/30    Rachaeldaisy http://bluemountaindaisy.blogspot.com/

3/31    Angie http://quiltingcrescent.blogspot.com/

4/1      Julie http://quiltjewelry.blogspot.com/

4/2      Barb Www.funwithbarb.com

Purple & Gold String Spiderweb Flimsy

 

I added the last border to this string spiderweb quilt this morning.  I'm definitely doing a little happy dance to have this top finished, as I have been working on the blocks (on and off) since 2012!  I used Bonnie Hunter's Spiderweb quilt instructions as a general guideline.  My goal was to use up as many purple and gold scraps as possible.  The size came out to 66" x 76", although that will shrink a little after quilting and washing.  It probably won't get quilted until later this year, but I think there's an excellent chance the quilt will be completed before the end of the year.

So another project is off the design wall and I'm ready to move on to the next WIP in the queue!

Spider Web Blocks: Is the End in Sight?

 

The long Labor Day weekend gave me some extra sewing time at the camp.  I've been working on these string-pieced triangles since at least 2012, but it was more of a fabric therapy project than a planned quilt with a finishing date in sight. 

Earlier this year I decided on a plan for the blocks, and cut enough light yellow center "kite" shapes to finish piecing all the triangles.  This weekend my trusty Singer Model 15 (treadle) and I stitched the last of the purple and gold strings onto their foundations.  Now I just have to piece the triangles into squares and rip off all the foundation papers.  Maybe I can still finish this top before the end of the year?!

 

I still had a big collection of strings left after piecing the triangles, so I took a few minutes to tame them into some additional useful quilt block parts.  The longest strings were trimmed to 1 1/2" width and will go in the bin for 1 1/2" strips.  Smaller remnants were trimmed to various lengths and 1 1/2" width for Lego quilt blocks.  The remaining bits will go in the crumb bin for further adventures in crumb and string piecing.  Very satisfying to have everything neatly wrapped up!

New String Piecing Inspiration

I have been a fan of string piecing since my earliest days as a quilter.  I love the economy of using scraps and the soothing therapy of piecing without much concern for accuracy and matching points!

A new book devoted to string piecing has been making the rounds in quilting blogland, and I ordered my own copy after reading the first online review I happened across.  Those of you who followed the New Orleans House Quilt Project will know I was immediately smitten with the string-pieced houses on the cover!  I see another set of rainbow-hued house blocks in my future.

 

Simply Strings: A Modern Approach to a Traditional Quilt Block by Rana Heredia has some wonderful new ideas for string piecing.  There are instructions for quilts in various sizes, table runners, wall hangings and even a tote bag.  There are new variations on the typical geometric string-pieced block, as well as modern, organic interpretations such as string-pieced leaves and pumpkins.

 

One quilt that caught my eye immediately is "Bee Yourself".  The quilt measures 34 x 37", but I could also see three of the blocks used as a table runner.  I might have to play with this over the Thanksgiving holiday!  Did I mention full-size pattern pieces are included with the book?

No affiliation with the author, just very inspired by her work.