The blocks were 5 1/2'' string blocks pieced on light weight shirting fabric. Some were all light fabrics, some were half light and half dark, and a few were all medium dark to dark fabrics. I really played around with the layout to effectively use all the combinations.
A note on the odd size block and a hint:
My light weight shirting foundation blocks were actually 5'' square. I had a big stack leftover from a project with a string border. So I wanted to use them up.
Hint: When I sew strings to the foundation, I intentionally allow them to extend an extra bit, about 1/2'' on either end. When I square the blocks up, I am not trimming to the foundation size, but rather an 1/2'' larger overall. The 5'' foundation will stabilize the block but not be sewn into the seam as I join the blocks......to eliminate bulk in the seam. There is enough weight and such with the string piecing, so I try to reduce any I can.
It ended up 42'' square.....only because I ran out of blocks.
I used leftover strips for binding.
Quilting was simple.....large curling loops meandered across it edge to edge.
It is much too hot to sit outside very long, but the colors of the quilt look great thrown across the bench.
Humidity is excessive and everything looks wilted outside. To think we were just having so much rain and cool weather a few weeks ago. Such is summer in the South:)
I will be inside and staying cool....and stitching away on things to come.
Happy stitching.
19 comments:
Please include email if you are a not reply commenter....thanks.
Oh, our humidity is stifling now too, very unusual for our mountain area. Great use of your string blocks!
Gorgeous! And you were able to use up some leftovers. A real win! Your layout is perfect. ~Jeanne
Love this layout for your string blocks, and your hint about reducing the bulk - spot-on!
I love the high contrast in the string blocks that make the star design possible. Beautiful work.
Great quilt! I love star blocks. With strings, odd sizes work easily. I've not pieced onto fabric, just paper. Makes sense to trim larger to keep the extra fabric out of the seams.
Debbie, your Star is beautiful, and since I have buckets of mostly fabric strips, I think I might be motivated to try one of these quilts. Your weather is very typical of what we are not enjoying in the Chicago area. We've been deluged with rain, extreme heat and humidity, and my tomatoes are not happy either. We've cooled down today, but the rain and high humidity continue for the rest of the week.
Oh, it turned out great! I love the colors.
Thanks:)
I love the setting as well. Great use of strings and wonderful tip on the use of fabric foundation.
It is a wonderful finish, and doesn't appear to be a random use of leftovers.
I, too, was interested in the tip about making the blocks 1/2" larger than the foundation. Makes perfect sense, but I would never have thought of it.
I really appreciate your tip on reducing the seam bulk. I'm going to try that next month on the string blocks I'm making for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
Love the bright colors in your dark string blocks! So pretty.
Thanks for the great tip about eliminating bulk in the seams! Your creation is beautiful!
You are so smart, leaving the strips hang over so that the foundation piece is not in the seams. That is one reason I hate using fabric as a foundation- the extra bulk.
I am a sucker for stars and this little number is pretty terrific.
Hope you are staying cool regardless of the humidity - not bad here.
This is just beautiful and so colorful! I can't handle humidity--we aren't in the south but we still get more than enough for me (and my hair!). Happy COOL quilting!
I love your latest quilt & the tip for less bulk in the seams is very clever. We are a bit cooler here right now but getting rain & humidity here in Texas too but we just wait for a few days & we will be back up in the high 90's. Lawnmower is in the shop & the grass is in desperate need of mowing. DH will probably have to use the big tractor w/mower deck before long. :)
This is a treasure, I love the colours you have in this quilt.
I love string blocks, but haven't tried any yet. I'm thinking I'd better hurry up because I would never have thought of your star layout and I just LOVE it. You amaze me with your ideas. Keep up the good work.
Wow! The quilt looks great. It always amazes me what can be made with scraps. Thanks for the great tip about squaring up string blocks. It never would have occurred to me to trim them so the foundation isn't part of the seam.
Post a Comment