A finished star

   The star made from leftover string blocks is done!

   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.