Having fun with strips, strings, and QAYG

So far, so good!  Many of my recent purchase (scrap bag, previous post) contain pieces large enough for backings so I'll not cut them into strips.  I'm liking the one bright on the diagonal  near the center of each block, and also have a white strip 1 1/2 in. on each diagonal center for continuity.

Here are 4 x 4 blocks, I planned to have 6 x 7 but ... not sure yet.  Each individual block finishes at 6.5 in. 

Too much stringy fun!

I am still using a gift box of string and scrappy bits from my LQS.  Every year I try to made several donation quilts thru them for Hugs and Stitches, but fell behind this year.  However, I think these will be an excellent candidate.  I started sewing strips yesterday noon time, and next thing I noticed was that it was DARK outside!  Yikes, I couldn't stop.  My studio looks like a tornado hit! 

So today, I'm putting the strips-on-phone-book-paper together, and found this polka dot left-over backing .  Isn't is somethin? 

I'm using the tube method to sew the polka dot and strings together, which does lead to bias edges.  I do need to square up.  These blocks are 5 in. raw  I tried to use strings within pinks, purples, light blues, greens and added a few "cutsies" including some hedgehogs, teddy bears, rabbit. No decision yet on the setting.  My brain is on overdrive - feel like someone sneaked something into my iced tea.  What fun this is!  (still have paper to remove but ...)

Below are the paper/strings in chunks about 12 inches long.  I need to sew them end-to-end before adding the polka strips.  There are more than I need which means another option for setting the m together.  

Use up those cute blocks!

I was practicing my machine quilting, hoping recent repairs solved the issues, and decided to make  pillows as practice blocks.  At the last All Day Sew, Jody was using really BRIGHTS, for a quilt and kept bringing the trimmed strings to me, hoping I'd use them.  Well, I did!  Dig those two bright and happy string pillows!  DH said I should also show the backs.  I'll send the 2 string pillows home with her, and donate the other two.  They were fun to make, and I learned about Velcro on the backs.  I had the folds across the mid-backs and they tended to pooch out too much so Velcro was needed.

BTW, so far, so good with the quilting, but I DID use Sewers Aid to keep the stitches as nice as possible. 

New project, old strings

December 30, 2014

 



I'm trying to use my strings - have you noticed that over time, the strings left in the bin gets uglier and uglier???

 

I added a few better looking strips and strings to my recipe and decided to make a version of a Kaleidoscope Quilt.  Because my bits were of various lengths, I sewed them to a phone book paper foundation.  The paper was cut casually, to a triangular size.  I sew on the various bits, press between each new string, the trim clean with a ruler.  These are 45 degrees wedges, and 6.5 inches in height.   One reason I like the paper cut almost to size is that there is no measuring of the strips - this saves a LOT of time.  Just lay them on, sew (smaller stitch) then cut carelessly at the end. and start again until I run out of the string.  I'm trying to stick with foresty, darkish, rich woodsy colors, adding an occasional "sparkle."  

 

Ok, what background??

 

I have several yards of this one ... it's a good piece of fabric,  3 yards, but kinda blah.

Below is a pretty piece - those dots add some character, I don't have enough but my LQS usually keeps it in stock.  But, it still doesn't have the "zing" I am wanting.

 

 

I think I found just the right one!  I need 2 yards more, but it's a MODA and my LQS should have it in stock.  8-))  

My resolution this year was to be less judgmental, in addition to my last year resolution, "with purpose" which means to concentrate on what I plan.  People who are artistic, if that's what I lean towards, tend to let a lot of things get them off main track. 

Table Runners, and "Stringin' My Blues,"

I'm either really early or really late with a Christmas runner!  Fingers were itching and I HAD to sew something!  This is a Missouri Star.  I quilted around the star with invisible thread and made small paisleys with a soft variegated green in the green areas.  Colors are richer in person. 

Success breeds success and I made another one with a regular star, for Fourth of July (below).  The original plan was to quilt the side setting triangles in glitzy fireworks, but my LQS did not have the "right" thread - (that's a first!) - and I'm thinking it's fine the way it is -- I can add "glitz" later.  

Here's the back - cute, and On Sale.

I'm trying to come up with a good border idea for my Rocky Road to Kansas, now called "Stringin' My Blues" - oh yes, using up strings.   This was supposed to mirror the centers of the star blocks. Uhh, I'm not feelin' it!  Try again, Elaine Adair! It's always good to try with a FEW blocks before cutting fabric when one is unsure. 

And now, to my Design Floor -- shade over your eyes - this appears more "in your face" than my planned finish, and when I trim to better proportions, this border idea will "do it".  I'm sewing strings to phone book paper.  This is a 4 1/2 border, but I'll trim to 3 1/2 inches.  I'll widen the white border #1, to the proportion of that side setting white triangle, and will narrow down the string border, and will likely add yet another white border, same proportion, ending up with a 9 inch border.  The quilt blocks are 12 inches.  I'm happy!  For me, it was important to carry on the suggestion of frugality, strings, using up, and making do.  My border strings were approximately the same width as what is used in the stars.  And yes, I AM using blue strings from various projects as well as adding a few new ones to the mix.  There actually are NO more blue strings in my String Bin!

Hooray, energy and enthusiasm is restored in MY Studio.

3597 + 9 + 2 + 1 label

Last photo of "Determination", before it goes into the storage closet for an unnamed recipient.  Yesterday I did the binding in one day, and my hands were so cramped!  3597 pieces, which is documented on the label, but then I realized later that I hadn't counted the 9 binding strips, the 2 backing pieces and the 1 label!  So there, that's how many pieces.  Of course, the number of string units had to be averaged.  

The triangles on the border on ONE side were different than the others, so the quilting motifs had to be finessed, if that's what you call it!  I LOVE the black which is mottled, not pure black.  And I LOVE the thread, a King Tut, again a mottled/variegated black.  This was a very good idea and was visible even when eyes are tired.

New project - playing with strings, with basic, gentle machine quilting.  

 I do all my own quilting, on a DSM, a Janome 6500 MC.  This machine has been a workhorse - (knock on wood).

Step 4 - DONE

These strings for the latest Quiltville Mystery Step almost started themselves - they are so addictive,! I'm using blues, purples, turquoises, instead of reds.  I sat down after supper Friday and planned to piddle around for a few minutes, but energy and enthusiasm got the better of me, and by midnight, they were almost finished.   My normal bedtime is early, 9:30 or so - what happened?? I felt like I'd had an overdose of caffeine, but nope.  Again this morning, I'm up early, sewing, pressing, -- the energy is still with me. Yowsa - whatever happened I want to bottle it!!!

The fabric is lightly starched before removing the paper (above)  - but it helped to stabilize the edges and I believe the starch helped soften the paper.  I've given up on ever maintaining a nice cover for the board, and now use a towel. 

OK, how long to remove paper? less than expected -- less than 2 hours, -- very easy.  The mess? uhhh!  LOL

Here they are, DONE.  I've been wanting to use strings for something - this takes care of that "want".   Almost ALL my strings in these comibinations are gone.  I wonder what Bonnie has in store for us next.  Hope she doesn't want blue strings!

I still have parts of #1 and #2, to finish.  My house is a mess!!! 

Gotta sew those strings!

hmmmm - interesting, but I'm not thrilled. My diagonal strip is dark purple and maybe too wide. It looked great on the screen in Quilt Pro, but drawing in a computer program does not always translate to the real thing.

I don't yet have a layout, but this diagonal block can turn into many designs. The blocks are 6 inches finished.

OK, I reduced the width of the diagonal line by one quarter inch, changed it to white, and changed the white to a medium blue/purple and increased it's size. I like it much better. Only 60 more to sew.

"Can't See the Forest for the Trees" syndrome

This was supposed to be a finished, albeit, extremely busy Linus Quilt. Do you see my dilemma? To rip or not to rip, that is now the question.

This is the perfect example of one of my weaknesses. I get so involved with the minutia (ha, I've not used that word in a while), I forget to check the overall precision, hence "Can't see the forest for the trees."

String Spools, and Dove in the Nest

If it hadn’t been for ALL of you, encouraging me to finish this little quilt that didn’t seem to have much potential, I wouldn’t have this lively little FINISHED project! THANKS! “You don’t know how it will look until it’s finished!” I almost didn’t follow my own advice!

It’s quilted it in a playful swirls, with bright “King Tut” brand, variegated #40, thread. It took a little practice on my Magna Doodle to get the pattern ingrained on my brain, but once started, I couldn’t stop. (I'm still practicing my machine quilting on my domestic machine. The heavy quilting tends to blend the many colors. This was a delightfully entertaining project to quilt, with each border quilted in a different pattern. The binding was finished tonight while DH was watching a too-complicated espionage movie on TV, and I was trying to spend some quality time with him. (Does that count as quality time?)


This little Mama dove is almost totally hidden, yet is 6 feet from my eyes. When I unfurled my quilt for the photo, she flew away - I felt TERRIBLE! But she'll be back, and we can watch her family grow.

String Settings

I am playing with my string blocks. There might be too much white so I added the quick corners in purple and turquoise. It gives the block a whole new look, doesn't it? At this point, I'm not sure which one to use -- maybe I should keep playing! I have a LOT left over. Actually, I've made both of these quilts before - can't get enough of those strings!

I really like the second one, kinda 'spool' like, but it would be MUCH better if those strings went cross-wise. Maybe someone out there in blogland will make one -- if so, I hope she sends me a photo.

Strips and Strings

Once again, I got all carried away by some string quilt photos posted on several blogs, and mail lists. And in truth, I've been wanting to make another one or two for a while. I made 88 blocks, but cut enough strings for 176! A slight miscalculation ... duhhhh.

Anyway, I like to use telephone book pages for several reasons. 1) they add stability to odd shapes; 2) the lines on the pages help to keep my strips straight, if that's what I want; 3) frugality, and recycling, 4) the page/paper is a measured size, so that means I don't have to take the time to measure my strips - I consider this the best advantage. Of course, then you have the thing about time needed to remove the paper afterwards, so if someone argues the point, I'll probably have to agree that using the paper, vs. removing paper, is probably a washout.

Anyway, I DID use up loads of my bright strips, and I'm feeling admirably thrifty. Not sure how I'll set these together, and I'm leaning towards adding purple and turquoise quick corners on the white, just to tone the white down somewhat.

I cut the triangles from the roll. The roll was about 5 inches tall. Then I added the white triangles, sewed, then pressed, and then trimmed to exact size. The block ends up about 5 inches raw. The roll of paper is what is left over, definitely enough for another quilt.

Quilt Guild tomorrow! yeahhhhh! Better get my stuff together!

More strings - am I using up fabric or creating more?

Mary, of http://www.maryquilts.blogspot.com/ coordinated a group of string-quilt enthusiasts from the Stashbusters Internet group and organized a group called Heart String Quilts, the idea being we would use up some of our stash, and make useful quilts for various causes.

This is my second version -- the first turned out so surprisingly attractive, I had to admit my sin and admitted it needed to stay with me.

These blocks are addictive! They are sewn on a muslin foundation, using almost any color strings (this was somewhat selected), then trimmed to an exact size and put together. If you want to use up scraps, this is the quilt for you. By using one strong same color down the diagonal center, the quilt takes on that color. For more info, check with Mary, at the above link.

Again, I opted to separate lights and darks, like a half square triangle. Also, when this quilt got to be this size, I decided it was done - the pattern dictated "finished!" This is about 60 inches square. Several weeks ago, I posted an earlier String Quilt - the one that I kept, so I DID feel obligated to make another. I think I sewed all the strings down in 2 or 3 sessions of several hours each. My strings were already cut. It still needs quilting.

Not quite what I expected

Since I 'kinda' joined an Internet string quilting project, it was time to attack some of those leftovers under the bed - this is what I dragged out to get started.


Making one was fun, fast, and certainly graphic when finished. As is my usual style, I simply refuse to follow instructions (sorry, Mom - I'm as stubborn as ever!) and decided I would use a light side and dark side, so those were the strings I pulled. And since I figured I'd make the entire quilt myself, I didn't follow the suggestion that we use red or blue down the center. Oh mercy, and I couldn't stay consistent with the size of my center strip. (BTW, it DOES help to be consistent in that center strip color, to give the whole project some measure of continuity.)

mmm, maybe I LOVE it after all ... The turquoise and brown are so pretty together. I'm going to play with rearranging. Don't you just hate it when this happens - you can't decide it you like it or not! It looks a lot better on this BLOG than is does on my living room carpet.

If/when I get this finished, it goes to Heartland String Quilt Project.

Next time I may use softer colors. It works up so fast and it's totally EASY.