String Quilt

Supplies:

Scraps/strips of fabric
Sewing machine and basic sewing kit
Muslin for backing.
Scissors or even better, use a rotary cutter, mat and ruler.

Directions

I just LOVE scrappy quilts. There is nothing better than a quilt made with every kind of cotton fabric. You will want your scrap bins for these. Pull out all that unwanted fabric. Homespuns will work too. I like to use all the same kind of fabric (in this case 100% cotton).

You will cut the muslin foundation first. I like to make my blocks approximately 9 inches square. (the finished block will be 8 ½, for squaring up). Make as many blocks as you want. You can make 25 blocks for a small lap quilt or even larger. The sky is the limit here.

You will start cutting your pieces of scraps into strips. Doesn’t matter how large. I make them anywhere from 1 inch to 3 inches. Usually no bigger than that.

I then scramble up my strips so that when I’m sewing I am grabbing different pieces each time. You will use one of the muslin squares as the foundation. Your first strip will be corner to corner (on the diagonal) face UP. The 2nd strip will be face down (right sides together) against the first strip. You will stitch a ¼ inch seam all the way down, eyeballing to go straight. I never pin with this type of quilt. Once the 2 pieces are sewn RST (right sides together) you will iron open the 2 pieces so you can see the right sides of each. Continue on going right until done. Flip block over and do it again for the other side. Sometimes it looks neat to do strips on one side and when you flip, use a solid fabric (or one that reads as a solid (tone on tone).

Once the block is sewn you will ‘square up’ the block with your ruler. Cutting each one down to 8 ½ inches or smaller if you like.

Setting the blocks is the most fun. Lay them down anyway you please. Then sew blocks together in rows. Then sew rows together. If you want to add borders the quilt, do so now. Finally your top is done! You can back this quilt with muslin, flannel, or even scraps put together (love the look of a scrap quilt). Quilt as desired. Above is a picture of one I’m in the process of working on. This is kind sized.

Happy sewing/quilting!