I happened to watch a Bonnie Hunter QuiltCam video the other day. Perhaps you saw it too, it was on string piecing. QuiltCam is on Bonnie's blog, Quiltville. If you didn't see it, you can see it here on her blog. Anyway, I have seen string quilts on other blogs, etc. and had this piecing technique on my 'gotta try it' list. The video was perfect to get me started - Thanks Bonnie!
So yesterday afternoon, since I was trapped inside the house with Blizzard Jonas visiting us, I pulled out some scraps out of my little basket of modern scraps. I found an old phone book to use for foundation papers and away I went..... PURE FUN!
Soon I needed more strips and variety so I was cutting through my scraps and favorite bright and modern fabrics. The pile on my sewing table next to my sewing machine grew!
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| The view from our front porch toward our neighbor's house across the street about 2PM. The walkway and most of the garden has disappeared. |
It was the perfect remedy to brighten up a day that looked like this. We ended up with about 24" of snow. Pretty good for the first significant snow fall of the season.
I was delighted by this new piecing technique and soon I had a nice pile of finished blocks. I was thrilled with each block as it was completed and this was definitely what my quilting mojo needed. Not sure what this will look like eventually, but I sure am having fun!
These are 6 1/2" blocks.
I removed the paper from the back and pieced two blocks together. Hmmm.. then it occurred to me that I had made blocks that had totally bias edges. Eek!
And there was quite a bit of stretch with these blocks. Eek again!
So I am asking for your help. I know many of you are string quilt aficionados.
When do you remove the paper? Before or after you sew your blocks together?
How do you deal with the potential for stretch and distortion?
I appreciate any feedback! But in the meantime let me get back to my sewing machine and my 'strings'!
Happy Stitching
