|
Page One
Of
all of the quilt making techniques I have tried, and I have tried most of
them, the piecing of the strings still remains my favorite. I do not know
why it holds such a fascination for me but some how I always seem to return
to the strings after each venture off to another type. I remember my first encounter
with this style. I was just a youngster and we were visiting a friend of
my mother's. She took us into her sewing room and there I saw my first string
quilts being made and it was, real string quilts. Every where, hanging
on her walls, in baskets and boxes, were bundles of strings in all colors.
This lady had worked for years at a shirt factory and had gathered from the trash containers the
selvage edges that were cut from the large rolls of fabrics. Most of these were very narrow. She was sewing them to
news papers patterns and making them into quilts. She explained how this
was done and I did not forget her instructions even though I was only a child. It was years later when I began
to make quilts that I remembered this visit and knew that I had to try strings.
Take time to show the young. You never know when you could be influencing one of
tomorrow's quilt makers.
|
Click photo to see a larger view.
|
|
This
first quilt is nothing more than some squares covered with the strings and
sewn together with setting strips. So I will tell you how this is done. First
let me tell you about the paper for the foundation. I use a newsprint paper.
You can use the non-colored pages from your newspaper but the ink will rub off some.
This is not a big problem, however, unless you are using very light or delicate
fabrics. I buy what is called 'nubbins' from my newspaper company which are
some unprinted paper left on the roll when they must remove them from their
machines. I give a dollar each for these. You can also use a thin fabric for
this but it will make the quilt somewhat heavier than the paper because it
is left in place and that eliminates the job of removing the foundations
which can be a big plus. I use a thin drapery lining for this. You can use
any size squares. These were 12 inches. Cut the background about one inch
larger than you want them to be including the seam allowance. This allows
enough for trimming and making the edges neater using one of the large plastic
squares and a rotary cutter. Starting in the center and on the diagonal, lay
your first string across the foundation face up, then lay on top of this one
the next strip, face down, aligning the edges. Pin and sew a seam using a
very small stitch. Flip this strip face up letting some of it over hang the
edges of the foundation and press. Add the next strip and again sewing it
to the foundation as before. Continue this way until you have covered to
the corner, turn the block and do the same to
the other side until the entire foundation is covered. With your rotary cuter
and plastic square trim these to the desired size. Now still using the very
small stitch, sew around the entire block using just a tiny bit less than
the seam allowance. This is an important step because it keeps these parts
from stretching out of shape later and it will aid greatly in the joining
of them so do not omit this. Remove the papers and you will appreciate the
small stitches now. If you have trouble with removing the paper, use a spray
bottle with warm water and a fine mist.
Hint: I have found
that the old Singers are the best machines to use for making these quilts.
You can use the edge of the regular foot to guide you for this row of stitching
and you do not have to have the standard quarter inch seams on these strips.
Any size is ok as long as it will hold the quilt together well. In fact a
narrower seam is more desirable because it makes for easier quilting and
less bulk. I would use the standard 1/4 inch for the setting together of
the parts, however. This will make it easier to measure for the strips and
borders.
Click photo to see a larger view.
The String Medallions are fun
and all kinds of designs are possible. Constructing these are quite different
than the squares we talked about before. This time we will sew some strips
together and then recut them to make the parts for these quilts. First you
should draw your design on some paper and began with a plan. You can easy
copy my designs by just looking at these photos and coloring the triangles.
Cut and sew strips together to make a piece of fabric that will measure 9-1/2
inches wide by five yards long. Place darker fabrics on one side graduating
to lighter or contrasting color on the other side. Cut so that you will have
triangles that measure 12-1/2 X 12-1/2 X 18-1/4 inches. Using the photo as
the guide for color placements. Next sew together strips to make a piece
that measures 5 X 48 inches and cut this into the smaller triangles that
should measure 6-1/2 X 6-1/2 X 9-3/4 for the smaller triangles. Cut
the appropriate number of triangles for the background and join to
form your center. Make 108 saw tooth 2 inch (sewn) squares for the saw tooth
border and add the pillow area and outer borders as desired to make quilt
the size you want.
The two quilts shown above are basically the same design with different arrangement
of the light and dark strips as they were sewn. The quilt on the left has
the four center background triangles made from some of the smaller triangle
in a solid blue and this gives an all together different look. Different
fabrics and colors could really change the mood of this one also. Try adding
some pretty appliquéd flowers with these designs for a real
smashing quilt. You have probably already noticed how many of my quilts has
this same string border. Why? because I like it and it is easy to do. It
looks nice on any quilt that I have put it on. I have been most
pleased with it in a wide width. (12") It is nice to make the body of the
quilt to cover just the top of the bed and maybe the pillows then add this
border for the over hang. For this it needs to be at least 12 inches wide.
To make that size you will need to cut strips and join them that will total
13 yards in length and sew enough together to make it measure at least 13
inches wide. This will give you enough for a queen size quilt. After you
have this long piece made, press it well and then cut it crosswise into the
width that you want your border to be. Join these pieces to form the long
border strips.
Hint: These borders always
look best if the strips are cut at different widths from 2-1/2 to 1 inch.
Do not try to match the seams in the corners but miter them for a neat look
or if you are not able to do that and a lot of good quilters can't miter
a corner, then make four pretty blocks to use as corner blocks that will
compliment your quilt.
|
|
