One of the quilt groups that I had belonged to in California swaps blocks every month. Each year has a pattern and color/theme and this year's blocks are strip pieced blocks. Since I am so far away and can't attend meetings I do a year's worth and mail them off to a friend. I usually try to get them there early spring, not happening this year. As long as they get there before the December meeting, my friend can catch me up. I did participate in the swap last year and wrote about it in this
post.
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| string block |
I thought I need to square to 7" (over-sized for the recipient to be able to square all her blocks to the same size) and made about 4 blocks. Then I found out most were squaring to 7-1/2", so I decided I would just keep those and then went to the larger size.
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| 4 blocks |
My four smaller blocks. I love the design!
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| one batch |
I have one month's worth done, and most of a second. Each batch features a block for each swapper and a block for the "Pot". Sometimes there is one winner and sometimes two. Depends on how many blocks are in the pot. I have won the pot a couple of times.
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| strips |
I pulled strips from my scrap bags. I sort my scraps according to size. I have bags of strips in various widths and also boxes of squares cut from scraps. No matter how many strips or squares you use up, they still keep multiplying! I tried to keep the strips sorted a bit on my sewing table. That lasted for about 15 minutes. Oh well. I work better in chaos.
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| in progress |
I have several blocks in progress. I will start another one so that I can go iron the seams.
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| ready to trim |
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| removing paper |
I found that if I fold the paper back and then tear it away using That Purple Thang it really comes off easily! Since the seams are all side to side it is an easy chore. I have been tearing right after trimming each block.
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| Grand Canyon |
We drove down to the Grand Canyon last week. Oh it was lovely! I had only been there once before, when I was 4 years old. Since it is day trip from here, we will be going back frequently!
I am linking to:
I'm fascinated with your process. How is this different than just sewing strips together? and how light is the paper? I love the crazy colors :)
ReplyDeleteThe colors! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteLove the oranges in the top picture. I need to follow your lead and start using some of my strips too!
ReplyDeletei like the string blocks. Whenever I make them I don't see any reduction in my strips stash. Maybe I need to make a year's worth to make a dent in the stash. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI'm a long-time participant in the HeartStrings Quilt Project. Our string-pieced blocks are made on fabric foundations. Though the resulting quilts are a somewhat heavier, there's no paper to remove.
ReplyDeleteThose blocks are great. I love all the colors. Do you draw lines on the paper before sewing the strips on? Or is it just there as a foundation? I can see me making these blocks for a fun, scrappy quilt.
ReplyDeleteI love making string quilts on paper and on muslin (no tearing away, but a heavier quilt result). Lovely blocks, Hugs, Julierose
ReplyDelete