I found some time to try something that I have been wanting to try for awhile now; string quilt blocks using paper piecing. I followed the great Film in the Fridge string quilt tutorial. It worked like a charm and was so easy, quick and fun!
I used fall colored scraps to make this mini quilt. I cut my paper squares to 6 1/2" so that I'd have 6" finished squares. The finished mini quilt measures approximately 12 1/2" x 24 1/2". I am using it for a mat in the center of my table. The backing as well as the center stripes are unbleached muslin.
The only tricky thing was the quilting. There were a lot of seams and I had to keep lifting my presser foot up to get over them and then putting it back down, in order to prevent bunching. I was using a free motion presser foot. Any suggestions?
I really like trying out new blocks in mini quilts or table runners to get the feel for them and see if I want to make something bigger. Next I want to try a spiderweb which is approached very similarly.
I love your colors! It's fun to try something new.
ReplyDeleteGreat job. Beautiful fall colors. I'm working on my first string quilt but didn't think about trying a smaller version first. I'll have to remember that hint. I'm guessing if you iron your seams open it would help, but it would be a pain to do that though.
ReplyDeleteI love this! I've been wanting to make something fallish but need a small project. This would be great!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I love the warm, autumnal tones you've used. I can just imagine it on my table! :P This is another that will have to be added to my to-make list.
ReplyDeleteI find the best way to help with bunching is to pin like crazy. It's a pain (both with the pinning and the removing as you quilt), but it really helps things to stay put and to squash down bulky spots. Also-- I don't know what machine you have, but amandajean at crazy mom quilts was having this problem too, and found a really interesting solution. You may want to check it out.
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2009/10/i-feel-need-to-celebrate.html