String Quilt

Back in July, the Queen in one of my bees asked for string blocks.  I had so much making hers that I kept my string bucket out and just kept making blocks. 

I decided to really go after scraps and did this as my very first Quilt As You Go project.  In addition to the scrappy strings, I used up batting scraps.  I love using fusible tape to make larger pieces out of batting scraps. I also used fabric donated to my Project Linus chapter for the backing.  After sewing each block, at which time I also quilted it (!) I trimmed to 7 1/2".

The back of one block, after joining

Turns out that I love Quilt As You Go!  (QAYG)  Having the quilting done once the piecing is done just feels so good!  I used a method for joining the quilted blocks that I learned from the Craftsy class Quilting Big Projects on a Small Machine with Ann Peterson.  One thing I will do differently next time is use non-directional prints for the backing.  For this quilt, it got too hard to try to get the prints to face one direction so I just decided it didn't matter.

The sashing on the blocks is some leftover Kona Meringue.  Last time I made a string quilt, I was sorry I didn't use the same fabric in the middle of each block to give some continuity and order.  I used the Meringue this time, but didn't think about how the joining method would mean each block was outlined.  So there are a few more lines than I planned.  Next time, I'll use the same fabric in each block if it's not QAYG and will skip it if I'm doing QAYG.

The string quilt was item #4 on my list of Q3 goals for the globally hosted finish along.