Stash Bandit
  • Home
  • Booking Inquiries
  • Blog
  • Ideas & How-tos
  • Trunk Shows by Diane Harris
  • Classes
  • Galleries
  • About
  • Contact
  • Calendar
Stash Bandit

String Piecing and Improvisation

Written by Diane Harris on September 18, 2017. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle

I’m getting things ready for a String Piecing Quilt Retreat next week in Arapahoe, Nebraska. I decided to make a few more samples because you can never have too much inspiration.

String piecing is generally done on a foundation. The “string” name came about when people used their narrowest strips of leftovers—so narrow they could be thought of as strings. The charm in these quilts comes from using many, many different fabrics. Variety is what counts. A relaxed, easy attitude is essential!

I made step-by-step samples to show how this pinwheel block is made. I think it would make a great Quilt of Valor. When the retreat is over, I’ll post a step-by-step tutorial for this block.

The beauty is that since it reads as half light and half dark, you can set it any number of ways, just as you’d set Log Cabin blocks. Think Barn Raising, Straight Furrows and Streak of Lightning.

 

Today was the first time I’d made rectangular string blocks. There is enormous potential here! I put in anything and everything, but you could limit your palette for a completely different effect. I needed to work quickly so my strips are fairly wide, but narrower strips would be dynamite! This is a 16″ block, so you’d get a big quilt pretty quickly.

 

I ran across this image of a string selvage block. So much fun to make! It’s part of a quilt I designed and made called MerryJoyCheer. It’s not as fluorescent as it looks below. The selvage block is toward the bottom right.

MerryJoyCheer by Diane Harris. Photo by Kristin Laing Photography.

This whole quilt was improvisational, which just means that I made it up as I went. It’s a joyous, exhilarating, challenging and happy way to work.

 

Then because I had lots of bits and strips pressed and taunting me, I grabbed the pansy print above and pieced an improvisational Log Cabin of sorts around it. This kind of sewing is addictive.

 

This Ohio Star is made with string piecing.

 

I used lights and mediums for this block. Wouldn’t a whole quilt be amazing? Like something you’d sleep under at your grandma’s house.

 

String fan blocks

I used a limited palette of reproductions for these string pieced fans. The cheddar corners are a happy accent.

 

Sample string blocks for an upcoming retreat

I don’t know if I can resist making more of these modified Log Cabins with very narrow strings. Can you imagine a bed-size quilt in these? Over the top.

Fourteen brave souls signed up for the retreat next week, Sept. 24 to 27! One lady broke her arm and had to cancel, so if you want some last-minute adventure, you’re welcome to join us. Call Wagner’s Quilts & Conversation at 308 962 8458 to register.

Happy Quilting!

Please follow and like me!
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram

Tags: quilt retreat, scrap quilts, stash sewing, string piecing, wagner's quilts

Comments (8)

  • Matti

    September 19, 2017 at 5:40 am | #

    Your quilts are awesome. Thanks for sharing them.

    Reply

    • Diane Harris

      September 19, 2017 at 7:21 am | #

      Thank you kindly, Matti!

  • Liz A.

    September 19, 2017 at 10:00 am | #

    Love these blocks, especially the Oho Star — wow! I think the retreat would be a lot of fun, if only it were closer…….

    Reply

  • Anne Wiens

    September 19, 2017 at 12:01 pm | #

    Love the Log Cabin blocks.

    Reply

  • Donna

    September 19, 2017 at 4:25 pm | #

    Congrats on your adventure. You are such an inspiration.

    Reply

  • Diane Paul

    September 20, 2017 at 5:57 am | #

    I’m organizing 9 months worth of scraps right now and thankfully you’ve given me loads of ideas of how to use them since if I don’t make quilts from them soon, I’m going to have to move in order to store all the scraps. Thanks for the inspirations. Once they are done I will share pictures.

    Reply

    • Diane Harris

      September 20, 2017 at 9:24 am | #

      Diane Paul, I’m so glad to hear you’ll be using your scraps! You made me LOL this morning. Can’t wait to see your pictures!

  • Catholic Bibliophagist

    September 20, 2017 at 4:24 pm | #

    Timely inspiration! My string drawer is full, and I was just trying to think of what I could do with them.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Search

Contact

Stash Bandit
Diane Harris
Bladen, NE
402-756-1541
Email Diane

Sign Up Links

  • Follow the Blog
  • Get Stash Bandit News by Email

Social Links

Popular Topics

baby windmills Christmas quilts classes color for quilters Dresden plate easy quilts electric quilt electric quilt company EQ8 fabric fabric savvy free quilt block free quilt pattern free quilt patterns giveaways guild programs helpful how-tos holiday quilts how-tos improv piecing inspiration International Quilt Study Center and Museum jingle bells trunk show machine quilting make extraordinary scrap quilts one hundred small quilts original quilt designs quilt design quilt ideas quilting 101 Quiltmaker quilt museum quilt retreat sampler quilts scrap quilts stash bandit classes stash bandit trunk shows stash sewing trunk shows UFO UFOs value vintage quilts wagner's quilts windy wonders
© 2017 Stash Bandit     Site Credits: Infuze Creative
  • Home
  • Booking Inquiries
  • Blog
  • Ideas & How-tos
  • Trunk Shows by Diane Harris
  • Classes
  • Galleries
  • About
  • Contact
  • Calendar