What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

I haven't started a new quilt. I am just cleaning up the odd scraps near my sewing machine. The fact that the little string blocks are the right size for quiltville's newer pattern crazie mazie is purely a coincidence. Sometimes, a girl, just has to make string blocks. The mess, and the need for no thinking sewing combine, and, string blocks are born.

These are quick, cute little 5 inch blocks that use the smallest bits. I have finished a couple of big quilts lately and I am giving myself a reward.

I’m calling this a stringy baby quilt. I chose the “Trash to Treasure” quilt block from my last post. I’m making it on a smaller scale of course. I decided not to cut the block into quarters and sew them back together, because I’m sewing it with backing and batting together to make a prequilted block.

I began with a square of white fabric, 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches. I cut a piece of batting and a piece of fabric for backing at 5 by 5 inches. I centered the small square over the ...

I have a top  for crossed strings. It was such an adventure building the blocks, putting the blocks together, and discovering a top. I think at this point, I will call it done and make a back and binding. I was hoping to have a nice day to take photos, but, no.

inside

outside

I'm linking to:

TGIFF different     here  and here

Making the longer pieces for crossed strings, although challenging to find long enough pieces, is straightforward. sewing and cutting the side pieces takes a bit longer. I was aiming for 48 blocks. Once again, string piecing makes a mess. I grab a handful, and see if I can pull pieces to use out of the pile. 

Of course, the best part is seeing all the block variations with all the different leftover bits and pieces from other projects.

sew much fun -free instructions ...

I think I have a top for the  wonky courthouse quilt. I went from blocks to top pretty quickly. It is 56 x 72 - is that big enough? This is also the third wonky courthouse I have made, and, none of them have been quilted. But, I have more than enough strings and crumbs to sew many more. I started when I saw that Bonnie Hunter was making one.

I really like making these blocks. There is quick progress, and, it is very soothing to match pieces by the size that is needed. I grab a handful of  crumbs and ...

Last weekend, I worked at my treadle, and, finished my shirt string piecing. I am working toward Bonnie Hunter's geese on a string quilt in her book string frenzy. After the blocks were finished, I went back to the book, and realized I had made a mistake. In one part, Bonnie says to cut phone book papers 7 1/4 inches. In a different part, she says to cut them diagonally. I didn't read that part, apparently.

I'm afraid I have lost my ability to chat and sew. I pretty much have a determined to get through this face right now. Hubby is recovering, and needs a bit of attention, and, I am tired most of the time. It isn't easy "resting". I am grateful for the timing of his back surgery. It gives us something to do, while we are hearing the news. If his surgery had been any later, It wouldn't have happened. Elective surgeries have been cancelled.

I had a friend from guild give a scrap bag to me. It was ...

I don't like instagram, but everyone else does. The new quiltville mystery quilt, frolic, will be linking up on instagram instead of blog today. When I look at instagram, I feel like I am looking at someone's vacation slides - boring. There is no substance or information to make it interesting.
I did find myself unmotivated to even start this mystery. This will be my 19th quiltville mystery quilt. I have a page of all of them here. I am glad I broke into it.  I have clue one finished. I had all the blue strips already in the ...

I have been slowly working on bonnie hunter's sandcastles for most of this year. I spent the most time making 512 -4 patch blocks. The first step I took, was sewing the string blocks. I decided that I would cut them now and add the sashing strip.

I really had no intention of starting another "string" project, but, I did want to clean the treadle area from the last one. As I picked up the strings all over the place, I just sort of started sewing them like the new Bonnie Hunter wonky courthouse steps. Oh my, they are fun. She is offering this pattern as a freebie and it is downloadable on her site.

I have been working on this string block quilt for a long time. It was interrupted by my back surgery. I restarted it as soon as I was comfortable to treadle again. So far it has all been done on the treadle.
There are lots of strings in this quilt. I have it to the top stage and need to decide on borders. I am glad to be far enough along that I can clean up the mess. A string quilt tends to be very messy.