Alright, this one is probably too easy for everyone but me. I have been reading up on string quilts and they all say to use a piece of paper for a foundation. But why do you do that if you are only going to tear it off? I could understand if it was a stabilizer fabric that you would leave in the quilt sandwich. This is probably going to be one of those "just do it like you're told and it will be fine" answers but I just gotta know!!!

I don't really know the answer to that either - would it be to keep the strips (strings) from stretching? I've read other directions that tell you to use muslin as a foundation.

Come on - someone in the know --- why do we need a paper or muslin foundation?

Nola

I am not familiar with your directions and do not understand why they would tell you to remove it. The purpose of the foundation is to stabilize the strips of fabric. The way I was taught to piece a string quilt, and of course this was back in the "olden days" before all these new-fangled techniques came into play, was to cut the desired shape of your finished block (diamonds, triangles, whatever) from muslin. We often used re-cycled cotton garments that had gotten thin from wear.

The point of a string quilt is to use up every scrap of fabric. Remember these were pretty desperate times and fabric was too precious a commodity. The foundation often substituted for batting and would add an extra layer of warmth. The tops could be tied or quilted for a summer quilt.

I am looking at an antique top I have as I write this and that is how it was done. This quilter used whatever she had for her foundations. There are several cut from what appear to be a man's oxford shirt. There are some from white flannel. There are a number from recycled sheets. I am old enough to remember what a worn 100% cotton sheet feels like. There are a few from odds and ends of bleached and unbleached muslin, and some of them were pieced to make the block large enough for her foundation.

Folks who couldn't afford to invest the muslin for foundations would recycle newspaper, and it was not removed. Some years ago at a church in MO, KS, or OK, several quilt tops were discovered from the 30's and 40's, I think during a renovation. They knew the exact dates because the newsprint foundations were still legible. One of the long-time parishoners remembered a quilt group who used to make them when she was a young woman for charitable purposes and for servicemen. It was their way of supporting the war effort.

Not sure I have answered your question, but at least I gave you some background. Hope it is helpful.

Oh Gerdaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.............

WEll, that's the way I would do it, too and what I've heard. It's the stretch, girls!!! You don't want that!!! No, no, no!! Now, if you don't want to use a foundation, at least make sure each seam is done from OPPOSITE ends, just like when you sew a strip set - this avoids some stretching. BUT when you are using up odds and ends of fabrics, nary a one will be on grain!!!! YOU CANNOT AVOID STRETCHING! So be a good girl, and use a muslin foundation or something. You'll have much less stress!

Cousin Hazel knows whereof she speaks.

I will look for corroboration online.

Marian

http://quiltville.com/diamondstrings.shtml

If you DO go the foundation route, sew with a very TINY stitch to make it very easy to rip off. If you want to spend some money, there is wash-away stabilizer for sale. Sew, soak, and dry - the soaking dissolves the stabilizer leaving you with just your strips. But again, you would have to be VEWY -Y, VEW-Y careful how you handle the blocks.

Marian

Yes Maam.

I pwomise!

I've heard of folk using polytrace - that fibre/paper stuff that one uses for making patterns for clothing. It's thin so it could be just left in and will wash soft.

Mary

Thanks for posting that link, Gerda! I love that quilt - am printing the instructions right now and adding it to my "to do" list! Will be a great way to use up some of my "old" fabric - stuff from years ago when I was doing custom sewing - I have boxes of that stuff!

Also have two full boxes of very thin copy paper - from back when people actually used typewriters and made copies - this stuff is more like tracing paper. Got it free at a yard sale recently - and it will work perfect as a tear-away foundation.

Nola

Meg, I really enjoyed reading your post. Your description of the antique top and the different types of foundations is very interesting. It tells you how people used to "make do". Using old shirts and old sheets might be a nice way of reusing clothing is not good enough to donate.

Gerda, I love the scrap quilts found in Quiltville! This lady has beautiful quilts. I'm hoping that once I have a nice size stash, I'll make one of the quilts in her site.

quiltingemi