Cut your foundation a little bigger so that you have the little extra when you square up. I use muslin for foundation because you don't have to go back and remove it. Some use some type of paper but muslin is just what I prefer. My strips will be random sizes so that it feels un-planned. There were some posted on the HGTV quilting & needleworks board that were too organized where all strips were the same width and had a color scheme. They were pretty but then they had points to meet. I'm going for the discombobulated look, LOL.

Check out the link that Jami posted. Scroll down and look in the left column. There are lots of scrappy quilts there. I like the Crayola quilt.

Janice

Jami, I just love your round robin quilt.

I love the Quiltville site, too. Has Barb McF chimed in on this thread? Where are you Barb? Barb mentioned in the Good Morning thread that she is doing the Orange Crush Mystery quilt on her site and it looks so intriguing as a way to use up strips. I have too many projects in the works to start this right now, but I am following the process.

And my stash is growing ...

I need a good ideas to manage this, too ...

One of the things I do to help give some definition and purpose to my scraps is this:

When I sew a Half Square Triangle or Snowball or Flying Geese Block that calls for cutting off the corners ... before I cut, I run another line of stitching 1/2 inch from the main seam on the outside and then I cut between the two when I cut off the tips. It takes no time at all and this way I have a HST already sewn. I have a plastic shoe box of various HSTs with the plan to someday use them in a scrap quilt.

Jami, love your quilts! Especially Dann's Quilt and the Round Robin. Totally gorgeous.

Janice, that's an excellent tip -- cutting the template a bit bigger. I cut my templates 9.5 but the finished block was a hair smaller. I have some lightweight poly-cotton fabric that I bought when I didn't know any better. It's awful for quilting but works fine as a foundation. I'm glad to find a use for it.

Pat, I saw that tip on Sewing with Nancy last week -- I'll try it.

Okay, okay. I'm in. I have been looking for patterns for Skyler and Shirrie's little quilts and have always loved the string quilts anyway. I have 2 jelly roll packs all ready to go! So what could be simpler? Finally, a decision!

AuntiePam, Jami sent me a sample of the deli paper and I am using it on a string quilt now. I love it! I has some pics posted somewhere but in all the shuffle I think they got lost. I will try to update my blog this week and get things back in order.

My DD has been asking me to show her how to use the sewing machine (she's only 8 and has only done hand-sewing so far) and I'm thinking that these string quilts will be just the thing to get her started. She'll be able to get a feel for the machine without having to worry about getting her seams just right, and she'll have a really cool quilt when she's done. It's a great, non-intimidating project. Thanks again for sharing!!! She can't wait for summer so we can start!

Delia

Looks like we have a convoy! (Showing my age here.)

I'll look for the deli paper. Wal-Mart probably has it. Would this be the thin stuff that restaurants sometimes use to wrap a sandwich?

Delia... these kids have to learn how to straight stitch and learn consistency anyway. I think these string quilts are the answer to that. I have an extra machine with a 1/4" that my DD (9) can use. She's been telling anybody who asks her what she's going to this summer that we're making string quilts. She's ready to go. The sped on mthe machine that she'll be using is adjustable so by the end of the summer she should be smokin' that machine, LOL. We'll have to post pics of their quilts at the end of the summer.

AuntiePam...I know what a convoy is too. DH has a CB in his van just in case he's out somewhere and the cell phone is in a dead zone. I don't know where he plans to go where there would be no signal with as many cell towers as there are, LOL. He checked his CB and people actually still talk on those.

Janice

Pam-
I'll bring some sheets of deli paper with me tomorrow that you can try. If you can't find it at Walmart, check at Martin Brother's in Fort Dodge.
It is the same stuff they use to line baskets and wrap sandwiches in.

Jami

Cool! Thanks!