Oh, good point about different angles being too twisty-spinny. Jenell, I love that look!

It's working better with the foundation cut larger than the finished block.

It saves some time (which is hardly necessary for a block this easy) to do the first strip two-at-a-time. I'm laying two strips (right sides together) on the diagonal and stitching along one edge. Press the strips open, lay one new strip on each edge. Fewer trips back and forth to the ironing board.

I tried chain-piecing but the blocks are too big for my sewing table (it butts against a wall). So this saves a little bit of walking.

Jenell, Nice job!
Vicky

quote:

Originally posted by quiltsrfun:
Does anybody have a GFS store in their area? I don't know what the letters stand for but you don't need a membership to shop there.

GFS is Gordon Food Service. My oldest used to think the store was named for him.

I LOVE scrappy quilts. And sewing the strips on foundation squares is so easy and makes for fun and funky quilts.

For really scrappy quilts you can also randomly sew scraps (strips, triangles, odd shapes) to the foundation squares for really scrappy quilts.

Also, if you have a lot of strips the same width (like 2" or 2-1/2") you can use a 4-1/2" center square and make scrappy log cabin blocks. I have a scrappy LC quilt that I'm putting borders on right now.

Those of you who participated in the strip swaps we've had can use your strips this way, too.

Still sewing! I've made about 40 blocks, and as usually happens with "scrap" quilts, I decide I need more blue or purple or yellow and end up cutting into fat quarters or ::gasp:: yardage. But the scrap pile is mostly gone, and I feel good about that.

Pam-
Did you try the deli paper? Just was wondering how it worked for you.
Jami

Jami, not yet. I already had a bunch of blocks made using the fabric, and I thought things might get wonky if I had some blocks with one layer of fabric and other blocks with two. I'll use the paper for the next one -- there will be a next one!

Should I use a bigger needle? The instructions on the website said a bigger needle makes it easier to tear off the paper.

Thanks Meg. I have problems remembering the letters sometimes.

Pam...You can also shorten your stitch length and the paper will tear off easily.

The last day of school is this Friday here so next week will be the start of our summer string project. I hope my DD(9) doesn't get bored with it too quick. She's ADHD and her attention span is limited. We have a bin full of scraps and also a mesh clothes hamper full. We may have to make something eles before it's over. Chinese coins or something.... Look at this one I found. I love the bright colors. Would look great in Christmas prints too. http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2706193430099908334SeBipD Check out the other quilts on this link too because there some string quilts that are so pretty and bright.

Janice

Fons and Porter did a Chinese Coins quilt on their TV show -- it's so easy, and pretty.

It's similar in concept to something called Australian Bush Quilt, a pattern from American Patchwork and Quilting. It's a few rows of rectangles set vertically, then bordered, then more rows set horizontally and bordered again. I made one --
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/AuntiePam/Quilts/Ramaesquilt2.jpg -- using a butterfly print for the borders, and the rectangles picked up colors from the butterfly print.

I did another one that had red in the borders, and one with a pink floral. It goes together fast and is pretty much foolproof.

The pattern in the magazine calls for large HST's for a final border, but if you want a smaller quilt you can leave that off.

I did one similar to that, but I used the "ends" I got from cutting 5" squares for swaps. (I swapped nickels a long time!). All my little strip pieces are different sizes, but I laid it out with sashing strips the same as the Chinese Coins quilt. It sewed together really fast!

Pam- just shorten your stitch length like Janice said. That's all I do, I never changed the needle size.

Jami