How to Use Scrap Strings in Your Modern Quilting Projects

We’ve been talking about scrap-busting lately, and back in Issue 42 we explored sorting scraps into more usable pieces. Now, let’s focus on strings—long fabric strips, usually 1” to 4” wide, and anywhere from 10” to a full width of fabric (or more!). They’re common scraps, and their value skyrockets when you pair them with their stringy friends.

You can trim your strings to even widths, or leave them random and wonky—this depends on your style. Crave order? Trim them to half-inch increments. Love a bit of improv? Keep them as they are. Every string is worthy and you’ll find endless ways to use them.

One popular method is creating string blocks on a foundation (paper or fabric). Cut a square, draw a diagonal line, and place your centre string. Some people use the same colour for all centres—like white—for a cohesive look. Sew strings to each side, pressing as you go. Once covered, flip it over and trim. You can also sew strings on rectangles, or skip the foundation and create a string slab by sewing strips directly together. If your strings are wonky, alternate thick and thin ends to keep things square.

If you prefer, you don’t have to use a foundation, just sew a bunch of strings together to create a slab. If your strings are a bit wonky, then you may have to alternate thick and narrow ends to keep the whole thing relatively square. There are plenty of patterns you can use your newly created string blocks in. You can pair them with solids to make HST units, or sew them together into long strips, Chinese Coin block style. A Pinterest search for ‘string quilts’ should whet your creative appetite. Look for any pattern that uses rectangles or strips of fabrics

Also look for patterns that use jelly roll strips, which can be adapted to suit strings. Consider using strings in patterns that call for strip piecing – sew a bunch of strings together and then cut them to uniform sizes to make the units or blocks you need.

Personally, I love using strings in wonky log cabin blocks—just start with a square centre, add strings round and round, and trim when they’re big enough. My blocks finish at 12” and they’re super effective. Another favourite is the Spiderweb quilt—using a solid triangle as a base, sew strings onto each side and trim back to the triangle.

Finally, don’t forget about scrappy bindings! Trim strings to 2½” wide, join with 45-degree seams, press in half, and you’ve got the perfect binding for a scrappy quilt. You can go totally random or stick to a colour theme for a more cohesive look.

This is an extract from Stringing It Along by Jane Kelly. Read the full article in Make Modern Issue #44.

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