Scrappy String Block Tutorial!!

Hello there quilty friends!

I just know that ya'll have

 leftover fabric strips. 

Am I right?!

 They are just waiting to become

 super cute Scrappy String Blocks...

so I'm going to show you how I make them!

I love creating wonderfully 

scrappy blocks and quilts from my stash.

As a girl...

I learned from my grandma 

and her sisters(my great aunts) 

lots of good ways to use up

 bits of leftover fabrics... 

and making string quilts 

were one of those ways!

I've done several scrappy blog posts and tutorials over the years.

All about how I buy fabric...

store and organize my leftovers...

 and more importantly...

how I actually USE my scrappy stash.

I have it ALL documented in

 step by step detail inside the

 "Tips and Organizing" 

section of my 

Scrappy Project Planner

It's important to be organized 

with our quilty stash 

because then we know what we have...

where it is... and can easily get to it 

and make scrappy happy projects:)

YaY!

Here are 16 of my 

Scrappy String Blocks 

on the design wall.

I will be making many more 

for this quilt...

  not sure exactly how many yet.

These blocks are not sewn together...

and this is only one possible way 

to set them together.

Although over the years 

I have made a total of

 3 string quilts and have set

 all of them this way.

***SCRAPPY STRING BLOCKS***

1. Super easy to make.

2. Use leftover fabric strips.

3. Scrappy Happy:)

4. Addicting.

5. Super cute!

Let's get started:)

The first thing that you need to make my

 Scrappy String Blocks: 

Sew-In Interfacing

 for the foundation.

Cut -  9" x 9" squares...

ONE for each block.

Each package will make 24 blocks:)

For this block I started with a 

2 1/2" wide strip 

that I grabbed from my 

2 1/2" scrappy strips basket.

I lay it face up on top of the

 interfacing on the diagonal like this.

Make sure to center it.

I cut off what's leftover from the

 strip end and put it back 

into my basket to use another time:)

Pin it onto the interfacing like this.

Grab a 1 1/2" wide strip 

(or however wide you want) 

and lay it onto the right side 

of the center strip...

 with the edges aligned like this.

Each end of each and every strip 

should be about 1/4" longer 

than the interfacing.

Trim off the bottom end before sewing:)

Sew the strips together going

 through the interfacing too:) 

Remove the 3 pins - 

(I only pin the center "starter" strip)

and add a strip to the 

other side in the same way.

Press those seams towards the 

outside strips and continue adding 

a strip onto each side....

trimming the ends and placing them 

back into their baskets.

(if you like to stay organized lol)

I use the edge of my presser foot 

as a seam allowance guide.

This presser foot is wider than

 1/4" so that is how wide my

 seam allowances are.

Continue adding new "string strips"...

And to press each "string" away 

from the center as you go along.

Keep adding strings 

alternately onto both sides:)

When I get to the end I like to 

grab my leftover squares basket

 and add a square to the corners. 

This one is a 2 1/2" square.

Make sure that your square measures

 at least 1/4" longer than the 

interfacing on both top and bottom.

Another 2 1/2" square for the other side.

Test which size square

 to use by folding it over

 before sewing to make sure it will 

cover the last of the interfacing.

All of my strings are

 sewn for this block...

YaY!

I use mostly 1 1/2" wide fabric strips

 for my blocks because I have 

a lot of them right now 

and I need to use them up!

This is what the back of my block looks like after sewing but before trimming.

Grab an 8 1/2" square Trim-It Ruler...

and center it onto the

 back of your block.

Make sure there is interfacing

 sticking out beyond all four sides

 of the ruler before trimming.

The ruler and a sharp rotary cutter

 make this step 

fast...easy... and accurate!

FUN and DONE!!!

Aren't they just the cutest?

They make me SEW HAPPY:)

Super Stacked Scrappy Strings!

Say that fast 3 times lol:)

Just in case you are wondering...

YES!

I leave the interfacing in.

It adds some stability and body

 to your quilt and because the 

interfacing is thin...

It is not too bulky at all.

Some of my blocks have a 

3 1/2" starter strip 

down the center and 

3 1/2" squares on the corners.

These are more blocks with 

2 1/2" strips down the center.

Some I have made with 

all 1 1/2" strips 

and various sized squares 

for the corners.

I think it makes 

the quilt more interesting 

to vary the width sizes...

and also allows you to use up 

lots of your scrappy stash:)

I hope you've had fun with my latest 

"Scrappy Happy Tutorial"

Stay tuned for more!!

xx

Lori

Let's Bake Sew Along - Week Six!!

Today is week six of our sew along...

and that means we have 

made it to the halfway point.

 Yippee!

We are  making great progress on our

 Let's Bake Quilt...

 and I love seeing everyones photos

 on the Instagram hashtag page:

#LetsBakeSewAlong

First block recipe today is the

 Kitchen Scale

You will nee E7 Sew Simple Shape

 for the scale...

and E11 Sew Simple Shape

 for the dial.

Run the 1" strip through the

 1/2" bias tape maker

Sew your pieces...

trim...turn...shape and press!

Cut the short strip 1 1/2" long 

and press under the ends of the 

other strip to measure 4" long.

Place your scale in the center 

of your background square and 

1" up from the bottom edge.

Glue baste the top strip 1" down 

from the top edge.

Use the pattern on page 12 

of the sew along guide and 

trace the embroidery lines 

onto the dial.

I used all 6 strands of the 

red and green Aurifloss.

I like to embroider 

first before appliqué.

After your embroidery and 

appliqué are completed...

trim your block to 6 1/2" square 

to sew into the quilt.

Use the lines on the Trim-It Ruler 

to get it exactly centered.

Sew a red button in the 

center of the dial:)

Fun and Done!

Now let's move onto 

making the oven block:)

Lay out your pieces like this.

All seams are 1/4" as usual.

And sew the background strips 

to the sides of the gingham.

Sew the two strips to the 

top and bottom of the oven handle.

Sew the two strips on 

each side of the oven window.

Now sew the two squares onto

 the sides of the handle.

Sew the strip to the 

bottom of the oven window.

Now sew all three segments together

 and your oven is pieced!

Your block should measure 

16 1/2" square BEFORE 

you sew it into the quilt.

Trace a 5" x 7" rectangle 

onto your sew-in interfacing.

Place it onto the gingham...

paying close attention to center it 

on both sides and straight.

You don't want your 

dishtowel to be crooked:) 

Look closely at where my 

traced lines are on the gingham

 and do the same thing.

You will need E11 for the clock 

and E12 for the knobs.

Sew...

Trim...turn...shape and press.

Use the pattern on page 12 and 

trace the embroidery lines.

I like to embroider first.

I used all 6 strands of the 

aqua and the red...

as well as the off white 

for the chicken scratch 

on the dishtowel.

Here"s a close up of the 

chicken scratch.

Use the pattern on page 19 

for your stitching guide.

For the red stitches...

I just did straight stitches

 down the center of the squares...

alternating rows are 

horizontal and vertical.

Then I wrapped my thread underneath

 those rows to make the diamond design:)

You put your needle back down 

into the same place that you came up 

for each diamond.

I did my cross stitches first 

and then cross stitched over them 

again but from top to bottom 

instead of diagonal.

Easy peasy and fun!

I used Cute Little Buttons from the #2 Jar.

Cute as a button!!

I use matching Aurifloss to sew them on.

Baste the clock on first...

making sure its in the center.

Then add the knobs.

They are all 1" apart from each other.

Baste your dishtowel even with the top

 of the oven door handle and 

1" in from the left.

Now you can Applique!!

Now that you have an oven...

 you can bake all kinds of goodies!

Next week we will bake cookies...

so stay tuned:)

xx

Lori