Tutorial: Rectangle string quilt

 I always have a stash of strings stored up and one of my favorite ways to use them is for string blocks for veterans quilts. I used to make square 8" blocks but that made an odd sized quilt that weren't symmetric. I eventually realized that I could make rectangular blocks so that I would end up with 6 blocks by 6 blocks for a perfect 48" x 60" quilt. Here are 3 that I've made and I've got some basic instructions below.

This one was made with hand dyed fabrics using a medium green for the center strip.

This on was made with densely printed fabrics alternating with black strips. There's no center strip, the center is a seam. The placement of the black strips is random and they are different widths so that the end result has a lot of sparkle.

This one had an orange center strip with scrap strings of Paula Nadelstern symmetry fabrics.

These quilts are fast and easy to make. I use a foundation fabric to piece on but that's not completely necessary. I just find it easier to help me make sure that each strip is long enough. If I cover the foundation, I'm good. If you are using a center strip you will need about 3 yards for enough fabric for the center strip and binding.

Start by cutting foundation fabric blocks. You will need 36 blocks cut 9" x 11". This is a great way to use some fabrics that you no longer like. Just make sure that any print you use for the foundation doesn't show through the featured fabrics. I used up a big pile of old feedsack fabrics this way.

Also, if you are going to have a center strip, cut those too. They can be any width you want but I usually cut them between 2 and 2.5 inches, based on how much fabric I have.

It's REALLY important to note that half of the strips are placed upper left to lower right and the other half are placed lower left to upper right. 

Align the center string from corner to corner and then just start sewing the strings starting from the center out.

Cover the whole foundation just like a normal string block. The only challenging part of this quilt is trimming the blocks.

I start by drawing a center line and I measure it from the seams on each side of the center string. The center of the block isn't necessarily a line from corner to corner.

The blocks are going to be trimmed to 8.5" x 10.5" and I use painters tape on my ruler to mark that.

The painters tape helps with aligning the center line. I trim the blocks from the back so I can use the drawn center line to help line the blocks up correctly.

You just need 36 blocks.

Here are 4 blocks sewn together for demonstration. I usually sew them in rows but they can be sewn in groups of 4 like this.

Because I'm using foundation fabric, I press the seams open to help control the bulk.

Here's another one I'm working on with orange centers and blue strings.

This one is made from a horde of batik strips. There are more green ones so I'm doing half the block in green and half in all the other colors.

The batik one has a center seam so I draw a placement line 1/4 inch away from the center and then I marked the green side to make sure that I don't get my color placement wrong. Place the first two fabrics right sides together with the cut edges against the placement line. Then you 1/4" seam will be really close to the center diagonal of the block.