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Thursday, August 14, 2025

Back In The String of Things -


Inn flipping accomplished, I set my sights back on working on my blue string quilt yesterday.

This is where things wound up at the weekend, but came to a stand still when Monday's drive to Winston-Salem and the ordering of new glasses - a momentous occasion - took all of that day, and Tuesday well, Tuesday goes as Tuesday does.

Now that Abundance is out into the word, I can go back to this latest string distraction -

And yes, I know that this project is not going to make even the barest of a dent in the blue string bin, but you can't fault a girl for trying, right?

I'm working on the fourth big block, and then yes, there will be more parts inserted as sashing to continue the design from big block to big block.

It is much easier constructing things this way than making smaller blocks and have to wrestle with them with smaller sashing areas, etc. There are fewer units to deal with when it comes to assembling the whole top.

And yes, this will be a future pattern - likely early next year.  Stay tuned!


If this quilt is ever accused of being a beast, I've found the mascot!


Yesterday's round of productivity while waiting for the August Quiltvillians 2.0 to arrive.


And yes.  No is a complete sentence!
(So what does it mean when this block says NO! three times?!)

Today the goal is to trim these up and remove the paper. I use phonebook paper which comes off easily - smaller stitch length, easy peasy.


Another hexie motif started while watching Sullivan's Crossing.

I'm really liking this color combo - I am stashing it back for future use in a while quilt...it's just calming, isn't it?


This question came in from Annemarie, and with no way to contact her, I'm posting this here as some of you may also have the same question.

I'll answer the last part first - YES! Pattern Gift-Aways are open to everyone world wide. Just the fabric prize is unable to be shipped outside of the USA. We can always ship that to a friend within the US who can then in turn forward it on to you. 

You can also just gift your fabric roll to a USA friend if you win. That's up to you.

But you can win the pattern and I will send that via email to you.

If I am string piecing - just covering a shape as with the string blocks at the top of this post, I'll use phone book pages. I'm not sewing on a line - I'm just filling a shape with strips of fabric.

You can also use financial prospectus pages, any think paper that tears easily is great.

If I am English Paper piecing as with the hexies above, I use card stock - like those blow in cards that you find in magazines. I've used old business cards or recipe card stock. You can get a punch in your size.  I've also been in a hurry and have purchased pre-cut ones from places like paperpieces.com. 

It's a heavier, sturdier kind of paper that will hold up with the handling of English Paper Piecing shapes.


For "sew-on-the-line" types of foundation paper piecing I use either newsprint that I can purchase by the ream and run through my printer, or the Carol Doak Paper that I carry in the Quiltville Store.


This paper is about as thin as the phone book paper I use for straight up string piecing with the benefit  of seeing the lines on my paper foundation without distraction.

Since she is in Australia I would check office supply stores to see if they have something like 8 1/2'' X 11'' newsprint that they can run through their printer.

I've linked to some newsprint on Amazon HERE. (Affiliate link) and you may be able to find it online within your own country, possibly cheaper as it has quite gone up in price.


Newsprint is NOT like printer paper.  Regular printer paper is difficult to remove even with small stitches perforating the paper as much as possible.

The removal of regular printer paper is touch on your piecing and can pull at your stitches when trying to tear it. It does not tear as easily as newsprint.

I hope this helps!


I have been completely out of my Essential Triangle Tool for the past month. These were ordered at the end of April! 

If you have been waiting, come order now and save 15% on everything in the Rulers, Notions and Tools category with code NOTIONS


(Sorry -No international shipping.)

Must use code for discount to apply. Make sure discount code is in place before clicking to make payment. 

I am so thrilled with the response to yesterday's Abundance pattern release!

I can't wait to see these blocks popping up as you share what you are making.


Log Cabin Love!

If you love log cabin quilts you will also love the simple scrappy paper piecing of the gently curved appearance of these blocks! 100% foundation paper pieced for scrappy perfection! Printable paper templates included.

This pattern assumes that the maker has some experience with foundation paper piecing and following a foundation paper piecing template.

Quilt Size: 90’’ X 90’’

The PDF pattern for Abundance is currently marked 25% off in the digital pattern section of the Quiltville Store - No Coupon Needed.  On sale through 8/31/25, Hurry!

And yes - there is a Gift-Away!


I'll be drawing for two winners who will each receive an Abundance PDF pattern from me and a Notable Neutrals roll from  Cotton to Quilts.

Get your entry in on the Gift-Away post HERE.

We'll draw for our winners on Wednesday 8/27/25.


Quiltville Quote of the Day -

I'm firmly on team quilting!

Have a terrific Thursday, everyone!


 

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:33 AM EDT

    I use coloring book paper, they are really cheap at garage sales or thrift stores.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous9:34 AM EDT

    Hello Bonnie! Will there be a pattern release for your current blue string block project? Or is it already in a book? I have SO many blue strings left from my start on Huka Falls (loving that!), and I imagine I'll have plenty of neutrals as well! Kellie J

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jessieth9:36 AM EDT

    I make all my hexies with a punch and old manila folders. 50+ 1" hexies from a single folder. We still file paper at my house and I have a LOT of old plain manila folders from converting to hanging folders or just plain purging, so practically speaking, I have an endless supply.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I bought some of Carol Doaks foundation papers unsure if I could use newsprint, good to know thank you Bonnie.
    I've been watching Quiltville Post Office quiltcams while winding a bunch of bobbins yesterday. I so enjoy them. I managed to sew some blocks together yesterday too..
    Your blue string project is really beautiful ❤️. I have to organize my string basket myself. Unlike you I have everything and every color together in this basket since I don't have the quantity of strings you have. After I finish Bear Branch.
    Have a wonderful day 🌹
    Blessings 🙏💞

    ReplyDelete
  5. I used graph paper successfully for paper piecing a small log cabin block. It removed easily.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous10:16 AM EDT

    Hi Bonnie love the new blue stripe quilt you are working on. Hope this is a pattern coming up. you do such amazing work with your quilts. Thank you for sharing with us. I even watched an old U tube program on making flying geese. Learned something new.

    ReplyDelete

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