4-Square String Quilt Blocks Swap--USA--#2

String quilts are easy to make using long narrow scraps from your other quilt block projects.

Make your foundation piece at least 14" because sewing on the strips makes it tighten up and shrink, and go off-square. (15" squares give plenty of room to straighten out the square and re-size it at the end.)

This swap is for TWO large 13" squares, each cut into four 6.5" squares of string quilt block--and two of these smaller blocks are sent to each of your four different partners.

A foundation of muslin cut to 14-5") is used as the base. Then you take a strip ("string") of 100% cotton quilt fabric (any color or pattern--it's a scrap quilt)--but it works out well to alternate light and dark, bright and dull, warm colors and cool colors.

For this particular project, thinner strips will make for a better end result--1" strips minus two 1/4" seam allowances will make a nice 1/2" strip. It's also ok for your strips to not be totally parallel--you can have somewhat triangular shapes--a little narrower at one end than the other--it adds to the homemade aspect, and allows you to use long skinny bits that aren't straight! Recycle everything!

--and top stitch it down in the center, diagonally, about a scant 1/4" from the edges. Somewhere between 1/8" and 1/4" so it won't show when the next pieces are added. You could even just iron it down with stitch-witchery or something like that.

Then, you take more strips and stitch them down on either side of the center "string" until the block is covered, trim any overhanging excesses so the finished block is 12.5" square (once sewn together with other blocks they will be 12" squares).

The stitching is done by placing the strips right sides together and sewing a 1/4" seam through both strips and through the foundation, so that when you fold the new piece out and press it, it's in position to take the next one--see this easier-to-understand tutorial.

When you have your big blocks finished, squared off and cut to size, cut them evenly into four 6.5" squares each, and send two of each of them to each of your four partners. This way we'll all get 8 different little squares to combine to make a larger one to fit with any of the scrappy quilt block swaps going on right now! Or, continue making these and make your own project. This size would make a nice pillow top, or with a few more, a table runner.

Because its a scrap quilt block, the colors and prints are all sender's choice, because the point of these blocks is to use up your "strings", but it won't hurt to look at your partners' profiles and make some adjustments when picking the small blocks to send--forsinstance I would love it if my partner would check to see that I'm not getting all pink strings in my blocks, etc, when possible..

Anyone wanting this to be International--feel free to make a swap for it. I am just a little postage-limited.

No Flakers! I'll be checking the list before assigning partners and communicating with anyone I may have questions about. PM me if you have questions.

Newbie swappers are welcome if they communicate with me and have sewing and quilting experience!