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Hello again dear quilters,
I've just read about using muslin then paper for string quilting. I am sure you prophytes have good opinion on the benefits of each method. As a don't know what I'm doing yet person I am leaning toward muslin although paper is less expensive.
You say what?
I voted paper because it is the only thing I have tried and found it very easy. I am not a very experienced sewer but found paper string quilting quick. I used the 10 inch papers M* sells and they helped with my usual less than accurate sewing skills and easy to remove.
Hi Lyric, I really prefer the papers. If you use muslin you have another layer to your quilt as you leave the muslin on your blocks. Tends to make it a little thicker. By using papers they have diagonal lines on them for easy placing of your strips of fabric. The papers are very easy to remove. I was so excited to see the papers and have been using them for my scrap quilts. Made 4 tops all ready. I tend to do the sewing in a hurry and found when using muslin I was getting off track. Therefore I had another step to square up the blocks. Just my thought on this.
Happy Quilting.
I've always used paper, from blank newsprint or old phone books to the squares that MSQC has. GrammaBabs did her string quilts using used dryer sheets as her foundation.
I cannot vote, as there is no definite answer to that: using papers requires one more step, tearing it off. But using muslin, as earlier said, means an extra layer of fabric that might difficult the task of quilting. I've used muslin for small items that didn't require heavy quilting, like cushion covers, and paper for blocks that would become part of a quilt.
Hello,
Loving this food for thought. Hmm, so there is "paper" at the Missouri site, eh. Gotta check it out. Although it does not seem too difficult to cut paper and put the diagonal line on it myself as I read earlier today. Some really pretty work out there, gals. :icon_heh: I can't wait to finish my Genesis quilt and move on to one of these. I tell ya, it is going to be difficult to give my babies away. I'll just have to take photographs of them and upload to my blog for when I want to enjoy them. Oh, would be nice pics to see the loved ones they are intended for enjoying them.
The cool thing I thought about using muslin was not having to use batting due to the thickness as stated. It is good to know the benefits of the two methods though and one can switch up when necessary.
I am thinking probably the initial thing that came to my mind about the paper piecing is that my handcrank machine's stitch length does not change and I have yet to treadle on my Dorcas to know exactly what she does stitchwise. If her stitches are adjustable as they should be no doubt I would try the paper piecing for my first string quilt.
You might try a small sample with the paper. I usually shorten my stitch length a bit, but when I've forgotten to do so, the paper has still come off easily. I use phone book pages. I like to think of it as recycling and peel them off while watching TV. It's very soothing!
I, for one, love the muslin with the extra support . . . to me it keeps everything a bit 'tighter' when sewing blocks and rows together.
Ive used paper from phone books, and have found it very easy to work with.
Oh, Jenny's trick with paper foundation piecing? She has her grandkids tear the paper off.
I have tried using paper but didn't like it very much, it seemed to take forever to get all those little pieces of paper out from under the stiches.
Now I just rip up old bed sheets from when the kids were small and use them as a foundation, they work great AND I am clearing out my linen closet!
This is what we did way back when I was a kid and my Aunt and Grandma taught me how to make quilts. We cut up old sheets and it does add another layer. Back then quilts were made with warmth in mind so the extra layer was a bonus. And we tied the quilts so it was not a problem with too much bulk under the presser foot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Greyjay
I haven't made an entire string quilt, only blocks, but I used phone book papers.
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Originally Posted by lyric
Paper. Less bulky. It can be removed.
I just bought "washaway paper" which feels very sturdy but washes away when the quilt gets laundered. It sounds like a good idea to me. It is a bit pricy so I'll give it a try and report back.
I have used both and they are both great. The muslin gives some added support. The paper is tearable and then leaves just your strips but soo much mess to clean up. Like paper piecing which I love but hate the paper tearing. When I get done no matter how big my trash can is it still looks like a snowstorm in my sewing room after ripping it all off. never seem to actually get the pieces in the can for some reason.
Maybe it's because I live in the country, but I haven't seen a phone book in years. I have only used paper, except for one pillow I made with a weaved pattern. I have used copy paper for paper piecing, and it works fine. I think if I used it for string quilts, I'd have to square it up first if I didn't want an 8 1/2 by 11 block.
At first I tried using sandwich wrap sheets but it was a pain to pull all the paper out when the blocks were done. I use light colored fabrics for my string foundations, works really nicely. I usually pick the fabrics up in my guild's stash room, fabrics that have a little poly in them or fabric that is very thin. Some say the fabric/muslin foundation makes the quilt heavy when batting is added so I get around that problem by skipping the regular type of batting and use flannel as my 'batting' and backing.
I was reading the trick with paper is to shorten your stitch length so it perforates it more. Just don't plan on ripping your stitches out. lol
I like the thin 10" sheets of paper that are sold at M*QC. If you make your stitch length a little smaller they tear off really easily.
Would be nice to see GrammaBs stuff. Wonder if she included in an album here?
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Originally Posted by K. McEuen
Uwwww, good point, jannw!
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Originally Posted by jannw
Loving your avatar siggie, girlfriend! Oh yeah.
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Originally Posted by Sandy Navas
Sweet! I am thinking of using repurposed bed sheets for quilt backs. Already amassing them for fashion garments. Check this out, ladies . . .Bed Sheet Dresses |. Matter of fact I just left our local thrift store as the spirit lead me there ISO (in search of) a good find. I picked up three sheets and a discarded 100% cotton garment which will be part of my Genesis Scrap Quilt, First Handmade Quilt |. :)
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Originally Posted by Greyjay
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Originally Posted by madampolo
:icon_rofl:; okaaaay!!! I feel you, girl; that's where we live too. And, naw, I ain't seen a pb in years either.
My "people" live in NE Ohio, so honey, there is no such thing as a too heavy blanket.Quote:
Originally Posted by MayinJerset
Just a thought here, I haven't used paper for string quilting but I have done the squares where you layer your backing, batting, and then sew through everything as you add strips. I have a few rows of blocks like this but haven't sewn all together, using men's shirts. Takes several steps out of the job of quilting. The only hangup is sewing the blocks together. They go together easily but you have to deal with the raw edges, either by adding a strip of fabric and sewing it in with the seam and then turning under to form a binding of sorts or something else to cover them. Fast way to put quilt together though.
A quilting friend told me she sets her stitch length to 1.5 when paper piecing. The paper tears off much easier. I used the M*QC 10" squares for piecing my string quilt. A suggestion: Don't trim your blocks to the edges of the paper (like Jenny does in the tutorial). Use a ruler to square your blocks so they all will be the same size. Sorry, no grandkids in CO to tear off my papers. It really doesn't take that long. Just be careful to not stretch the stitches or your fabric. I've never used muslin, just the paper squares. JCY