In last week’s blog post, I shared tips on building and organizing a fabric stash. This week, I want to cover the things you can do with these pre-cuts, strips or scraps. Fabric is expensive, so it’s great when you have ways to use it up. But first, I’m going to share a little history of scrap quilting. Then this week I will concentrate on creating blocks from the stash. Next week, I will cover the other fun things to do to use up your fabric.
Scrap & Strip Quilting
Most historians agree that strip quilting, scrap quilting or string quilting often gains popularity in times of economic downturns. Quilters who did not have the disposable income to purchase new fabric would cut up what they had and stored in their sewing baskets for future projects. New and old fabrics were used. Sometimes clothes that were no longer wearable.
They would sew together scraps and strips until they had created a larger piece of fabric. They used rulers or a specific template they wanted to use to make a block to judge the size of the fabric piece they needed. Once they reached the desired size, they cut their pieces or blocks from the scrappy piece. A lot of string quilts made in the past used strips of many different widths, not just uniform sizes. Some of the quilts of Gee’s Bend are good examples of this type of piecing. So let’s move on to blocks.
Quilt Blocks from Strips
Today when we make strip sets to make blocks, it’s kind of a throw back to the quilters of the past. These are the types of blocks I will focus on in this post.
First, what is a strip set? It’s when you sew strips together lengthwise like this:
This strip set above only has 2 strips to make it, but you can have sets made up of 3 or 4 different strips. I like to use strips that are 20″ long as they are easier to handle and have less of a chance of warping in the stitching and pressing steps. So, I cut my strips from pre-cuts like fat quarters or fat eighths to get this length.
From these two-strip strip sets, you can make four-patch blocks. These are fun beginner blocks.
Strip sets of 3 or 4 strips can be used to make blocks like Rail Fence:
Above is a 4 strip Rail Fence that is the most common. This one is made from two different 4-strip strip sets.
Here’s my tips for making accurate strip sets, no matter how many strips you use. I use a scant 1/4″ when stitching strips together.
When using a scant 1/4″for piecing these sets, each time you add a strip press you need to trim up the set before adding the next strip. Below are photos showing the first steps of joining 3 strips into a strip set measuring 3 1/2″ wide when done. I’m beginning three 1 1/2″ wide strips:
Instead of lining up the edge of my unit to be pieced with the edge of the 1/4″ foot, I move the strips a hair to the left (as shown in the last photo). Once these two strips are stitched, it’s time to trim the set to 2 1/2″ wide.
To achieve this I press the set open, place the ruler evenly on the strip set to trim it. The 1 1/4″ line of the ruler should rest on the center seam for trimming each side.
Time to add on the next strip following using the scant 1/4″ when stitching and then trim that side:
This next block is made from strips, but isn’t made with strip sets. This style is one of my favorites… the Log Cabin block. The versions I like the best are the traditional (left) and the courthouse steps (right):
You can actually make eight-pointed star blocks from strips. I like to save 2 1/2″ and 1 1/2″ strips. Using those sizes, you can make a 4 1/2″ star block like this one:
The center square is cut from a 2 1/2″ strip and the pieces that make up the points and corner squares are cut from 1 1/2″ strips.
Now here are a couple of interesting blocks made from strips that you don’t often see.
The block on the left is called Domino and the one on the right is called Stone Mason’s Puzzle. Very geometric looking! Both of these blocks are made up of four separate units, each of which are made up of strips and squares cut from strips.
Blocks made up of this many pieces can sometimes be off in measurements because of all the seams in each unit. My tip to make sure the block measures correctly when you are finished is to measure the separate block units as you go before piecing them into the block. That’s why I keep a small ruler by my sewing machine.
I bet if you look closely to a lot of quilt blocks, you can find many others that can be made from strips that you have saved. Come back next week for more ideas on using up your fabric stash.
Leave a comment or ask a question below and be entered into a drawing for my pattern, Cabin Stars:
The drawing will be on Monday, February 24th so you will have this week and next to enter.**We have a winner! Congrats, Denise Maguire!**
Happy Quilting!
Deanne
Thanks for the great tips.
You’re welcome!
My head is spinning. I am a bew quilter (piecer) and this is all so very helpful. Mostly I do wool applique but am making baby steps into quilting. Thanks for all this info which I will keep to read, re-read, and re-read again!
Glad I can help! It’s best to start with simple, pieced blocks and before you know it you’ll be making lots of quilts.
Log cabins are one of my favorite blocks.
And so simple to make too!
Great tips. Trimming as you go sure makes a big difference in accuracy.
Definitely! Makes blocks go together smoothly.
Thanks for your suggestions for using strips- now to try and decide which block to use first!!
You’re welcome! They’re all fun to make. 🙂
I have made many log cabin quilts. Definitely one of my favorites for using scraps.😊 Thanks for the great tips.
You’re welcome!
I really like this pattern. You are a great source of inspiration.
Thanks!
I really like the domino pattern and have tons of scraps to organize. I do mine by color in bins and shelves but some I keep in bins with all the same brand so my colors will work well together. Fir example Modas and Thimbleberries are on shelves together.
Sounds like you have a great organization system and can have a lot of fun with these blocks.
Thanks for the great tips. I really like trimming as you go and will do that in the future.
It definitely helps with accuracy!
Thanks for the great tips and I intend to use the one on trimming and measuring as I sew the block. The log Cabin block is one of my favorites also.L
Hope you have accuracy success in the future with my trimming and measuring tips.
Thank you for the inspiration and great tips! I like the idea of keeping a small ruler handy right by your machine.
Glad I can inspire!
what a pretty way to use your scraps. l Love the design
Thanks!
Love the Stone Masons Puzzle! Have not seen that one before.
It was a new one to me, too.
I love scrap quilts! Thanks for all the great tips
You’re welcome!
These are great ideas!! Thank you. I’m a beginner, but would love to figure out how to make a crazy quilt from my scaps. Without the crazy quilt temples. Thanks again, I always look forward to seeing your messages.
You’re welcome!
The domino block is interesting.
I thought it was interesting too. I did not know about it until I started looking through a block catalog.
Great tips! I have used scraps to make courthouse steps blocks, a great block!!
You’re welcome!
Sooo helpful! I am making your Follow the Stars pattern right now and I was realizing that with so many seams in a block there were multiple opportunities for size differences at the end. Now if I can just have the patience to measure as I go! Thank you!
I’m so glad you are finding this helpful while you make Follow the Stars. Have fun!
Thank you so much for this great website, you taught me so much over the 3-4 years of my quilt journey. In wool and in piecing. My house is all Snuggled, tee-hee, I’m out of wall space, smiles.
Oh thanks! I’m so glad I could be a good teacher and inspiration over the years. 😁
I often think of quilters from previous years who used their family’s old clothes to make quilts that now hang in museums. I save all scraps and use them. Thanks for the inspiration.
You’re welcome!
I’ve used clothes from my in-laws to make a quilt for my husband. I will be doing the same with my mom’s clothing. I still have a tub of my dad’s old ties. Need to do something with those too.