I'm hooked on strings

Ever since I read about and feasted my eyes on Ashley's beautiful Kaleidoscope string quilt, I've been hankering to get started on my own. Then she kindly posted a tutorial and I really started making plans.

I have been setting aside scraps since I started sewing, and two nights ago I began the process of cutting them into useable strings. I also grabebd some bigger pieces of fabrics I really love, as well as some that I don't think I'll ever get around to using. I think a string quilt is a great place to use up some of both. I had initially planned on using up only things I didn't really care for, but a friend convinced me otherwise. "Use what you love," she urged, and since this quilt is going to be mine all mine, I'm taking her advice. Oh, I might just be using up the last of my Flea Market Fancy!!

I cut. And I cut. And I cut some more. I have no idea if I have enough, or even how large I want the quilt to be. As suggested, my strings range in size from 1" to 2.5". I realized that too many of my strings were on the wider side so tonight I cut some of them into more narrow pieces. I am using 7" squares as my foundation pieces, and we'll see how it shapes up. I'm pretty happy to be working on a block quilt for the first time. While I'm terrified that my cor ners won't come close to meeting up, it's super nice to be able to pick up a few strings and sew up a block when I have a few minutes to sew. With two kids under three, sometimes a few minutes in one go is about all I can manage.

Here is a shot of my first four blocks . .more to come. The process has me intrigued, and firmly hooked.

- Donna