String Tutorial 4 - Blue Cross Quilt

Thursday, December 10, 2009


This quilt uses 45 degree triangles cut from string pieced fabric (refer to string tutorial 1). Triangles are then pieced to give 8” finished blocks. This quilt is similar to String with Red Centre from Gwen Marston's Liberated String Quilts

To make these blocks, start with a 45 degree offset when joining the strings. Continue joining the pairs until the fabric is 7” or wider.

Note : To minimise wastage, keep the width as close to 7” as possible (this is the difference between getting 6 or 4 triangles out of a piece of fabric, with more triangles in the narrower). Additionally, 44” long strings give a quicker result as there is less wastage at the ends of the fabric when cutting the triangles.


Cut the strips of string fabric into 45 degree triangles as shown, using either the angles on a ruler or a larger square.


Divide the triangles into two piles.

Cut 1” strips from a contrasting fabric – in this case the teal fabric. Join the 1” wide strips to the long side of the triangles from one pile and press. Next, join the remaining triangles to the other side of the contrasting strips and press. Square up the pairs of triangles to 8 ½”.

Layout the squares and start to assemble the quilt top.

Note: The joining seams are on bias (stretchier) edge of the fabric. To minimise distortion, use a walking foot to join the squares or ease off the pressure on the machine foot.


This concludes the string piecing tutorials for now. Let me know how you get on and if you have any questions, I will try my best to answer them.

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3 comments

  1. Oh yes! That is so much better than any other method I've ever contemplated for a string quilt. Thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you SO much for this tutorial! I LOVE string quilts and I'm new to quilting and paper-piecing seemed difficult. I can do this one!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love your fabric choices! This is a beautiful quilt in the making. :-)

    ReplyDelete

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