Piecing Strings

The string bag

Goal number nine of my June list was to begin piecing the strings from my two gallon zip lock bag containing strings in the sizes of 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 4 1/2 and 6 1/2 strings. A quart size zip lock bag contains each size of string. Cynthia at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework, Chantal at At The Corner Of Scrap and Quilts and Angela at Scrap Happy inspire me to use scraps the scraps that I've "harvested" after completing a project..

Contents of the 2 1/2 inch zip lock bag

The bag is almost at capacity so it was time to begin making "fabric" out of the strips. The largest amount of "precuts" was the 2 1/2 inch zip lock bag. I cut newspaper strips that were 2 1/2 inches wide and began piecing the strips to the foundation.

Piecing away

Our oldest granddaughter came for a visit. She wanted to string piece. She has experience string piecing. I gave her my seat! She created  fabric strips for about half an hour. I noted that since she had a machine, she could sew these at home. Which she replied that she didn't have fabric to sew! What she really meant was that she didn't have a project! I asked if she wanted to work on these at home because we could make a project bag for her. She said yes! So that was how I lightened the amount of 2 1/2 inch strings out of the bag!

K's string progress

In the week since, she texted me a photo of her progress after her first sew session. She was excited that she was able to remember how to use her machine! She was excited to be using her packet of paper strips and strings! She knows that next time we see one another, she can take home more strings. I do have ideas to run by her should she desire to turn her strips into blocks. Do I dare hope that she will become a quilter? My fingers are crossed!

Celebrating commencement 

Speaking of the granddaughter, she was one of ten students in her eighth grade class to speak at her commencement. We proudly watched her speak. Last week, we took her out for a birthday lunch. She choose the restaurant. It was a great day. We decided since she is 14, she is old enough to know when she "needs"  a coffee, a pastry, a lunch or a time away. All she has to do is call or text and set a date. She seemed excited about that option. Let's see if she takes advantage. I know she has another restaurant in mind!

Three and half inch strips trimmed and ready for paper removal

Back to the strings! The next fullest bag was the 3 1/2 inch strings. I found that I wasn't using the two inch by 3 1/2 inch scraps that I saved early in my scrap saving journey so I had added these to the bag. I had at least five quart size bags that were partially full of scraps by color! I pieced the 3 1/2 inch strings on a piece of newsprint that was about 18 inch long. I sewed a lot of strings!

Bag at the end of piecing

I created about 240 inches of 3 1/2 inch string fabric! I still had strings left; but, the variety wasn't great so I'll wait until I have more strings in that size! I did like seeing one bag with lots of room at the end of the piecing session!   

6 1/2  inch strings

I tacked the 6 1/2 inch string bag next. I actually had two of these zip lock bags. I cut more foundations from news print and began.

Piecing the 6 1/2 inch strings

So many bits! Yet, and this I found hard to believe, wasn't enough! There was plenty regarding amount; but, there wasn't enough variety. So after piecing five strips, I located one of my friend Martha's scrap bags. 

A scrap bag of Martha's collected in August 2018

This bag was almost 15 inches high and weighed five pounds and eight ounces! It is full of rectangles, squares, strips, triangles and bits! That five pounds converts to about 16 yards of fabric!

View of the inside of the bag

I have no idea how many projects are in that bag; but, I did begin to pull the strips from the bag. After I had pieced eight strips of 6 1/2 inch strings, both Gertie and I were ready to give this project a rest! 

Pieced 6 1/2 inch string units

The string bag looks as full as it did when I started. The completed strips are in the bag so that is the reason why there isn't a change in the amount of strings in the bag! 

String bag at the end of piecing

Gertie and I do have ideas of how to use the strings; but, we need lots more inches of pieced strips.We will return to this project later in the month or next month. In the meantime, I've some Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks to make and quilting to do!

Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.