Make the Most of Your Scraps with Easy String Blocks
No Foundation Required!
These appealing blocks are so simple to make and they’re great for using up scraps. Each block starts with a square and strips in various widths.
Begin by sorting scraps into themes, then each theme into “chunks” and “strings.” The chunks are larger pieces that can be cut into squares for the starting corners. Then construct each block using a modified Log Cabin technique.
You may find several themes to coordinate around. For example, one theme might be 1930s prints, patriotic prints might be another, and so on. You’ll find a few examples toward the bottom of this article by the block’s designer.
The blocks are very versatile. Once they’re sewn together, trim each one into shape in the configuration you like best.
The process of making the blocks is explained fully in the following article by Kim at Magnolia Bay Quilts. The blocks demonstrated in the tutorial finish at 6″ square but you can enlarge the blocks by starting with a larger square and adding more strips.
While no examples are provided of the blocks sewn into quilts, it will be fun laying them out and creating your own unique configuration.
