This quilt is a bit of a departure from my typical quilts, but I’m quite taken with it anyway! I always knew I wanted to make a black, white and green baby quilt, so I’ve been setting aside little pieces of black and white fabric for some time now. I had a decent sized stack, but couldn’t decide how to put them together. Originally I was thinking blocks, (as usual!) but I ultimately decided on a string quilt, figuring it would be a good way to use the various sized fabric pieces I had and to show a variety of prints in a small quilt.
It also serves a second purpose. February’s Block Party block is a spiderweb quilt, so this gave me a chance to learn paper piecing before I had to use that technique to make blocks for someone else!
I used freezer paper, and cut squares of 8.5″. In order to make this quilt a little less crazy, I decided to use a solid green strip, placed in the same spot on each block. I like the idea of this one constant in the midst of the randomness of the rest of the strips, and I like the pattern it creates.
I went for a mainly random look, not thinking too much about matching other colors or patterns. After all the blocks were completed, I did move them around a bit to match a few sections for some extra interest.
It’s not yet fully sewn together, and I’m finding that the hardest part of this quilt might just be removing the freezer paper! It seems as though the most important part is to remember to use a small stitch length so that the paper can be easily removed. Unfortunately, I have a few blocks where I forgot to change the stitch length from the default setting on the machine… I might be at this for a while!
The quill top looks great! I just did my 1st paper piecing project. I found removing the paper the most tedious part of the whole project (and, yes, I forgot to shorten my stitch length on my 1st block). I used copy paper and found that misting the paper make it come off pretty easily – not sure it would work on freezer paper!
I’m in love with this quilt!!! It looks so good with the black, white, and green! I’m usually drawn to a black and white scheme though. Can’t wait to see it all finished and quilted.
This is absolutely gorgeous! My neighbor has requested a black, white and pink quilt for her daughter and I’m going to add your string quilt to the list of possible patterns. I’m working on a scrappy bright string quilt, and I foundation pieced it on muslin, so obviously I don’t have any paper to tear out. When I do freezer paper piecing, I don’t sew through the freezer paper. I fold it back and sew along the folded edge, the flip the paper and the fabric forward and iron it in place. I fold the next edge, sew, flip and iron. When I’m done, I just peel the freezer paper off the back and re-use it.
I do like this quilt block, and have always wanted to try paper piecing. It seems time consuming but the results are worth it.
Wow, it looks great! I just put up a post at Block Party with a couple of paper piecing tips for anyone who has it done it yet, so feel free to chime in–it’s definitely a technique I’m still experimenting with.
Wow! That is a beautiful quilt! I love how the green solid calms the black and white…gorgeous. I would add this to my list if I wasn’t terrified of paper pieceing!
Very striking. I love string quilts.
I LOVE this! I have been working on a black, white, and yellow quilt that I have been struggling to find a pattern i love. i’m also using a lot of different patterned fabrics so it always seems to look too busy. the solid green strip really tones it down. would you be offended if i used this same idea?
I like it very much! You did a great job!
I love string quilts! I haven’t made one yet tho
This is a stunning quilt. I love the way it came out. I have paper pieced before, and taking the paper off is very tedious. I’m going to try the method that Sandi mentioned. Twiddletails has a great tutorial on her blog.
What a beautiful quilt! I love the fabric choices.
Good luck getting rid of all that freezer paper!!
It is lovely! I love the colors. And the design is fantastic!
I love this — it looks great! I really like your idea of having the one solid green in the same place every time. I often find that totally random string quilts kind of hurt my eyes, but your green strip really anchors the whole thing. I’m impressed with your learning to paper piece. I have been wanting to learn to do that but haven’t mustered up the courage! Great job!
This one turned our great! I love the way the green does flow in and out of the b&w fabrics. I am a HUGE fan of black and white… I just might have to take a stab at one like this. Normally I don’t like strips but you made it look really good!
Oooh! I love it. It’s so different from anythng I’ve seen lately.
Oh I love it! Glad to know that tip about smaller stitch lengths for when I make Ashley’s blocks!
I LOVE IT!! Seriously. I must make one like this — it is very inspirational!
It looks great – I love the placement of the green
Hope the paper comes out!
What a beautiful quilt top! The colors are stunning together.
It’s gorgeous…but the paper part is one reason I always piece mine on a muslin foundation!
oh, this is to die for! i just love it. someday i will have to try this technique. it is going to be stunning!
love those colors together! can’t wait to see it all done.
That is beautiful! I love the green with the b/w. Great spiderwebs.
That’s gorgeous. I wish there was a fabric that looked like that- I’d be tempted to buy it for a number of nefarious projects.
Love the quilt!
it’s gorgeous! i think the green string as a constant was a great idea.
It looks great… i love the constant green and the randomness of the black and white… i too am paper piecing at the moment… just playing around with a few different blocks. I love the precision you get with piecing in this way… i use a larger needle (90/14) and reduce my stitch lengthe to around 1.5… i use 80gsm copy paper and don’t have a problem removing it later on… keep up the good work. Lx
This looks awesome! I so wish I could find the time to do some quilting. So inspired when I see what you’re working on. Unfortunately, I know mine would never turn out this well!
I love this. So gorgeous. So inspiring! I am not sure I understand what paper piecing is…time to go to Google.
It is stunning! Just absolutely beautiful!
This is an absolutely adorably beautiful quilt! I love the simplicity of the colors, and the solid green that you used as your constant. What a brilliant idea! I appreciate the inspiration so much.
A paper pieed string quilt? I never would have gone to those lengths. I do enjoy paper piecing, but that seems like a lot of extra work. Looks great!
This is striking! I love it, great colors and composition!
i’m in love! this is beautiful and what a great idea to practice before attempting that block party block. i need to do that too…i’m shaking in my boots a bit about that!
This is stunning, where can I fine the pattern for this? You really did a nice job.
Can you please show this quilt completed? This is my favorite quilt of yours. I would love to see the finished product. I would like to make one similar to yours.
I’m a big fan of the color combo and it really came out great! Thanks for sharing!