Dear String Quilt,
I really really
hatedon’t like you. You take way too long and I really don’t like pulling paper off your back. I’m sorry but your definitely not becoming a quilt. Maybe if your nice you can be a table runner, but we’ll see after I finish pulling your paper off. Stupid paper.- Allison
48 comments:
Ha! I have hesitated making one for the very same reason. I love the way they look, but the thought of tearing off that paper makes me itchy. I have heard that people use pages from their phone book and it's easier going...
Could you sew the blocks on a fabric foundation and not have to tear off the paper? Are you using regular computer paper or the special paper designed to easily come apart for paper piecing? I think it is sold at Jo-Ann's as well as some quilt stores. The quilt is pretty so far, don't give up!
You are funny! I almost spit my coffee out.
I'm in the process of making a string quilt right now, and it is taking much longer than I expected, as well. I love your results. I say keep going! I will too.
oh i know! it's a shame too because they look so good. i tried one of the spider web strings and it wasn't for me. not now anyway.
haha... I totally hear where you're coming from. I am making a string quilt for my sister. I'm totally waiting until ALL my blocks are done to pull the paper off. I figured out how many I need to make for the size I want...cut all the paper squares and went to town. I'm almost done sewing them, so I will be feeling your pain very soon.
How I understand you!...I hate paper and pulling out it, too!
I just had the same thought about all the paper bits I had to pull from my Harry Potter blocks!
It's beautiful, but the paper tearing would drive me nuts!
It really is so beautiful though. So worth it.
is a beautiful job, ha? a funny post
I made a quilt similar to this one. Instead of paper I made strip sets and then cut the blocks (on the diagonal) with a square template.
It's so funny that you post this the same day Angela (My Three Sons) posted about her Harry Potter blocks. I was also frustrated pulling the paper out doing some paper piecing, so I decided to give "Perfect Piecing" paper from Joann's a try. It's great. It feels a lot like interfacing and it tears really easily and doesn't pull the stitches as badly either. I'm also able to use my seam ripper to help around the edges.
i feel the same way about my selvage spiderweb quilt...i hate that paper tearing. small stitch length helps a bit, but it's still a pain!
I'm with Stacey Armstrong here- why do you have to use paper? I had no idea people were using paper to make these.
If you are using paper, I think there is a kind that dissolves in water, isn't there?
I love your blocks. You can always send them my way, LOL. I refuse to make these on paper for exactly the same reason. I either use a light weight muslin as a base or make strip sets and cut the square from the sets.
Oh, what a fabulous table runner you will have. Cute blocks! :)
Next time use squares of muslin (or some other fabric that you no longer like) that doesn't have to be removed.
And this is why I don't like the spiderweb blocks either...
Uh oh. Just as I was plotting to begin one. Would it be more lovable if the strips were wider...?
DID YOU TRY MISTING THE PAPER WITH A LITTLE WATER? THAT HAS WORKED FOR ME IN THE PAST
i can see how all that work could be so so frustrating...
It looks so great though! Is it your month coming up in any Quilting Bees soon & then you could just have everyone else do all the work? ;)
Oh! I forgot to mention that for a pattern with big pieces like this, you could also try pieceing with freezer paper that doesn't require tearing at all!
LOL. That is why I am having everyone else do it in my quilting bee. hehe. It is my month and that is the block I am having everyone make so that I will probably only have to make a couple of them myself.
You could try just free sewing it and not using paper, I have thought of doing that.
how about they become a quilt... but one with lots of sashing where the blocks float... i think that would look good!
I know the paper is hateful, but the blocks are so beautiful!
ah! Allison, don't give up! this could be one of the prettiest quilts you've done yet! LOVE it!
I found that if I made the stitch length super short then the paper falls off even when you don't want it to. :) I love the suggestion about telephone book paper - what a good use for the 15 or so I get a year even though I always use the internet!
First off I need to say this was funny, so funny I laughed throughreading yuor post. But not laughing at your frustration with the stupid paper. These are sooo beautiful! Maybe make this quilt a 2 year goal or find a friend to help out. I've wanted to make something like this, but your post is kind of a deturrant. I didn't even know paper was involved!
I don't like the paper either, though I use Triangles on a Roll with short stitches. I vote for muslin.
it looks great though! my kids were just peeling off the paper off the back of my spiderweb quilt blocks this morning. if you use a small stitch length it's MUCH MUCH easier. or else you could find a friend that likes to do it...my neighbor offered to do all mine for me.
Can't wait to see what you decide to do...i was going to try this with my leftover black and white fabric but i think i'll hold off on this method
You may be not liking it so much, but the blocks are turning out adorable! I've thought about doing one of these with a special little stash I have...just haven't started it yet.
It's absolutely gorgeous, but I hear ya on the stupid paper!! Hope you can get through it; I think it will be worth it in the end. Although, if you were planning on selling it, you'll have to charge about $26,432 -- for the labor alone!! (But think of all the fabric you could buy for $26,432......)
No! Don't give up! It's soooo pretty! I'm with some of the others, I use a very short stitch, like 1.5 on my Pfaff and have no problem at all getting the paper off. Think of the work you would have to do on any other pattern to get blocks this big! I love it. Don't stop. Please?
It looks just beautiful--but I agree about the paper piecing!
You're post is hilarious! The blocks are beautiful. The paper serves what purpose?
Funny! Nevertheless, these are such gorgeous colors/fabrics and when completed it will be beautiful!
Ooh, you have to keep going because the colours are beautiful...I don't know if this helps but as long as you use a short stitch length (1.5) and regular paper...that's what I do with mine....and spray a little water on the back...it comes right off....easy peasy....really!!
but it's so pretty!! Very cool and fresh! Libby
This is my first visit here and may I just say: I think I'm going to really like you.
Well, at least you were nice enough to write a Dear John letter!
Too many quilts...too little time. Even though I think this is very pretty, bag it. Make something you enjoy. This is supposed to be fun, right?
I square up used dryer sheets and use those as a foundation. The quilt smells wonderful when it's done!
~Denise
Another thought - what about a water-soluble stabilizer? Some type of wash away might make life easier for you... Then you could put it all together and the stabilizer would just disappear over the course of several washings lol!
thanks i don't think i'll be trying this anytime soon then.
I really love these string quilts but kept reading posts like this and was rethinking my need to do one when I came across a pattern in a Kaffe Fasset book that was like an epipheny. Make strips sets- I used a jelly roll , placing a solid fabric in the middle - I used 1.25inch strips of yardage, Then using a 9.75"template cut squares with the diagonal on the solid. The triangles that are formed can be joined with another strip of solid and trimmed back using the template and voila string blocks in not time with no tears. You get 6 blocks per set of strips. I know this method isnt useful if you are using scraps but for those who really want a string quilt its a good solution.
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