String piecing is an excellent way of using up fabrics from
your stash. It involves straight line machine sewing onto paper and couldn’t be
easier. This workshop allows you to experience the technique used to construct
my ‘String of Diamonds’ quilt seen in the Gresford exhibition last year, with
the aim of kick-starting a larger piece of work. I specifically used Hoffman
fabrics because I had a large collection of them and a lot of variety which is
important. You can choose any fabrics as long as there is a contrast. Examples:
any light or dark fabrics or a 2-colour combination such as red and yellow or
light and dark Batiks/Balis. Other string-piecing ideas will be shown.
REQUIREMENTS
A large variety (the more the better) of your chosen
fabrics
Board, rotary cutter and ruler
Individual ironing pad and small iron
A pad of inexpensive A4 lined paper
Sewing machine set up with a neutral thread (eg grey) (have
extra just in case you run out)
Basic sewing kit
PREPARATION
Cut some strips from each of your chosen fabrics,
remembering that the more variety the better. Iron the fabrics first and then
cut strips at 1”, 1 ¼”, 1 ½”, 1 ¾” and 2”. Put one set of fabrics eg. lights in one large
plastic bag and the other set of fabrics eg. darks in another to keep them separate.