Quiltfest 2014

A STRING OF DIAMONDS

Dilys Fronks

                                          
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.