String Pieced Quilt Block with Foundation Paper (Quilting Tutorial)

Quilters always have scrap fabric! This is a great scrap busting pattern!

An easy and fun way to use scraps is to string piece which is also known as string quilting.  This tutorial will show how to make a string quilt block using a simple type of foundation piecing.  This is a great scrap busting quilt pattern. These blocks use many shapes and sizes of fabric scraps so is an excellent use for those many scraps in your stash.

Make many of these blocks and assemble them into a quilt.  Or add sashing around the blocks.  Turn the blocks different ways to get a different look.

Find more tutorials, free projects and more in our Quilting Department.  We also have many video quilting tutorials.

What you need

• Fabric Scraps of various sizes
• Foundation Paper Piecing Paper (find a link to the paper we like below)
• Sewing Machine
• Thread
• Scissors
• Rotary Cutter
• Mat

Instructions for creating string pieced quilt blocks

Strips of different lengths will be needed.  Shorter strips for the corners and longer strips in the middle of the block. The strips can be cut ahead of time which can make the sewing quicker.  Or cut them as you make the blocks.

Before beginning, decide what type of blocks to make.  The blocks can be totally scrappy by using all different colored fabrics in each block randomly.  Or the blocks can be of a single color by keeping the colors together.

Below are two blocks made with a few similar shades of colors.

Below is a photo showing blocks keeping the colors together in one block.  So there are green blocks, pink blocks, orange/yellow blocks, etc. For these, sort your scraps into color families or decide which colors you want to keep together.  This will make it easier to sew the blocks together.

You may also decide to use a certain color like white, cream or black in the center of each of your blocks.  Doing this will add another feature to your finished quilt as this line will be throughout.  See below there is a white/cream strip in the middle of each block and that strip makes diamond shapes in the finished quilt when the blocks are sewn together.

The two photos above are some samples of quilt blocks I have been working on for my string quilt.  For my quilt, I decided to put similar colors together into the blocks.  I am also using a cream fabric for the center strip of each block.

I will add photos to this post of the finished quilt top when it is complete.

The foundation paper we like is 8 1/2" wide so the biggest block we can make is 8 1/2" x 8 1/2".  If you would like larger blocks, use larger paper.  

The photo below shows the first strip glued down to the center of the block.

Randomly choose the second strip of fabric and align the edge, right sides together, along one edge of the first strip.

Sew this strip to the first strip with 1/4" seam allowance.

Open the seam and press the quilt strip open toward the corner.

Add a second strip as shown above aligning the edge with the raw edge on one of the two strips.  Remember that the strip must cover the entire paper backing so make sure it extends past the edge.

Sew the strip to the block with a 1/4" seam, open, and press the seam.  

Continue by adding strips, sewing, opening, and pressing until the block is completely covered. Below is a finished block.

This is what the back of the block will look like.  The fabrics all extend past the edge of the paper and the stitching lines are visible on the back.

The string pieced block is now complete.  Below is a photo of the front of the block.

The back of the block is nicely trimmed and the stitch lines are visible.

Do not remove the paper from the blocks until after the quilt is assembled together.  The paper keeps the blocks from stretching or distorting and helps in sewing the blocks together into a quilt.

Have fun creating string blocks and using up those scraps!  See below for links to books, supplies, and tools for string quilting.

To see a quilt made with this string piecing technique, visit our String Quilt Pattern tutorial page.

For other Learn to Quilt tutorials, follow the link. Find many other projects to use up your scraps by clicking the link to Scrappy Quilts and Projects.

Need ideas for other things to make with string pieced blocks?  Try our String Pieced Potholder or String Pieced Bowl Cozy!

HAPPY QUILTING!

Other Tutorials you may be interested in

• Paper Piecing with Foundation Paper 
• Pumpkin Quilt Block Tutorial