Back in 2010, I was inspired by a blog post written by Kim Brackett. Kim’s String Block Tutorial was easy to follow and I started making a pile of string blocks using her technique. Kim never did post a picture of her finished quilt on her blog so I am not sure how she set her string blocks in her finished quilt.
I played around with various settings for my blocks and decided that I liked the blocks set on point best. Today, I finally finished sewing my blocks together into a top. My blocks finished at 9 ” square. At this stage, my quilt top measures approximately 78.5″ x 79.5″. I haven’t decided whether or not I will add a border to this quilt. I like the look of the top without any further borders–the large chaos of colour seems to float on the quilt top. However, I will likely regret not adding a border to stabilize the edges of this quilt when it comes time to quilt it. I am sure that keeping the on point setting of the blocks with the bias edged setting triangles square while quilting will be a challenge I am sure.
It took me 4 1/2 years to get my blocks finished and set into a quilt top. Let’s hope It doesn’t take me another 4 1/2 years to turn this quilt top into a finished quilt. 🙂
The next time I make this quilt, I think I will make the first square of this block the same size and from the same fabric. I think this will help to “tame” some of the wildness of this quilt and give the eye a place to rest.
I recently purchased Fons and Porter’s Easy Diagonal Sets Ruler. This ruler was a big help when it came time to cut the setting triangles. The following link will take you to a video that demonstrates how to use the ruler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBfDsLP3P9I
I usually use the method of cutting setting triangles as described by Marti Michell in her book, Quilting for People Who Still Don’t Have Time to Quilt. Marti says to:
Just cut a larger square on both diagonals to yield four setting triangles. To determine the size of the larger square, measure the diagonal of the finished size unit block, and add 1 1/4 inches. this is the size square to quarter for perfect-fit, no-mistakes-allowed setting triangles. I prefer to add 1 1/2 inches to 2 1/2 inches to the diagonal measurement of the block. That size square will yield slightly larger setting triangles which allow the design blocks to float inside the borders.
Using Marti’s method, I would have been cutting my squares 15 1/2″ square in order to get 4 setting triangles. In order to cut enough squares this size for my setting triangles, I would have needed more black fabric than I had on hand. However, using the ruler, I was able to cut my setting triangles from narrower strips of fabric and still have some fabric left over.
