Hive 3 May Tutorial - Scrappy String Block

Hi,

Gayle here and this is my third year in Stash Bee and for this month I would like a scrappy string block. I would like to make a quilt similar to the one on the cover of Today's Quilter magazine issue 31. I contacted the designer Carolyn Forster and she granted me written permission to share this block. 
http://www.todaysquilter.com/magazine/issue31/

This is very scrappy so go through your scrap baskets. For color choices, you will need some low volumes, whites, off whites, prints or solids for the center strips. For other strips mostly light mediums to mediums with an occasional dark or bright in any colors (except black or browns and no juveniles please).

To start you will need to make a paper pattern. If you don't have a large enough piece of paper you might need to tape two pieces of copy paper together. Cut a 9 1/4 inch square and cut diagonally once to make the triangle. The base of the triangle should be 13 1/4 inches. You will NOT be sewing to the paper, it is just used as a guide and for the final trimming of the triangles.

Cut all strips between 1 1/4 to 2 1/4 inches wide. The center low volume needs to be at least 7 1/2 inches tall. The block can have a bit of a wonky look, so the center strip can be cut at a slight angle. And see below when trimming block.

Sew strips together using the paper triangle as a guide to make sure each colored strip is tall enough to allow for trimming later. Each strip can be slightly shorter as you add to the edges and I found if you have any half square triangle pieces lying around, they work well for the outermost strips. Iron both sides away from the center strip. It usually takes 4 or 5 colored strips on each side to cover the paper.

Lay paper guide over the strips and cut an even straight cut along the bottom. Then lay your ruler over the two angles and trim to the paper piece. For more wonkiness the tip of the paper triangle can be offset from the center of the white strip like shown below (or centered if you like). You will need to make 4 of these triangles.

 

At this point you can send me the four triangles not sewn together or sew two together like below and then sew these pairs together to make the final block. Please be careful sewing these edges as they will be on the bias.

The block will be 12 1/2 inches (12 inch finished). I think this is an easy block and gets you to use up small scraps, so have fun.  Here are some blocks I have already made.

If you have any questions, please contact me. Looking forward to see what you all make.
Thank you - Gayle