Classic to Contemporary String Quilts

Classic to Contemporary String Quilts by Mary M. Hogan offers 14 quilt projects perfect for scrap quilting, using pieces of all sizes. What quilter doesn't need patterns like these?

And it's amazingly simpler than I ever thought.

I have never really understood paper piecing. I even bought a book about how to paper piece but still felt confused. So when I saw Mary's pages on how to paper piece blocks for her book I was amazed--I understood the process! Each step is photographed, fronts and backs of the work in progress, with descriptions of what to do. 

Included are squares with center seams, half square triangles, and quarter square triangles, directional quarter square triangles. Blocks in which the background foundation fabric become part of the finished block include half square triangles, half covered background squares, star points, and one and four corner covered blocks. 

There's more--Crooked strings and disappearing strings and adding selvages to strings! Mary shows how to make tree panels for her branching tree blocks and Dresden plate sections. Various foundations are shown, including paper, fabric, and tulle.

Next comes the patterns for quilt projects. String pieced blocks in traditional patterns include flying geese, large block Carpenter Square, Church Dash, Shoo Fly, Card Trick, and Bow Tie.

Her star quilt pattern is original and modern in design. She offers a large Dresden Plate block pattern in a plethora of bright prints to create a floral-like block, and a Dresden Plate table runner.

String pieced sets are sliced thin to be scattered across a single background color for a simple, modern feel. A monotone palette for the strings also has a modern vibe set with white.

Her trees are very cool and make up to 16 1/2" x 18" size. She shows them as a set representing seasons but could also be set together into a bed sized quilt.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Classic to Contemporary String Quilts
by Mary M. Hogan
Fox Chapel Publishing
Landauer Publishing
Pub Date 08 Apr 2019
ISBN 9781947163041
PRICE $24.95 (USD)

Binding With a Flange from Caroline's Sewing Room

Caroline's Sewing Room in West Branch, MI demonstrated how to bind with a flange during the annual Quilt Walk the first weekend of October. The flange is incorporated into the binding process and gives the impression of a narrow border.

The instructions involve cutting two strips of fabric, 1 1/2" wide for the binding strip and 1 3/4" wide for the flange strip. (Use mitered seams to connect the strips to make the lengths needed for your project.) The binding strips are sewn together right sides together along the long sides.

The strips are then turned wrong sides together and pressed even at the open edge; the flange fabric will show 1/8" at the folded edge.

The binding is sewn to the back of the quilt with the flange fabric up, then folded to the front of the quilt. The binding is machine sewn with matching threads.

 Below: Back of the quilt with binding sewn on.

 Below: Front of the quilt with binding sewn on.

Below the binding is being sewn on. You can see the binding back matches the border/backing fabric of the project and the flange is in the contrasting lighter fabric.

The mitered corners will need to be hand sewn.

 

It makes a great effect. I am eager to try it out on some small quilt projects and think it would be great for art quilts.