Spring strings

I'm linking this to Rachel's Festival of Strings because

most of my recent quilts have been strings.

And there's a few more in my future as well,

similar to this one, which measures 60 by 80.

For the past few months, I've been collecting string pieced strips measuring 6 by 12 inches

from my local quilting friends to support a local emergency shelter.

I've been overwhelmed by string blocks,

and I think I have enough to make four quilts for the shelter.

Other folks have generously donated backings and the batting.

I've divided the string blocks into colour families.

This one features lots of pink strings, and a pink binding and backing.

Not only have we pulled together to support a local cause,

I've also been spreading the delights of making string quilts

among my friends.

My mother has sewn up 30-year-old scraps into 300 inches of string blocks!

I machine quilted this one with my Juki -- straight lines on either side of the seams

and freemotion squiggles and leaves and spirals in each of the columns.

This is the first large quilt I've freemotioned,

and I've figured out a better arrangement of tables and ironing boards

to support the quilt as I free motion.

I used a yellow variegated Aurifil thread on top for the quilting lines.

Here's a photo of the back, which shows the quilting lines.

Thanks Rachel for your Festival of Strings.

Please visit my group string blog, String Thing Along for some more great string quilts.