Efficiently string piecing

Efficiently string piecing is very easy if you plan ahead. Why cut up WOF strings to fit smaller blocks? I use those long strings to make larger (8 1/2") blocks and then use the shorter lengths to make the smaller (4 1/2") blocks. That way the repeat of fabric is reduced and those big blocks do get sewn, if slowly.

I am very pleased with the result of another two partial days of sewing.
I have five red 8 1/2" string blocks and fiftysix 4 1/2" red string blocks made.

I did not slice them on the diagonal as I did the brown string blocks. I do not know what I am going to use these in so they will simply go into the blocks storage bin.

You kinda need to make a bit of a mess with string piecing. That is OKAY!

Check out the right upper corner of the picture above...see the squirrels?
It is a momma and her baby. She brought him here yesterday. She stayed with him while he found all the feeding areas. That took a few hours. Then she deserted him.

He is solo today. Please excuse the dirty windows. The critters leave pawprints and whatever else daily. I am hoping that white streak is some flying bird do-do and not a scent marking from a raccoon.
XOXOXOXO Subee

Orca Bay Clue #4 Red Strings done!

I LOVE making string blocks. And the fact that Our Bonnie has us making string blocks in color families just pleases my OCD me to a tee!

 I believe I have mentioned before that if you are using telephone book pages that there is no need to count them. They are already numbered. So I did the math and have two sets of 64 pages all cut and clipped together. My red strings are finished. I am still doing the trimming but the sewing is done.

 I even saved the 3+" strip that was cut away from the phone book pages. I have in mind to do some piano key type sewing on them with the leftover strips. But after getting the string blocks all sewn DH says he needs me near him. He is lonely in the family room. I sew in the living room. He has never "needed" my presence before. He has never even asked me to ever spend time with him. We are neither of us very social creatures. And we have always had a very comfortable relationship. He has his own TV and computer and so do I. I am hoping as he gains strength and his pain level decreases that he will need me less and less. Yet part of me revels in the fact that we are a strong loving couple.

 Baskets and containers. I love them and to make sure I only use a red once it will either get used up in several blocks on only a hunk will get cut off and then it is put into another basket. That tells me not to pick a string from that basket until I get through all the other strings.
I swear those strings multiply during the night. As you can see I do lots of blocks at the same time. Once they start to fall off the back of the table into "kitty fur never-never land", I clip them apart and continue sewing.

Some I have trimmed the first way Our Bonnie instructed. And some I have trimmed the second way that she thought of in the middle of the night.
I dream sewing too. I so understand where she is coming from. Having a nice sewing area to go to at 3:00 a.m. is such a pleasure. I no longer have time schedules to meet or places to be. Who needs sleep? I will sleep tomorrow night if I get tired.

I have a small tip to share with you bloggers.

I use a piece of cotton batting to rub the strings and debris from the cuting board.

It works great!