This project was whipped up so quickly that it felt like much-needed therapy. I love a string quilt and have made many of them. This time, I set out to create a different variation. After a little research, I found a photo that seemed easy enough. (Full disclosure, I couldn’t find a maker’s name to attribute to this quilt.) “I can make that,” I thought to myself. See my inspiration below.

Using strips of 3.5″ receipt tape, I sewed 4 sections of strings to go around the 5″ center square. After pressing, I trimmed my blocks to 10.5″ square. Twenty blocks and I had a quilt. Then I cut 1.5″x 10.5″ sashing strips for between the blocks and 3″ strips for a border all around.

• Here’s what I learned making this fun quilt.

1. Sashing Challenges: I am not good at sewing sashing strips. I’ve known this before, but thought I had evolved. I watched a great Basic Quilt Sashing Tutorial by The Sewing Room Channel and thought I had it all figured out. She made it look so easy!! You can see that my sashing strips shifted and aren’t aligned. Without cornerstones, I’m usually not great at sashing, so this was a gamble from the start. This quilt was supposed to be scrap therapy for me, so I refused to give up and start over. I like the quilt nonetheless, but I may have found an Achilles heel!
2. Adding Machine Receipt Strips: This is a great way to use adding machine receipt scrap strips. Keep in mind that it’s best to begin and end your pieces with wider strips. I made lots of pieced strings and they added to the whimsy overall. However, I preferred to use the scrappier strips on the inner short 5″ sides around the center square.

I sew because it helps me to relax and relieve stress. I feel good when I can sew something for charity. Teaching others to sew is also fulfilling to me, but in the end, sewing is brings me joy. Focusing on perfection can be the very thing that squashes your creative purpose. While this quilt isn’t going to win any awards, it was fun to make. I’ve matured and grown tremendously in my sewing skills. I’ve achieved a great deal, but still need to enjoy the process. Going with the flow will always be better for me than striving for perfection! I think this is why I don’t buy quilt kits. I often have an allergy to following directions. Maybe one day I will nail sashing down, but until then, it won’t keep me from having fun.

This quilt top is going to Cynthia for Many Hands and Many Hearts. With her guidance, I’m sure it will find the right home. I’m calling it Scrappy String Quadrangle.

Patchwork & Quilts, Oh Scrap, Slow Sunday Stitching, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday , Put Your Foot Down, Finished Or Not Friday, Off The Wall Fridays,