If you already know how to make a string quilt block, it’s time to get inspired!

We’ve gathered 15 gorgeous string quilt patterns that show just how creative you can get with fabric scraps, colorful strips, and a little imagination. From bold geometric designs to playful, scrappy layouts, these beautiful quilts highlight the endless possibilities of string quilting.

Whether you love bright, modern quilts or prefer a more traditional look, you’ll find plenty of ideas to spark your creativity and help you plan your next string quilt project.

The best part? You can turn even the smallest fabric scraps into something truly beautiful!

If you’re a quilter, you know you have a ton of scraps from past projects.

But what do you do with them?

Scrappy quilts are some of the most fun, quirky styles of quilts you can make, and today, we’re going to focus on a specific type of scrappy quilt called a string quilt.

We will go over what a string quilt is and how to make one, and then point you to 15 eye-catching string quilt patterns to inspire you and show you what is possible with those strip scraps.

If you love quilting and want a quality result, you need quality tools. You want a quilt that is beautiful, practical and useful for generations. A quilt can be an heirloom, and it deserves the right equipment in your sewing room.

An iron is one of the tools you will use the most, so it is worth some research before you buy. We’ll cover the key things to look for, and then we’ll show you eight irons that quilters like.

The Modern Quality Quilting Iron

This is the age of stealth-looking irons. Some folks call them “George Jetson” irons because they have that space-age, do-anything look. Not every one of them lives up to it.

You did all the hard work. You sewed your blocks, basted your top and quilted your creation. Then you pull it out of the dryer, warm and wrinkled, and the feeling of accomplishment sets in. Now it’s time for the finishing touches, so you reach for your iron.

The right iron features will make your quilts look like show-quality pieces. The wrong ones will leave you with a scorched block and a bad mood.

If you’re a quilter, you’re going to need a good quilting ironing board. And no, that skinny, wobbly board you’ve had for twenty years won’t do the trick.

You’ll need something that works for a large swath of fabric and a heavy finished quilt, something that doesn’t tip over or make you trip over yards of material as you’re trying to iron.

Fortunately, there are ironing boards made just for your quilting projects, so don’t skimp on this important piece of equipment.

If you want a quality, beautiful finished product (and we know you do), invest in an ironing board that makes the job easier and safer.

Why do you need a quilting iron and ironing board for your quilting projects? Because you’ll need to:

• Press seam allowances to get the most from your blocks of fabric.
• Press quilt blocks so they fit together exactly as they should when you assemble the quilt.
• Press all of the assembled blocks before you add batting and complete the quilt (for a smooth finished product).
• Press a completed quilt after washing or extended use.

You might wonder what makes for a quality quilting ironing board. Here’s what you need to look for:

You don’t want to scorch your quilt blocks when you iron them. Ironing covers and pads might not seem important, but their characteristics matter quite a bit for quilters.

You want a surface that lets you shift fabric easily and keep it smooth and flat. The best ironing board cover and pad will work with your iron to deliver a quick press that doesn’t leave a grated impression from the metal board underneath. A good cover also prevents scorches and water stains on your lovingly crafted quilt.

What Should You Look For In An Ironing Board Cover?

A cover fabric treatment that resists scorching and disperses moisture will limit problems and improve results. Some manufacturers apply a silicone coating that works well when you press quilt blocks. A good scorch-resistant treatment speeds up pressing and reduces the work needed to get perfectly flat seams.

The best cover fabric treatments:

• Resist scorching.
• Can be washed.
• Reflect heat to improve iron performance.
• Prevent fabric from bunching.

Related: 8 Best Quilting Ironing Boards (Plus Wool Pressing Mats)

The padding plays an essential role in quilting success. It provides a porous layer where steam can disperse instead of being soaked up by your quilt. A thick pad also reduces strain on your hand and wrist while you iron, so make thick padding a priority when you buy.

Setting up a dedicated sewing station is a big step, and choosing all the furniture can feel a little intimidating. One of the biggest decisions is the chair. Think about it: you’ll be sitting in it for hours at a time, especially if you are a quilter.

You need a great chair to support your back, hips and legs, and a chair can make all the difference in how comfortable you are when you sew. This article will help you find the best chair for you and answer the question, “What is the best sewing chair?”

What Chairs Are Good For Sewing?

If you search online for “sewing chairs,” you’ll find a few results labeled specifically for sewing, but most are office or desk chairs. The right type depends heavily on your table.

If you have a regular-height desk or table, I recommend an office chair. These chairs are made to fit under a desk, and they make an excellent ergonomic sewing chair because most office jobs call for long hours of sitting, just like sewing.

Standing desks have become popular, and if you are considering one for your sewing space, keep in mind that you will still need to sit for some tasks. In that case, I recommend a barstool or drafting chair, because office chairs aren’t tall enough for a standing desk. I have a standing craft table myself, and I use a barstool when I need to sew sitting down.

Quilters learn one important fact about the art of quilting when they create their first quilt — when it comes to quilts there is no right size.

Quilts come in all shapes and sizes, so when it comes to determining the size, the main questions to answer are, what or who are you making the quilt for?

And how are you going to make it work for that project?

Even though quilts come in standard sizes, other factors can influence the size of your quilt.

Mattress size is always a factor in the final size, so the final size of your quilt can be 4″ to 8″ different than the standard size.

You usually have to add length to your quilt so it hangs over the edge of the mattress properly.

The other factors that impact the size of your quilt are the backing and the batting.

The size of the backing and the batting depends on how you want your quilt to look, so those factors may not be on a quilt size chart.

One of the essential parts of quilt making is, of course, the quilting stitches.

A quilt stitch is more critical than you may think.

All the stitches you use for your decorative quilting design also hold the layers of your quilt together.

This use is essential for the longevity of your quilt.

If you do not use the correct stitches, or worse, no stitches at all, the quilt will quickly become misshapen, warped, and eventually fall apart.

Did you know there are several different types of quilting stitches?

This post will cover the seven most popular quilting stitches that are trending in 2023.

When it comes to quilting, the possibilities are endless with what you can do with your sewing machine and some thread.

Whether you like the look of straight-line quilting, edge-to-edge quilting designs, free motion designs, or complex custom quilting, no two quilts will look exactly the same.

In this post, let’s take an in-depth look at the category of edge-to-edge quilting.

I’ll share a simple tutorial and some downloadable designs.

You can use the designs with an embroidery machine or as inspiration to do with your sewing machine using free-motion techniques.

As the season changes or during a specific holiday, isn’t it fun to decorate your home with beautiful new decor?

What is something that can immediately change the look of your kitchen, dining room, or living room? A table runner!

A quilted table runner can instantly transform your chosen room from winter to spring and can be the focal point and inspiration for the rest of your room decor.

In this post, I’m going to show you a simple Quilt As You Go (QAYG) table runner tutorial that will inspire you to make your own for every season and holiday!