String Theory: String-Pieced Quilts Past and Present

String-piecing, typically identified by thin lengths—or strings—of fabric sewn onto a foundation, is used to create quilts that range from the seemingly haphazard to the carefully constructed. The technique serves as a way to stabilize pieces that are too small or awkwardly shaped to be useful in traditional quilt blocks.

Though early examples date back to the 1870s, string piecing is enjoying something of a renaissance as contemporary quiltmakers recognize the technique’s sustainability and design possibilities. String Theory offers diverse examples of this versatile approach to quiltmaking, which lends itself equally to happy accidents and intricately planned designs.

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