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I fell in love with String of Beads the first time I saw the traditional block design, and started playing with the simple  leaf shape bead with pencil and paper.

 The first photos of quilts featuring the design they had been appliqued by cutting out the shapes with a seam allowance, turning the seam allowance to the back and tacking it in place, then hand stitching, including those two pointy ends.

About the time I read the first story in a quilting magazine about a new product which could be ironed onto the back of fabric, then fused onto the ...

Two shapes arranged and rearranged to create two different block designs, add a simple quilting motif and the design above is what you get.

Simplify the more complex block design and add a dozen of them around the outer row of blocks leaving just four of the simpler block.

Applique designs using just a simple leaf shape as beads are the simplest form of applique I have found. I first saw String of Beads hand appliqued with seams turned under, but then fusible web came on the market and I found I could cut four layers at a time with scissors so it was quick, then iron them onto fabric and machine stitch. Quick and easy!

I like both of these designs, and have many others which I also like.

A fun way to use up lots of little scraps.

The applique can be done using fusible webbing and finishing with either hand embroidery or machine zigzag.

Love the second one!

Need to add some quilting motifs to this file … could be an interesting project for a wet day!

I like the second design!, though not as much room for quilting.

String of Beads was popular nearly one hundred years ago, and that was many years before fusible webbing and cutting machines were available. I have made several items using that one simple shape before I bought a cutting machine, but the next one will be cut mechanically, guided by computer.

I love the first design, but this second one would look great with the motifs I deleted from the first quilted in the open spaces I created, and I think I would like it more!