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How to Quilt>Sashing in Quilts
Your blocks can range from the very simple to the very complex, and they will still benefit from sashing. Sashing is what goes between the blocks in a quilt. Like quilt blocks, sashing can be very simple or it can be as complex as your quilt blocks. And some quilts have no sashing at all. The easiest sashing is simple strips of fabric between each of the blocks. This forms a kind of frame around each block, setting them apart while adding some interest to the quilt. One very easy way to add interest to your sashing is to use multiple strips of fabric between the blocks. Because I wanted some distance between the blocks in this quilt, I used strips of yellow and blue fabric and linked them together with a simple 4 patch as cornerstones.
One easy way to make this is to cut relatively narrow strips of fabric across the width of the fabric - these were 1 1/2" wide (including the seam allowances). Using a chain sewing technique, sew the strips together to make long pieces of fabric that looks striped. In the example to the left, you would have long strips of fabric that was yellow-blue-yellow. The next step is to measure the sashing and attach it to the sides of the blocks. Measure the blocks through the center in 2-3 different spots, to be sure that you have an accurate measurement. Then cut enough strips of sashing to surround your blocks. The quilt in the picture has cornerstones only in the center of the quilt. You could add them in the border as well. If you choose to have solid striped borders around your quilt, those will be cut as a single strip. If you decide to put cornerstones in the border, be sure to cut enough strips to surround the quilt. Once you have the sashing strips cut, you will attach them to the sides of the blocks between each block. Beginning from the upper left corner (the kind of spiral block, you would sew the measured sashing onto the right side of the block. Then attach the pinwheel block to the sashing. Add another strip of sashing, and finally attach the block in the upper right corner. Continue making each row in the same way. Once you have all of your rows complete, you will sew the horizontal strips of sashing together. Start with one strip of sashing, and then add the cornerstone. In the example, the cornerstone was a four patch; you could use a plain square of fabric, or even something more complicated than a four-patch. Once the cornerstone is added, then attach another strip of sashing, another cornerstone, and continue that method until the strip of sashing is complete. You can now sew one row of blocks onto the strip of sashing. As you attach these, line up your cornerstones with the sashing strips between the blocks in the rows. Once the first row of blocks and the sashing are sewn together, then add the second row of blocks. Continue adding rows of blocks and sashing until the quilt top is complete. Add your borders, and then finish the quilt. Simple, right? Yes, simple. A little more complicated than plain strips of fabric. Easy to do and it makes the quilt a little more interesting. Other Sashing Topics:
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren www.How-to-Quilt.com
This article courtesy of http://www.How-to-Quilt.com. ©2006-10, Penny Halgren
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