Sashing help

mark the finished size of the block and the finished size of the sashing on both edges of the vertical sashing, making sure they are lined up, then match these points up with the seam and pin either side.

Cheers Anne

Thanks Anne.

I am worried about the accordion effect of the rows. How do I make sure that the seams match up but also make sure they are not stretched in a way that will make my quilt hand funny?

Jerry in North Alabama

"hand" should have been "hang". Oooops!

Jerry in North Alabama

Jerry, use your quilt to help line things up. This is easier to do/show than to tell but I will try. Measure your long rows through the middle. They should all be the same length. Cut your long sashing strips this size. Fold in half and mark the center of the sashing strip, on both edges. Fold each end to the center and mark the quarter points. Take the first of the rows of blocks, and fold in half to mark the center of the edge. Fold end to center and mark the quarter points. Pin sashing to row of blocks and stitch. Repeat with second row of blocks and second sashing strip. Press to the sashing. Now, carefully lay the sashed row on your table, face up. Place the unsashed edge of the next row face down on top. You should have centers and quarter points marked, line them up. Now, carefully check to be sure that the seams of the blocks are lined up, all the way down from the "bottom", hidden, edge of the sashing to the edge of the top layer of blocks. If those seams are lined up your sashing will be straight. Once you are used to how this works, you can pin it together without laying it on the table, but laying it out flat helps at the beginning.

Making sure that the sashings are all the same length, and matching up the centers and quarter points all help keep the top square and so that it will hang correctly.

Have fun with it, Pati, in Phx

MaleQuilter wrote:

Jerry, another idea would be to sew one row of blocks to the vertical sashing and then, using a ruler, make a removable mark completely across the vertical sashing where each block joins some of the horizontal sashing. Then match those marks to the same points on the next row of blocks. I hope that was somewhat clearer than mud! :S

if you measure and match on both sides, and make sure they do match up when sewing, as long as you don't pull and tug and force feed it, it should come out just fine, just gently guide it through. If your strip sets come out ok, this should too.

Cheers Anne

I would add this little trick I learned: Before you press the sashing (while it is still laying over the row of blocks), take a pencil (or some other marking tool) and mark where the unsewn edge of the sashing at each block/crosswise sashing seam. Use the marks to line up the next row of blocks.

Julia > Jerry, use your quilt to help line things up. This is easier to

Julia, that is no "little trick"--- that's wonderful.

All of the suggestions are very helpful, but your's is so simple and straight forward even beginners like me can follow it.

It is so great to be able to tap into the collective wisdom of quilters around the world.

Jerry in North Alabama

Cornerstones. You can use cornerstones with your sashing and everything is easy to line up.

You say you don't want another color added at the corner points? Nothing says your cornerstones have to be a different color from your sashing. The seams will help you, even if the color is all the same. Debra in VA See my quilts at