to sash or not to sash???

Hi everyone
Among all the other things I currently have ongoing in the world of
crafts, I have started cutting the fabrics for a sampler quilt in
creams, tans, beiges, and browns that I will be making as a gift for a
friend. It'll be 30 different 12" blocks, in a 5x6 setting. So far I
have managed to figure out which blocks I want to use, I have cut out
the necessary templates, and I am slowly figuring out whihc fabric to
use in which block, in which combination. While on call last Tuesday,
I managed to cut all the pieces for 5 blocks. I have decided to use a
quilt as you go method (the more I use this, the more I like it!),
piecing each block and then quilting it before joining the blocks. So
now the only thing I really need to decide is whether or not I want
sashing between the blocks. A search for sampler quilt on google, has
come up with both variations. I can see both advantages and
disadvantages to the sashing.
What are your thoughts???
Claudia

I would always sash a sampler quilt, Claudia. My reason is because I think the eye requires somewhere to 'land' - a resting place - before moving on to the next different bit of piecing.
Other blocks sometimes make nice secondary patterns, and sashing would spoil the effect; but a sampler doesn't do that. . In message , claudia writes

Well, how nice for Claudia to ask and Patti to answer. All I have to do is choose. There were so many just terrific HST blocks located for Jo that I want to try. Polly

I absolutely agree with Pat- sachings are necessary when you use an assortment of blocks or the blocks will all run into each other. Then, what kind of saching- pieced, one piece, cornerstones or plain with some pretty applique on each one??? (stirring, stirring.......LOL)
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Howdy!
"What are your thoughts???"
-- When do you sleep?
R/Sandy -- vote for sashing
On 7/12/07 2:10 AM, in article

SLEEP????? Whassat? Maybe someday..... sigh!!!!!
Claudia

I agree, in general. With a sampler that has all the same size blocks, sashing does a few things. One is rest the eyes as Patti says. It also separates blocks that might "jar" if set side by side. (Generally speaking, when setting blocks next to each other it helps if they are based on the same grid, such as a 9-patch grid. A Shoo-fly block looks good next to a basic 9-patch for example. But set that same Shoo-fly block next to something like a Clay's Choice block, which is based on a 4x4 grid, and it is "uncomfortable".) Sashing helps smooth out this type of thing.
Sashing also helps keep from fighting intersecting seams at block edges. Which makes for a flatter quilt. It adds size to a quilt too. And can allow you to "fix" some blocks if they are slightly off size.
Do be sure to line up the sashing when joining rows, or plan it so that the sashing is offset by a fair amount. (Don't ask........)
On the other hand, a sampler with lots of different size blocks may not need or 'want' sashing. Sometimes trying to add sashing will overwhelm the blocks. So listen to your quilt as you go. And do what feels right to you.
Have fun, sounds like a wonderful project. Pati, in Phx

Apart from plain (which with a sampler I expect I like best), I just love those three strip sashings which turn into nine-patches at the intersections. I think they're fabulous. .. In message , Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. writes >I absolutely agree with Pat- sachings are necessary when you use an >assortment of blocks or the blocks will all run into each other. Then, what >kind of saching- pieced, one piece, cornerstones or plain with some pretty >applique on each one??? (stirring, stirring.......LOL) > >Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

As others have mentioned, Claudie, quilt samplers *usually* improve with sashing. I have a Christmas Sampler that I sashed with two different fabrics, green print and white print. I sorted the blocks into two piles, according to how much of certain color was at the outer edges of the blocks. I chose which work best with the white sashing, which with green sashing. Some would work with either fabric, so those filled in wherever I needed. I sashed each block with four strips and four corners of the contrasting color. When I set these side by side, the corner squares made nice little white/green four patches. This is a very effective setting. It is interesting, but not busy. HTH. PAT in VA/USA

In article ,
I agree with Pat. A sampler quilt almost always has to have sashing, just because the blocks don't match or coordinate.

On Thu, 12 Jul 2007 21:14:03 +0100, Patti wrote:
I like the sashing that forms a star at the intersections. It works well with a sampler of all star blocks. For sampler blocks that are greatly different I would use plain sashing, or plain sashing with a different color of plain square at the intersections. Debra in VA See my quilts at

Mostly I like sashing on samplers, which are often done on different "grids" and need some separation, since the block divisions don't match. Also, the sashing gives each individual block a little frame so you can appreciate it all for itself. Sashing will certainly turn this layout into a bed size quilt. So that's bad or good, depending. Roberta in D
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