to sash or not to sash???

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

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

Patti wrote:

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

As others have mentioned, Claudie, quilt samplers

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

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

"claudia" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...