How to Add Sashing Strips to a Quilt

This quilt uses the same color sashing as quilt blocks.

Sashing strips are the material placed between the squares when quilting. There are many types of sashing that can be used, depending on the style of the quilt. One common style that works with most quilt block designs is a sashing strip and setting square sashing. Sashing strips can be made of any material, but a material similar to that used for the quilt blocks is typical on most quilts. The primary challenge in adding sashing strips between quilt blocks is keeping the quilt square. This can be accomplished by carefully maintaining a 1/2-inch seam on every quilt block.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric for sashing strips
• Fabric for setting blocks
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Quilt blocks

Instructions

1. Cut the sashing strips 3 inches wide and the length of your quilt blocks. Cut the setting squares 3 inches by 3 inches. To determine how many you will need, multiply the number of quilt blocks times two. Add the number of rows and the number of columns in your quilt to this total. This is how many sashing strips you will need for your quilt.

2. Lay a sashing strip and a quilt block face to face, and line up the raw edges on the right side. Attach with a 1/2-inch seam. Repeat for each quilt block.

3. Sew a setting block to the end of a sashing strip, making one for each quilt block plus the number of columns plus the number of rows. Use a 1/2-inch seam. Sew this strip along the bottom of each quilt block, making sure the setting square is on the right side.

4. Lay completed blocks with attached sashing strips face to face and attach with a 1/2-inch seam. Continue making rows until you have enough for your quilt, then stich the rows together to form your quilt top. There will be sashing strips everywhere but the top and the left side.

5. Attach the sashing strip plus setting square pieces made in Step 3 to one another, attaching another sashing strip to the other end of each setting square. Make one section with a strip for each row and one section with a strip for each column.

6. Sew the left side section with a strip for each row to the left side of the quilt top using a 1/2-inch seam. Ensure all setting blocks are on the bottom of the sashing strips. Attach a single setting square to the top of the column of sashing strips. Sew the top section with a strip for each column to the top of the quilt and to the single setting square in the left corner of the quilt top.

References

• The Quilting Coach: Adding Sashing to Your Quilt
• Quilter's Review: How Do I Add Sashing to My Blocks?