What Is a Sash in Quilting?
Whether you’re new to quilting or have advanced skills, some terms can become confusing when you’re adding your own design to a quilt pattern. For example, filling, batting, padding and wadding are all terms that describe the material that goes in between the quilt top and backing. Another confusing term is sash, also called sashing, and border. Both have similar purposes regarding your quilting design.
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Sashing Definition
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In quilting, sashing refers to the borders used to separate the patchwork sections. A regular border, for instance, goes around the entire quilt. Sashing allows you to create borders between the individual patchwork sections or blocks. Sashing can provide added color or design patterns to your quilt. Your sashing can entail a simple or ornate design according to your skill level and preference. Also, adding the design to your quilt gives you a way to coordinate or contrast colors.
Purpose
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You can bind your patchwork sections together without sashing. The purpose of sashing allows the eye to relax. For example, a person looking at the quilt may strain to focus on the different styles, patterns and prints at one time. With a sashing, however, a person can focus on the patterns and borders a without straining or blurring the sections together.
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Create Sashing
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Adding the border to your quilt occurs after you’ve appliqued, or assembled your patchwork blocks. Cut the strips of single fabric. The length and width of the sashing is up to you. Attach the sashing to the patchwork blocks in the same way you assembled the sections. Use pins to secure the sashing at the right angles of the fabric to line the seams. Then proceed quilting your coverlet.
Considerations
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Be careful, if you use long sashing strips. When pinning the long sashing together, you want to get the measurements correct. There may be hundreds of seams on your quilt by the time you’re adding the border. Thus, if you don’t line the sashing correctly you can ruin your quilt. You can remove the sashing from any pattern, if you decide to eliminate it from your quilt. You must, however, increase the size of the patchwork blocks to account for the missing sashing. For example, if your original pattern calls for 10-inch blocks and 4-inch sash, you need to increase the blocks to 14 inches.
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References
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