Sashing a Quilt
In a quilt, sashing is a strip of fabric sewn between the quilt’s blocks, separating the blocks just as a sash on a dress separates the top from the skirt. However, while a dress sash is designed to draw attention to the waistline, quilt sashing usually stays in the background to frame each block. There are no hard and fast rules about the width or color of sashing, and its inclusion in the pattern is a choice made by each quilter.
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Purposes of Sashing
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As an element of the quilt’s design, sashing sets off each block while contributing to the overall pattern. It is usually solid in color to contrast with the patterns in the blocks and give the eye a place to rest. Solid-colored sashing also provides a place to show off intricate quilting patterns. The color choice can complement the quilt’s other fabrics or provide a mind-jarring contrast. Sashing is also used to increase a quilt’s size, so that a pattern for a comfy throw can be enlarged for a twin bed coverlet by adding just a row or two of blocks.
Components
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There are two common methods of composing the sashing for a quilt. One consists of one long strip running horizontally between each row of blocks, while the vertical strips are made of rectangles sewn to the block sides in each row. The second method adds contrasting cornerstones to the intersections of the horizontal and vertical lines. In this format, the horizontal sashing is made up of rectangles alternating with cornerstones.
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Style Variations
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Not all quilt designs feature a basic grid of blocks and sashing. In a quilt in which the blocks are offset, the sashing may be arranged in continuous vertical columns with small horizontal strips contained between two columns. Other designs with a strong vertical orientation may not include horizontal sashing at all. Quilters also add creative touches or complexity to their projects by using triangle squares, four-patch units and even flying geese units for cornerstones or strips.
Precision Counts
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As with every element of a pieced quilt top, sashing needs to be cut and stitched precisely so the quilt fits together smoothly. Fabric must be squared up and sashing pieces measured carefully during the cutting process. All pieces need to be one-half-inch longer and wider than the finished dimensions in order to provide a quarter-inch seam allowance all around. In addition, experienced quilters check all the blocks for uniform size before attaching the sashing.
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References
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