Starting to Look at Sashing

I'm not an expert on quilts, but I have looked at lots of them to figure out what I like and why the quilter did what {usually} she did to make her quilt work. Mostly I've looked at quilts with pieced blocks because those are the type of quilts I  have been most drawn to make.

Here's some observations I've made about Quilts with Pieced Blocks.

My Sew Modern Bee quilt - Liberated Churn Dashes

Many pieced quilts are made with one block repeated to create the quilt. These can be traditional blocks or more modern blocks, like my Liberated Churn Dash, which may not be symmetrical in design, but still sewn beside each other to create the quilt.

quilt I'm making for my son

Many are made with two alternating blocks to create a secondary design. 

UFO sampler quilt

Many 'first quilts' are sampler quilts - a collection of different blocks usually joined with sashing.

{My quick definition: Sashing is the addition of blocks or fabric  placed between blocks to create harmony in the overall design.}

Sashing! Lots of things to observe here! 

Traditional quilts tend to add design elements from the block themselves to make the sashing.

Corner stones and half square triangles are good examples.

Sometimes the sashing has smaller, connecting blocks like ninepatches or stars.

A great place to browse through sashing options is the Layer Cake Quilt Along flickr pool. I've gotten a few ideas there for ways to sash some of my quilts in waiting:)

UFO basket sampler quilt

Sashing can be very obvious - it can be strips of fabrics which look like borders between blocks. In my Basket Sampler quilt top, you can see how sashing can join blocks of different sizes as well as blocks with different background colours very effectively. Adding sashing can be a fun way to 'build' a quilt with orphan blocks.

Sashing can be planned in the block design and used to created new designs between quilt blocks.

I noticed several of the blocks designed in this issue of Quiltmaker's 100 blocks have sashing elements in them. Some planning will be needed to join these blocks to different ones {neat patterns will appear if you repeat them!}

Several blocks already have borders as part of their design. You can make these borders the same colour as the background of the block to make them disappear - then you can add your own sashing to join these blocks to more blocks!

 

Sashing can make just about any group of blocks friends!

I'm 'planning' to work on several quilts next year that need sashing. I seem to have run out of time right now to start something new - surprised?! With American Thanksgiving next weekend and Christmas approaching fast, I'm going to be focussing on some tutorials for quick gift making. I've been working on quilting my son's Christmas quilt {getting there!} and working on writing patterns. My blog writing has suffered - lots of ideas in 'draft' but not much published. I'm hoping to do better next week!

I have started a newsletter - you can sign up for it in my sidebar. Once a month {or so} I plan to send one out, highlighting popular posts, and projects I'm working on. It will also feature special previews and coupons for my quilt patterns.

I'm also working outside of the home{like many of you!}, checking my Christmas lists {twice} and applying some tough love to my quilting time thanks to a business course I'm taking.

All this means I'm posting less, planning more, and making quilt pattern making more of my life!





Phew! Finally a post!
Sarah Vee