Sashing and Borders

I have had a request to talk about sashing and borders.

Sashing is the term used for the strips of co-ordinating fabric seperating blocks.  Imagine you have constructed 9 blocks and they are nicely squared up to 12 ½”.  Lay them out in the order you find attractive.  

• Cut 2 strips of fabric 3" wide by 37 ½” long then divide into 3 equal 12 ½” x 3" = 6 sashing strips.
• Lay the sashing inbetween each block in rows 1 to 3.  Join using ¼” seams. Press well.
• Cut 2 strips 3 " x 41 ¾”.  Lay one strip in between row 1 and 2 and the other inbetween rows 2 and 3.  Join using ¼” seams. Press well.

Borders is the term used for the strips of fabric bordering or framing the quilt.  These can either be plain or made up of smaller blocks. To make sure the borders fit, measure the width of the quilt through the centre.  For the purpose of this exercise it should measure the same as the last measurement for the sashing i.e. 41¾”.   Borders are normally a little wider than the sashing.  This is because when quilting, the borders will be quilted a little denser than the rest of the quilt, therefore creating weight around the edges of the quilt.  Make sure you have squared up your quilt before adding the borders. 

• Cut 2 strips of fabric (normally the same as the sashing) 4" x  41¾” and attach one to the top and one to the bottom of the quilt, easing the quilt into each border.  Press seam towards the outside edge.
• Measure the quilt from the top to the bottom but through the centre of the quilt, not the edge (if you measure along the edge, the fabric could have stretched giving a false measurement).  
• Cut 2 strips 4" x 48 ½”.  Attach one strip to each side, easing the quilt in as you go. 
• Press seam to outer edge of quilt. 

  Good luck and let me know if it works for you.

Linda
Happy quiltin'