What is the difference between borders and sashing?

Sashing is used between and around all of the blocks, and it serves to set the blocks apart for the purpose of highlighting each as an individual unit. Borders surround the grid of blocks and visually hold them together.

This is all pretty basic stuff, with assembling blocks and getting a top ready for quilting. But unless you are working with an established pattern you may have questions about whether or not to add sashing, how wide and what kind or color, and if you can just sew the blocks together without any of that?

One interesting point about unsashed quilts is that it drastically changes the look of the blocks as they work together to create completely different patterns. As you can see with this small example, adding the plain turquoise emphasizes the blocks with the center post, where the unsashed version highlights the angles into the center.

This is another view of how the blocks interplay when there isn’t sashing to stop the relationship of the fans.

I tend to prefer the sashed tee quilts to break up the mass of different colors and large motifs.  This quilt also needed the sashing to add some size to fewer blocks.

One common question is, how wide should the sashing strips be cut? That is a design question, and is up to you. As a guideline, one way is to cut the sashing the same as the width of one patch in the block, half the width, or twice the width.. In other words, if your nine patch block has 4-inch squares finished, cut your sashing strips 4-1/2-inches (which allows the 1/4-inch seam allowance), 2-1/2 inches or 8-1/2 inches. You can also do 1/3 of your block width. So if you have a 9-patch block with 4-inch squares that finishes at 12 inches, you might choose to do 3-inch finished sashings.

Sashing doesn’t have to be an even width all over the quilt
top, a modern quilt may have different widths across the
quilt.

Now the Choice of Styles for your Sashings

1 - You can choose an accent color from one of your prints, or choose a pretty print sashing to accent solid colors in your blocks.

2 - You could do one color in the blocks and another color on the sashing.

3 - Use a wider sashing to make your blocks float and create even more negative space for quilting.

-- I inserted this quilt to show you how a wide sashing can set blocks off completely. My daughter in law wanted an all pink quilt, so I did a sampler with only pink fabrics, no black or white included in the prints. This is a perfect example of an idea gone sideways. The individual blocks are pretty
cool, but all together it’s a lot. It was almost impossible to photograph and I promise it’s not as scary as it might seem. She loved it, by the way.

4 - Add design elements to your cornerstones with small block designs like hourglass patches surrounded by contrasting strips.

5 - Insert rows of flying geese or other designs for interest.

6 - Make asymmetrical sashing by adding elements on only part of the quilt.

Finally, this example of a Storm at Sea would be completely lost with sashing between blocks. The small border then the diagonal setting gives it a real punch!

As always with quilting, your only limitation is your imagination!

— Queen Bee

1. Choose Complementary Fabrics: Select sashing fabrics that enhance and complement the colors and patterns of your quilt blocks. Neutral colors like white, gray, or black can create a clean, modern look, while coordinating colors can tie the quilt blocks together and add visual interest.

2. Consider Sashing Width: The width of the sashing can significantly impact the overall appearance of your quilt. Narrow sashing can create a delicate, intricate look, while wider sashing can provide a bold, striking frame for each block. Experiment with different widths to find the balance that best suits your design.

3. Add Cornerstones for Interest: Cornerstones are small squares placed at the intersections of sashing strips. They can add a decorative touch and help align the sashing strips. Using contrasting or coordinating fabrics for cornerstones can create a cohesive look and add an extra layer of detail to your quilt.

4. Align Seams Carefully: Precision is key when adding sashing to ensure that your quilt blocks align perfectly. Take your time to measure and cut sashing strips accurately, and pin them securely before sewing. Press seams open or to one side as needed to reduce bulk and achieve a neat, flat finish.

Featured YouTube Video

3 Fabulous Pieced Sashing Ideas

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