PaperPrincess |
02-01-2011 12:06 PM |
This is how I do it. Let's pretend that your blocks are 8.5" square before finishing and you want 2" sashing. First cut a 2.5" strip. I find that if I cut the sashing into 8.5 X 2.5 inch rectangles first, I'm more accurate. Sew the sashing to your blocks to form a row. Press all seams toward the sashing. Now you have a row done. Next, cut a piece of the sashing fabric 10 X 8.5, and cut a piece of cornerstone fabric, 2.5 by 10". Sew the 10" sides together. Press away from the cornerstone. Now slice this piece into 2.5 inch strips. You will have 4 strips mostly sashing with a little cornerstone fabric at the end. Sew these together to make as long a strip as you need to match your block strip. You may need to add or remove a cornerstone at the beginning or end of this strip. Press all seams away from the cornerstones. Sew this to your block strip, matching seams.
A couple of things: if you cut your sashing to size before adding it to the blocks you will be more consistant. If you press the seams in the way I indicated, the seams will 'lock' together making the piecing easier. And lastly, I just used 10 inches for the example above. You can cut the rectangle the size of your block X a number that's a multiple of your sashing width. The sashing in the example was 2", so add seam allowances you get 2.5". 2.5 X 4 = 10", but you could also make it 20" or any length and just cut 2.5 inch strips.
Hope I didn't confuse you more. ;-)
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