Thread: Question about alighnment.

If all of your colored strips are the same width, then the solution is this. After you sew the sashing to the first piece, turn it over. On the wrong side, using a pencil and ruler, mark each seam allowance across to the other side of the sashing. Pin the next piece to that sashing, matching each seam on the new piece to each pencil mark on the sashing. This will force you to ease either the sashing or stripped piece as you sew to get the two to match.

That will pretty much solve the problem.

Edit: Another thing that will help is if you measure the colored sections first, similar to how you would measure a quilt for adding a border. Measure all 3, average the measurements, and cut the sashing strips to that length before adding the first sashing strip.

p.s. I really like the quilt and may steal that idea!!!

Thanks for asking this question! I have learned so much from the answers!

if it's not the pressing causing the issue, you may get better results by pinning every strip intersection to the sash.

I think everyone covered the sewing but one thing too that unless your taught alot of people don't realize where to measure when adding sashing and borders. Measure thru the middle of whatever your adding, strips or borders. have fun!!

Wow, this discussion has been a quilting 101. Great information from everyone. Your quilt is going to look lovely.

I agree! Not matter what I do, I get off grain after 3 or so cuts. I just straighten the edge again, and keep going. I also think that it is boring to make cut after cut, so I tend to cut only a little ahead, then do something else. This works for me, but might not work for others.

Originally Posted by Holice

also realign the edges about evey other cut. The ruler tends to slip and you don't have perfect cuts (squares)

The suggestions about cutting are great -- starching too. The other thing to watch out for if you cut a lot of strips is the bow in the strip.

However, at this point, I would draw a lines across the back of the sashing fabric like Prism99 said that are the average width of the stripes, then match the strips to the to the lines and pin. I would probably sew with the stripes on the bottom if there are a lot of them that are wider than the average. The feed dogs will ease in the fabric a bit.