Originally Posted by Jan in VA

I quilt these areas just because the overall look is more appealing to my eye than leaving them plain. The sashings *are* a part of the piecing design, after all. I use a narrow stencil and draw on my design, often some kind of "chain" like this these from The Stencil Company.
( http://quiltingstencils.com/viewallborders.aspx )

Jan in VA