Help requested
 

Hello Quilt Board Members,
My name is Kim and I have started my third quilt. I need help! The first two did not have sashing or borders so this is a new learning experience. This full size quilt will be for my grandson's new big boy bed. It is composed of blocks that are made up of two small squares with a strip of material between them, which is then attached to a rectangle with another strip of material between them (all cut from crossgrain strips). Each finished block is 9 3/4" X9 3/4" (10 1/4 X 10 1/4 unfinished). There are 8 rows of 7 blocks (horizontally), currently joined with sashing ( cut crossgrain). I guess I should have done a little more reading prior to cutting the material for the sashing, but I guess this is where the learning curve kicks in. I have already cut the sashing (again crossgrain) that will horizontally join the rows, but I do have enough material that I could cut new sashing (with the grain this time) that would join the rows horizontally. If you are not already confused, my question is #1, do I take out 96 seams between the blocks and replace it with sashing that has been cut with the grain? Everything is in proportion ( I squared my blocks) the strips within the blocks and the strips between the blocks) or do I just cut the sashing that will go between the rows horizontally with the grain, run and gun, cut my losses and pray? I can use the presently cut strips for crossgrain binding. Oh, by the way; I have no pattern for this quilt. I saw a quilt on Pinterest and decided to duplicate it. If anyone has any suggestions to share based on experience and knowledge, I'd definately be interested. Don't be shy. I have a lot to learn and I'm not easily offended, lol. Thanks for your anticipated assistance!

I am probably not the most experienced quilter but in my opinion, as long as the strips aren't cut on the bias, I don't see that you would have any problems with it. Have fun with it :)

If I am understanding you correctly, you do not have a problem. Just continue on.

Where you may run into a problem, though, is with lining up the blocks. To avoid wonkiness, this is what I do. After adding a long sashing strip to the bottom of the first row, I turn the piece over and use a ruler and pencil to mark the block seam lines through the sashing. This creates "virtual" seams in the sashing strip. When adding the next row of blocks, I pin the actual seams to the virtual seams and ease or stretch as necessary to get those seams to match. Doing this ensures that the blocks line up when you are done.

I think you are OK too. If you are careful not to stretch your fabric, I don't think the direction of the grain of your sashing will impact you at all. When I have long sashing strips, I cut them to the proper length first and then ease in the row of blocks as needed--this helps keep all the rows the same length.

You should be just fine with your sashings. Carry on and have fun. Prism99 has great info on lining up your blocks.

I cut everything cross grain. You don't have a problem at all, and have done exactly what most quilt patterns would tell you to do. Sounds like a lovely quilt, and congrats on working without a pattern for your 3rd quilt! Prism99 has great instructions on keeping everything lined up when you join the rows - but cross or with grain would not make a difference there either.

I do something similar to Prism but carry it one step further. Once you have put the sashing between the blocks and are ready to put the long pieces between the rows, Take your ruler and mark where each block seam starts and ends on BOTH top and bottom of the sashing. Eg: your first mark would be at 10 inches (block minus 1 seam allowance), then the width of the sashing between the blocks, then 9 3/4 inches, then the sashing etc. Now you have a reference for every block and they should line up perfectly. Alternately, you could use cornerstones, which would keep the blocks perfectly in line too.

Strips cut across the width of the fabric have a little more 'give' than strips cut from the length of the fabric. That's really the only difference.

I find if I starch my fabrics prior to cutting, I don't seam to have a problem. Also helps with the stretching of the fabrics when pressing. I never had a problem with cutting the sashing on the cross-grain.

Thank you everyone for your replies! I was feeling a little bit uneasy as I don't have any experience with including sashing in a quilt and I was unsure how to proceed, but I definately will follow the great information Prism99 shared. I'll keep you posted on my progress and share a picture when it's done. Again, thank you!

Thank you too, GingerK! I certainly will use your tips as well. You all made me feel so much more confident about what I'm doing!

Thank you for coming back to me, Woody! I feel a lot more confident about my ability to be successful in my endeavor now. This special quilt is for my grandson, so I definately want to make it as special as I can. Thank you again, Kim

Thank you Jeanne, for sharing your expertise! It makes sense and somehow doesn't seem so scary when someone else says it's possible. I'll be sure to share a picture when it's done. And maybe along the way I'll touch base for additional assistance. I was pleasantly surprised by all the support I received. Thank you, Kim

Thank you for all the tips, Snooze2978! I'm not a real quick worker, but my work is the best I can do. My first quilt was a series of squares with a multi-colored small block strip over the top of each square. Each vertical row was off-set to the next row and I thought that was challenging. My second quilt was a series of large and small circles within squares, called "Dancing Rainbows" for my daughter and she loved it. I have almost exclusively worked in bright, bold batiks. They are so beautiful. I hope to learn and share on the quilter's board. Thanks for sharing with me, Kim

Thank you for responding to my thread! I will try to have fun making it. Sometimes, I feel so slow, I get in a hurry to produce. Then I find I err. Better to go slow and sure I guess. Thanks for your input! Kim

The most important step when you are attaching borders is to measure acoss the quilt in the centre and down the quilt in the centre and take these two measurements as the lengths you will cut the side and end borders to. Do not just add lengths of material to the sides and then Cut them off or your quilt will not be square. Pin the borders onto the sides of your quilt and eas in any fullness that you may have on any side. All thebest with your project.

One other option, you may consider, is cornerstones of the same fabric, to help line up your squares. I do love cornerstones, usually using the fabric from the blocks for interest.

Can you show us a picture, we would love to see it

I have started doing this and love the results.

Yep, this is what I do, too. I learned this the hard way when making an attic window quilt. I couldn't get all the "window" frames to line up, until I discovered marking the sashing.