How do I??
 

I remember seeing information on this board before on how to sash blocks in nows and keep them lined up so that the sashing strips are in a straight row vertically. I am having difficulty with this after I sew my blocks in a horizontal row (which works out fine) but then trying to line them up in the vertical rows. I think it was information provided by Hollis but I'm not sure. Can anyone help me please?

I use a pin to mark the seams.. So when i lay it on top it will match up..

Create your horizontal rows. Attach a long sashing strip to the bottom of the first row. Iron, then turn it over to the wrong side. Use a pencil and ruler to mark the seam lines into the sashing strip. These become the sashing's "virtual" seam lines. When you attach the next row to this sashing strip, first match up and pin each seam to the marked line in the sashing strip. As you sew, ease or stretch the blocks as necessary to make sure the seams are lined up with the markings. This ensures that the rows line up when you are done.

As suggested, mark the lines to square it up to.
Plus it's critical that each section is square and each block equal in size. Then you need to make sure your sashings are all the same length.

Cornerstones can help to simplify and make it easier to keep all straight and square.

Yes, I've found cornerstones to help immensely.

I sash individual blocks --- leave some plain as you'll sash only one, two or three sides of those -- and use cornerstones. I prefer*not* to use long strips of sashing as I feel it sort of throws off the evenness of the piecing, sort of like leaving some areas unquilted and other areas densely quilted.

Jan in VA

i agree... and i like the look of the cornerstones, also.

This quilt-along shows very good instructions for sashing
http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransso...quilt-top.html

That's how I do it too; sometimes with cornerstones, sometimes not.

This is what I have done. Also I will sometimes add a square to go under the vertical sashes and sew a strip the size of the block end. I hope this makes sense.

Same here. Waaaaay easier.

I add sashing to the bottom of each block then match up the rows with long strips like this:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]362483[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]362484[/ATTACH]

Just line up the bottom sashing from the next row with the chalk marks. I like cornerstones but can't always make them square!

Thank you for all the great information! I think I will do much better on my next sashed quilt.

Ditto this^!

Alison

Attaching sashings
 

aThis sound like a very good way to sash.

I always mark mine as suggested before and it always works.

I usually use conerstones as they keep me in proper alignment. Usually, I make them a part of the pattern. If, for example, your blocks are 12.5" raw size, cutting your sashing strips to 12.5" makes sure you set things up right. Sometimes I get compulsive about it and make stars around the cornerstones. Most often they are small variable stars, not the friendship stars I used here. After 11 years of quilting, when I made a quilt this spring without cornerstones, I was surprised to fins that some of my blocks were not aligned right...time for appliques.

I will definitly try this method. I have had so many problems with"uneven" blocks that I've begun using cornerstones. Thanks for the tip.

This is how I do it and like it so much better. Its much easier to handle, too.

I'm sure by now you've gotten many different comments. However, I'll add mine too! I've been quilting for ~10 years. I used to sew vertical rows and then sew them together. I've learned a few things from this site.

1. Sew the quilt in 4 quadrants (sections) rather than strips
2. Sash each individual block rather than strips that are the length of the quilt.

If you sew in sections; upper left, upper right, lower right and lower left, then sew the top 1/2 together and the bottom 1/2 together...then the longest seam you have to sew together will be the width of the quilt when you sew the top 1/2 to the bottom 1/2!!!

If you sash each individual block, then it's just more chain sewing. And anyone can chain sew! It's very important to make sure your blocks are square though, before you start sewing the blocks to make a section!

I also like to piece individual blocks, I like to look better.

I use the method described by Prism99 works every time.

I personally don't like the look of the long sashing pieces. It just throws the whole look of the quilt off, imho. I much prefer to sash the individual blocks.

Thanks so much for the info on matching blocks and rows in strip pieceing. Love this board.