To start this I spy quilt I was going to be washing all the fabric today, then ironing - I was going to use 5" squares, but I'm thinking that they may not all shrink the same or some may just get out of shape - so do I need to measure them all and square them up/trim them - and then possibly they may wind up being a bit smaller than 5"? I was thinking I needed to do this before I cut the sashing so I knew exactly how long to make the sashing pieces....

I was also going to put little squares at the corners (like this: http://ny-image0.etsy.com//il_fullxfull.103085060.jpg) - so would I sew the 5" (or less) squares together with the sashing in between, and sew the horizontal sashing with the small solid squares in between - and then sew the long rows together? Or is there a better way? I do worry about one row being "off" and not lining up....

Personally, I would not wash the sashing or border or backing fabric if you are using 5" squares that have not been washed... I think it would cause a bigger problem when you launder it the first time.

I would sew on the vertical sashing first, so that you can sew the blocks into horizontal rows. Then you can cut sashing strips that run the whole length of the row, instead of individual pieces.

I can't get that link to open.....:(

This one will work
http://ny-image0.etsy.com//il_fullxfull.103085060.jpg

I totally agree with this advice.

Eliminating cornerstones from the sashing will make the quilt easier to assemble. To guarantee that the blocks will line up if you are not using cornerstones, I advise doing the following.

Sew a sashing strip to one horizontal row. Turn it over and, using a pencil and ruler, mark the wrong side of the long sashing strip at all the seams lines. In other words, draw a pencil line across the wrong side of the sashing exactly as if there were going to be cornerstones.

When you go to attach your next horizontal line of blocks to this sashing, pin the seams of the new row to the pencil lines on the sashing. This will guarantee that your blocks will line up.

If you're going to wash fabric first, wash everyhing first... before cutting anything. Then iron... Then fussy cut your squares, all the size you want them. Just don't cut anything until all your fabric (squares, sashing, the whole bunch) is washed.

I'm not sure if that's what you were looking for or not, or if I'm being silly and redundant with something you already knew.

The pattern's adorable, though!

(The link works if you edit out the last ")" before hitting enter.)

I just answered your other post.

Have you cut the 5" squares yet? Or is the fabric still in yardage?

If you haven't cut the fabric yet, you do have the option of prewashing. Some people do and some people don't. I personally don't prewash. If I suspect a fabric might bleed, I test a small piece with water and a white cloth to see if any dye transfers out of the fabric. Not prewashing keeps the sizing in the fabric, which helps stabilize the fabric throughout the piecing and quilting process. People who prewash their fabric often iron with starch before cutting, to restore stability to the fabric.

Hmmmm.... most of the squares are already cut, but I do have a piece or two that I will be cutting myself - plus I need to cut all of the sashing which will be black, so maybe I should prewash..... maybe I can do it in a bucket instead of the machine...

Why don't you hit them with a burst of steam from your iron? That should give you a clue if it will bleed or not. Or rub a wet q-tip (gently) over the color. If it bleeds, the color will transfer.

I definitely would not wash do any prewashing of the already-cut 5-inch squares. I personally also would not mix prewashed squares with unwashed squares, so I would just cut the remaining fabric.

I would test the black fabric for dye stability before using it. Drop a piece in a clear glass of water and see if it discolors the water (give it an hour). Also, rub a piece of white fabric across the dampened black fabric to see if any black transfers to the white. Most black cotton fabrics have been colorfast for me, but I know that blacks can be bad about transferring color. You definitely don't want black bleeding!

Thanks for the suggestions! I've had small pieces of the black and a red in white cups of hot water - and no bleeding. At all.

So I'll just iron it all flat - and do some more reading so I get it into my head. I'm so afraid to start cutting! Is there a "Quilting for Dummies" book?

I have not been prewashing and I use a color catcher in the wash when I have finished. I love the pattern you chose.