Red & White Sampler - Sashing or No Sashing?
 

Hello everyone, I need your opinions. This is a red and white sampler that my quilt store did last year. I'm putting it together, but wanted your opinion on whether I should add sashing to each of the blocks.

Most of the quilts I've done have a sashing separating the blocks....so this seems like what I'm leaning towards.

Can you take a look at this and give me your opinions?

If I do sashing, what should I do? plain fabric? Piece some squares out of leftover red & white? Will it make the quilt too busy? And, you can see that they are different sizes.

I've sewn some of them together without the sashing......would it look "weird to have some sashed and some not?

Or, is it just fine the way it is?

Oops! Forgot to ask for suggestions on backing also..........if I don't piece the back...any suggestions on what to put on back!

Thanks for your help! Nora:thumbup:

I really like it with sashing!

I prefer a sashing on sampler quilts only because sometimes the eye has a hard time deciding where one block ends and the next begins, which to me defeats the purpose of displaying all the different patterns. The sashing will give you a little wiggle room to adjust blocks that are different sizes.

That's a very nice sampler. It would be a difficult quilt to add sashing to, though, because the blocks are different sizes.

If I was to add sashing, I would use a plain white. The sashing would give some visual breaks between the blocks, which would make it less busy (and easier to admire the individual blocks). You would have to rearrange some of the blocks to accommodate this. I would try laying out your blocks on a sheet of white fabric, leaving spaces like sashing, and seeing if you like the look.

You may want some to be sewn together without sashing, but you may not... see what you think as you experiment! You might want to un-join the ones you've sewn together already, depending which it is. For example, there is a set of three pinwheels that could be joined, or not, depending on the look you like.


For backing, I would want to use something red and white with a large-scale print, like the Rhapsody wide back in red from Connecting Threads. (http://www.connectingthreads.com/Fab...L60020326.html)

I love it just as it is. It is beautiful.

this was my thought too

Normally I prefer sashing, but this quilt looks really good without it and a lot more modern to me.

Edited to add: If the quilt shop is more focused on calicos and fabrics like Civil War and 30's, then I would probably try to figure out a sashing. If the shop focuses on batiks, paper piecing, or bold and brights like Kaffee Fasset, then I would leave it like it is with no sashing.

Another thought....if you do the sashing, think about a bold black with white print and add a small border of the same print. Adding the black and white will kick it up a notch.

I agree with you Barb in Louisiana. My first thought was definitely sashing, but when I saw the quilt without sashing, I was pleasantly surprised. But I still think, use sashing.

I agree. Perfect without sashing.

Looks more modern the way it is. Love it. I personally think sampler quilts with individual blocks & sashing are pretty boring. This is much more interesting and has movement.

I think this particular quilt looks great without sashing.

I love it just the way it is. Sashing would make it formal.

Looks super the way it is!; you need to audition other ideas on a design wall for help!

I think it is beautiful without sashing.

I like it as is. Beautiful quilt!

Beautiful quilt without sashing. There is so much interest in the varied colors of red and the dimensions of the patchwork. Sashing would take all of that visual interest away. I think the borders provide that visual containment that is necessary. I like it the way it is.

If this were my project, I would definitely add the sashing. A narrow white border on each block would make it float and, I think, emphasize it even more. Yes, your blocks are different sizes, but that would be just another challenge to overcome. Your quilt is very nice as it is, but I think the sashing would make it even better than it already is.

I love the quilt just as it is and I think you did a great job in the way you laid out all of the different blocks. It certainly caught my eye. I would use a red and white star fabric if you can find any but I would definitely carry the red and white to the back.

I really like it without.

Thank you everyone for your quick responses to my questions. I sat down and figured out how much fabric I'd need to purchase to add the sashing and decided for this one, I'd skip the sashing (since I'm on the moratorium for fabric purchases) AND the program gave me the fabric for the borders and binding (I didn't want to spend time figuring out how much, etc.). So, I'm piecing that baby today.

But, I thank you all AND I think I'll make another quilt with the pattern and sash that one. Since it won't be a kit.....I will be able to easily do it.

And, thank you for the suggestions for the back. You guys are always so helpful!

And now......any suggestions for the second quilt? I was thinking blues.....but have you seen any really pretty quilts using basically 2 colors that you'd suggest?

Thanks again!

Only saw on photo with no sashing. I say no sashing!! Love it as is. Also think about the backing in regards to the red's showing through. Maybe 2 layers of batting.

I would leave it the way it is...it's beautiful with lots of movement. For the back I would do a solid
white the same white as on front. Let the front be the star of the quilt.

I'm in the 'no sashing' camp... It's like life: Parts of it overlap and flow into other parts. Sashing is an attempt to control, to keep everything compartmentalized. I hate to see really creative quilts like this ruined by sashing, just because the quilter wasn't comfortable with the freedom in the quilt. It's like putting everything in it's own cage.

I know this sounds a little artsy-fartsy Freudian or something, but it's a gut feeling I have. This quilt pattern is perfectly abstract. Why ruin that?

To me sashing makes really boring quilts. I was sorry to see people take Bonnie Hunter's Grand Illusion and put sashing around the blocks because they didn't understand how those shapes were supposed to play off of each other. It completely stopped the movement it the pattern... but I digress.

wow, I love everything about it,

I think I would go with the white sashing just to help clarify the blocks from one another. If you wanted to use white to bring the blocks all to size, then you could use a red cornerstone.

I have made this quilt-no sashing-love it the way it was.

I think it's beautiful just the way it is.

I really like the way you have it laid out without sashing.

Blue and white on the second quilt would be gorgeous, me thinks.

Love the red one as is but can't help wondering what it would look like with white sashings with snowballed ends in red and red cornerstones making stars. Would make red stars randomly throughout and give a little space between the blocks. I just wonder. :shock: If that makes any sense.

I prefer the sashing (maybe a white sashing) just because it lets you eye stop and look at each block.

Love it just how it is

It is fantastic without sashing. :thumbup:

This is just stunning the way it is! No sashing, please.

Me too-I like the visual effect with no sashing-it gives it a more modern feel!

I like it without sashing.

I would go without the sashings, this way the blocks interact more with each other.

Oh yes to sashing. It will help each block shine on its own. Beautiful!

It is very pretty but I would use white sashing in between the blocks. This really compliments them and a nice red with white print for the back or vice versa. Very nice job!

Our quilt guild recently offered this quilt as an Opportunity Quilt (AL does not allow raffles) and made more money on it than any past quilt. No sashing, backed in white. It was a great success!

Another voter for the "I LOVE it like it is"! I like the way the blocks blend with each other and the motion from the variety. But, if you did want some sashing, I might sash with red but maybe have cornerstone (I CRAFT so don't remember what they're called in the sashing) with red and white. It really is quite beautiful as is.