Here's a Christmas project I'm making for my daughter. I love the fabrics, but when I got it laid out it all seemed a bit dark. So I'm considering adding sashing - but it doesn't go between all the blocks. It would not be this material - but a darker cream - maybe even a muslin? I'd have to cut the blocks down to put sashing around each block. So ... none of this is sewn together... the blocks are made and just laid out. What, oh Wise Ones, do you suggest?

AND the first picture has a box of buttons I'm considering using for embellishment - like on the snowmen printed buttons and eyes. Would you just put them here and there? Does that make it not as cozy - to have buttons strewn about?

Those are very cute blocks! I think a cream colored sash would look nice with it. You seem to have the right idea.

Oh I made the same panel into a quilt it is still a top. I have so many I am looking to buy a longarm so that is why so many are not quilted...

Can you post a pic of yours? (Just hope it doesn't make me want to grab the seam ripper and start over!)

I think I"m going to back it with flannel. Not sure about quilting yet - thought about using the buttons to tie it. Have the buttons on the top and tie on the backing? Is that too weird? That might be a lot of buttons!

Redish sashing and definitely the buttons for a warm seasonal quilt.

Reddish? Hadn't thought about that, but I'm sure it would be pretty. I was aiming at lightening it up ... so gonna have to lay some out and see if I still feel dark.

A button centered in every other block? I'd thought about one at each intersection, but that would be a LOT of buttons. The blocks are 4 inches across, but the top and bottom row are shorter than the center row. Had to do that to make the blocks match the size of the panel, but use the center block as is.

I think you are off to a great start. A cream would be very pretty. My late Mom put buttons on a vest she made for me. If I can find it, I will post a pic.

I like the idea of some sashing but maybe a more narrow one. Like about an inch wide (cut it 1 1/2"). A cream or ecru color would be great. Or someone said red...but I lean toward the light.

Very cute, the sashing will lighten it up and it looks very nice too :D:D:D

Red or cream would do the trick. Cute!

Cream or muslin sashing - but, I agree with the poster above me, in that it should be narrow. That's what my 'eye' saw anyway at first glance. I really like this btw. Beautifully done.

Very cute blocks! But please don't use too many buttons. When I roll over, I don't want to feel a button in my 'you know what'.

So cute!!!

why do you think you have to cut down the blocks to do the sashing? as long as you have enough backing, you can leave the blocks as they are and just add sashing. The top is great, and either red or cream sashing would set the blocks off.

I think the cream sashing will really bring out the quilt. Nice job so far! :)

The blocks are sized to fit around the panel. If I add sashing between all of them I don't see how the panel will fit.

I like the idea of narrow. Thanks for the suggestions.

I would go with the cream color. I like the way you have the white lsid in there, could you maybe do a 1/2" seam instead of a 1/4" and maybe make the shashing an 1 1/2" so you wouldn't have to cut the blocks. As far as the quilting maybe do a couple of snowmen or stars and a few buttons. Just a thought or 2 for you.
Grest looking quilt! I love the colors!

Please show pictures when your done.

If the backing is too small with the sashing on the front then you could add a border to the back of the same sashing.
Maybe use that red for the binding.

What a fun quilt-to-be! I must comment about the buttons though.
I made my sister a lovely quilt. The fabrics were all floral. Instead of quilting or tying the quilt I tacked it with cute flower buttons. My dear sister called and told me she was removing the buttons after she'd sat on them the second or third time. They were just plain uncomfortable and ruined the coziness as far as she was concerned. I'm still waiting for her to bring the quilt back for me to quilt it. Meanwhile she's always bragging about curling up with her quilt! No more buttons on quilts unless they're wall hangings.

Thanks for all the good help. Seems that most don't like the idea of just sashing part of the blocks. I'll play with it and see if I can figure it out. This is just my fourth top to piece and I've completely finished only two - with diagonal stitching through the corners. Snowmen are beyond me - so far anyway!

Can't wait to play with it. Too bad I have to go to work. Do I feel a headache coming on? LOL

I think the cream sashing will be pretty and help to lighten it up.

Okay - I got "tea-dyed muslin" at Walmart tonight. Also got two grandboys so the blocks are put away until Monday. I think I'm going to cut the sashing for the two horizontal and two vertical lines around the panel just a wee bit wider - maybe 2 1/2 inches before sewing - so that I can put sashing between all the blocks - the ones around the blocks not on the direct horizontal/vertical lines will be a bit smaller - 1 1/2 inches before sewing. That should do it.

Then a border in a darkish red should finish it off. I'll post when I get it done. AFTER the grandboys leave! (One is 2 1/2 years old and the other is 3 ... they're cousins and LOVE being together - when they're not saying "Mine, mine, MINE!" that is. :)

I think cream would be just perfect. I love the button idea too. Great panel.

Not sewn together or even cut in strips, but here's roughly the idea. I'm much happier with it.

Mostly finished - needs beige border on top/bottom and a wider red border all around. BUT I'm so much happier with it that I wanted to post it. With the light sashing your eye goes to the light colors in the top rather than it feeling so dark all over. It's turning out much wider than I expected - the rectangle 9P caused that - it seemed like a good idea at the time! I'm considering doing a 4 1/2 inch red border on top/bottom and a 2 1/2 inch red on the sides. I've read both that's okay and that's horrible. It's for my daughter - for a sofa throw and right now it's as wide as the top of a double bed, but not as long. What ya think?

If I were doing it again I guess I'd cut the blocks down a bit to avoid the different size sashing I had to use to get them all to fit together, but ... not ripping any more!