Piecing Sashing Strips For A Quilt
 

I am making a quilt for a great grand daughter. The pattern calls for nine blocks which are pieced together in threes. The rows of three are then put together with sashing between the rows. My pattern says to cut the sashing crosswise on the fabric and then to piece the strips as necessary to accomplish the sashing. I have always joined sashing with horizontal seams but this pattern tells me to use diagonal piecing just as I would do when piecing strips of binding. It makes me wonder if I have previously been doing so wrong or if this is a matter of preference. The sashing strips are cut 4 1/2" wide and I will be using 4 strips for the sashing. Two rows of border will also be pieced. I assume that I should use the same type of joining on all pieces of the quilt but just wondering what others do. All comments appreciated.

I don't think it matters. I have always pieced it on the diagonal because that is my preference, but I don't think either way is right or wrong.

The only time I think piecing diagonally is the so-called "correct" choice is when you're sewing together strips for binding, because that spreads the seam out along the edge, so you don't have a huge lump in one spot. But again, that's personal preference.

When possible, I prefer to use the diagonal for a couple of reasons, the main one is it makes the seams in patterned fabric less noticeable, and two because I feel it is more stable, or at least less likely to unravel at the seam line.

I don't think it matters very much. If I'm just short and don't have enough fabric, I'll use a straight seam.

I also prefer to miter border sashes but sometimes that can look weird when all the other seams are blunt and plenty of patterns call for blunt sides even if there are diagonal seams in the block...

"They" say that when you join strips for sashing or borders, diagonal seems are less noticeable to the eye of the viewer. I've always done it that way, but I suspect that by the time you get something quilted, it doesn't matter very much.

It makes no difference for most of us. Do it the way you want to.

Yeah, sewing it on the bias like that just hides the seam a little better. And you most likely want to do the same on the boarder as you do on the sashing. Doing it differently is going make any horizontal seams stand out even more, and while sometimes that can be desirable, it's probably not the best for the pattern you're describing.

I don't do it on the bias because it stretches and bunches up on me. But I think it is a preference thing.

I think the seam is longer on the diagonal, so would be more noticeable. It's also sewn on the diagonal, which is stretchy and may become distorted. I always sew borders and sashing straight.

I like to cut lengthwise if possible for sashing and borders. I stay-stitch along the edges of border pieces and press before putting them on the quilt.