Episode 10: Making Sashings For Your Quilt The Easy Way
Episode 10: Making Sashings For Your Quilt The Easy Way: Welcome to Episode 10 of the ExQISSite Quilt Program! In this episode, I will take you step-by-step through the process of creating sashings for your quilt. Whether you’ve quilted your blocks exactly as shown or made your own design, you’re in the right place to learn how to join your quilt blocks together using various sashing styles.
I cover everything from the tools you’ll need, like rotary cutters, threads, and fabric marking pencils, to the importance of using the right measurements for perfect sashings. I explain how to prepare your fabric, press it, and use the Sasher tool for precise folds. Plus, she introduces some essential quilting products like Roxanne glue and fork pins to help you achieve accurate results.
Companion Notes: Sashing That Joins Blocks Accurately
Sashing is where a quilt-as-you-go project comes together: the strips that join your individually quilted blocks into one quilt top. Because every block is already quilted, accuracy here is about measuring and folding, not wrestling bulk — which is exactly why Pauline's Sasher-tool approach works so well.
Key points to take into the sewing room
- Measure blocks, then cut sashing to the real numbers. Measure each block and average your measurements before cutting strips; a block that's 1/16 inch off will telegraph through a whole row if the sashing pretends it's perfect.
- Fold and press strips before stitching. The Sasher tool folds the sashing strip's edges evenly as you press, giving you straight, consistent edges to align against the blocks — no raw-edge guesswork.
- Use the right helpers. A dot of Roxanne glue or a pair of fork pins holds a strip exactly where you placed it while you stitch — far more reliable than hoping pins alone survive the trip to the machine.
- Check alignment at every intersection. Where four blocks will meet, pause and confirm the sashing lines continue straight across the join before pressing on.
- Press away from the blocks so the sashing sits flat and the quilted blocks keep their loft.
Join a full row of blocks before joining rows to each other, and lay the growing quilt out flat after each addition. Catching a twist at row one is a two-minute fix; catching it at row six is an evening.
