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Sashing and Cornerstones Between the Rows
Now it's time to add the sashing and cornerstones between the rows of your quilt.
Because my blocks are different widths, I didn't measure the length of the sashing. I cut two strips 1 1/2 wide and about 13 inches long. The center cornerstone is a 1 1/2 inch square.
Sew the sashing strips onto each side of the cornerstone, giving you a strip of fabric that extends beyond the blocks, with the cornerstone lining up with the sashing between the blocks.
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Sew the cornerstone between the strips. |
The next step is to sew the sashing onto the blocks.
Place the sashing strip so it faces right side facing down onto one row of the quilt. I chose to sew the strip onto the bottom row first; therefore it was sewn onto the top of the blocks.
This is the time to even up any of the block which isn't the right size. You may notice in the block on the left that some of the blue shows above the sashing. That block was a little taller than the other blocks. Because all of the pieces were sewn to the foundation, I couldn't trim it without removing some of the stitching. I chose to leave it because it will be hidden inside the sashing.
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| Place the sashing onto the blocks and pin in place. |
To make extra sure that the cornerstone is lined up, start stitching on the left side of the cornerstone, across the purple square and down to the end of the sashing strip. When that side was sewn, turn the quilt around and sewed from the beginning of that stitching to the end of the strip on the other side of the cornerstone.
As you add pieces onto the foundation, the piece being added may move just a little. Sewing the cornerstone down first will secure it in its place in the center, and it won't move as you sew the rest of the strip.
The excess portion of the strip will be trimmed as you add the outside sashing and/or border.
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Both sides of the sashing are attached between the rows. |
Once you have the sashing added onto the blocks in one row, sew it to the blocks in the row above or below – using the same technique you used to add the sashing between the blocks, while making sure to line up the cornerstone with the sashing between the blocks in the row you are adding.
Trim the batting and backing on one side, just as you did when you finished the backing between the blocks.
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Trim the batting. |
In this case, because I did not stitch the batting together, when I trimmed it, it came off in two sections. If I had secured it, the batting would have come off in one piece, and my stitching would have been cut. Either way is fine.
Trim the backing away on the side that will overlap, so it will be wide enough to cover the backing from the adjoining block plus have a 1/4 inch seam allowance to fold under.
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Trim the backing. |
Iron under the seam allowance, and then close the seam using a blind stitch.
Continue this process until all of your blocks and rows are sewn together.
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Pin the backing closed. |
Now your quilt or wall hanging is in one piece. It has sashing between the blocks, and it is time to decide whether to add more sashing with cornerstones around the quilt (as the design was created) or whether to just add a border.
There should be enough batting and backing extending beyond the quilt top to do whichever you choose.
Your backing may be un-joined where it extends beyond the batting of the blocks (as it is in mine). I wanted to be sure that the stitching was secured with a knot that wouldn't get cut off as I added blocks and rows. As the quilt is finished, I may need to add some hand stitching here and there.
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The backing of the quilt. |
Happy Quilting!
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren
TheQuiltingCoach
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