A Beginner’s Guide to Quilt Sashing

Main Photo: Golden Days Hexie Flower Throw Quilt (February 2024). Designed by Rachel Nielsen. Photography: Ashlee Cole Photography.

Sashing might sound like a fancy quilting term, but it’s simply the strips of fabric that frame your quilt blocks and give your quilt its finished, polished look. Think of sashing as the quiet helper that makes each block shine, the space that gives your eyes room to rest and lets them breathe.

For beginners, learning how to add sashing can feel a little intimidating, but it is actually one of the most beginner-friendly techniques once you understand the basics.

With the tips and techniques below, along with some patience and practice, you will be able to confidently add sashing to your quilts and create beautifully balanced designs each and every time.

First: What Is Quilt Sashing?

Sashing is the strip of fabric sewn between quilt blocks, both horizontally and vertically. It creates separation between the blocks and adds structure to the quilt top.

You can think of sashing as the frame around each quilt block; it enhances the design, defines the layout, and gives your quilt a clean, finished appearance.

Sashing can be:

• Vertical, running between columns of blocks
• Horizontal, connecting rows together
• Both vertical and horizontal, creating a full grid layout around each block
• Combined with cornerstones, which are small squares placed where the sashing strips intersect

If your blocks are not perfectly uniform, sashing can help smooth out those differences and make your quilt look more consistent overall.

Second: Tools You’ll Need

Having the right tools will help you achieve better results and make the process more enjoyable.

• Rotary Cutter: Provides smooth, accurate cuts for your strips
• Cutting Mat: Protects your work surface and includes measurement guides
• Acrylic Quilting Ruler: Essential for cutting straight, consistent strips
• Sewing Machine: A standard machine works perfectly well
• Pins or Clips: To keep your layers aligned while sewing
• Iron and Pressing Surface: Pressing at each step keeps everything flat and precise
• Scissors: For cutting fabric and trimming threads
• Seam Ripper: For correcting mistakes

Optional tools to consider:

• Walking Foot: Helps feed fabric evenly when sewing long rows
• Starch: Adds stability and crispness to your fabric

Third: Choosing the Right Fabric for Sashing

Fabric selection is where your personal style will shine. The fabric you choose for sashing can dramatically change the look and feel of your quilt.

Color and Value:

Light sashing creates a soft, airy look. Dark sashing adds contrast and makes blocks stand out. Medium tones can blend everything together for a more subtle effect.

Contrast vs. Coordination:

High contrast will clearly define each block. Low contrast creates a more blended, modern look.

Print vs. Solid:

Solids and tone-on-tone fabrics are the easiest for beginners because they don’t compete with your blocks. Small prints can work well, but avoid large, busy patterns that may distract from your block design.

Fabric Type:

Stick with quilting cotton whenever possible. It is stable, easy to cut, and presses well. Try to avoid fabrics that are slippery, stretchy, or bulky as they can make accurate sewing more difficult.

Audition your sashing by laying a few sashing strips between your blocks before sewing. Step back and look at your layout; walk away if you need to and come back. This simple step can help you confidently choose the right fabric.

Fourth: How Wide Should Sashing Be?

The width of your sashing plays a big role in the overall design of your quilt.

Most sashing strips are cut between 1 1/2 inches and 3 1/2 inches wide, depending on the size of your blocks and the look you want to achieve.

• Narrow sashing creates a delicate, modern feel
• Wider sashing adds more separation and a traditional look

When deciding on width:

• Consider the size of your quilt blocks
• Test a few strip widths visually before cutting
• Step back and evaluate the overall balance

Remember to include seam allowances when cutting. For example, if you want a finished sashing width of 2 inches, you will cut your strips at 2 1/2 inches.

Fifth: Cutting Your Sashing Strips

Accurate cutting is one of the most important steps in successful sashing.

• Press your fabric before cutting to remove any wrinkles
• Align your fabric carefully on the cutting mat
• Cut along the straight grain whenever possible to reduce stretching
• Use a long acrylic ruler to keep strips straight and consistent
• Cut a few extra strips to allow for mistakes or adjustments

Sixth: Step-by-Step: Sewing Quilt Sashing

Step 1: Arrange Your Blocks

Lay out your quilt blocks in the desired pattern. This helps you visualize placement and ensures everything is in the correct order before sewing.

Step 2: Add Vertical Sashing

• Sew a sashing strip to the right side of each block (except the last block in each row).
• Use a 1/4-inch seam allowance throughout.
• Press.

Step 3: Join Blocks into Rows

• Sew blocks together to form rows, with sashing between them.
• Pin at the top, middle and bottom of each block to keep edges aligned.
• Press seams after each row is completed.

Step 4: Add Horizontal Sashing

• Cut strips to match the length of your rows.
• Sew horizontal strips to the bottom of each row (except the last row).
• Press.

Step 5: Join Rows Together

• Align seams where vertical and horizontal sashing meet.
• Pin at intersections and at the middle of blocks for accuracy.
• Sew rows together slowly.
• Press

Optional: Adding Cornerstones

Cornerstones are small squares placed at the intersections of sashing strips. While optional, they add both structure and visual interest.

To add cornerstones:

• Cut squares the same width as your sashing strips.
• Measure the width of your quilt blocks (unfinished size) to determine spacing; this ensures that each cornerstone will line up perfectly where the vertical and horizontal sashing strips intersect.
• Sew the cornerstones to the horizontal sashing strips, spacing them the same distance apart as your blocks.
• Press seams.
• Attach the sashing strip with cornerstones to your rows, aligning each cornerstone with the vertical sashing strips.
• Pin to align seams when joining rows.
• Press.

Cornerstones are a great place to add a pop of color, use leftover fabric, or even highlight a favorite print. While they may feel a bit more challenging at first, they quickly become easier with practice and add a beautiful finishing detail to your quilt.

Pressing for Success:

Pressing is a key part of quilting and it can make a noticeable difference in your finished quilt.

• Press seams after every step.
• Use a gentle pressing motion rather than sliding the iron.
• Consider using steam or starch for crisp results.
• Always check alignment as you go for best results.
• Let your quilt lie flat on your table while pressing long rows to prevent stretching or distortion.

Sashing may seem like a small detail, but it plays a big role in bringing your quilt together. It adds structure, enhances your design, and gives your quilt a finished, professional look.

Take your time, measure carefully, and press often. Most importantly, enjoy the process and allow yourself to learn as you go.

Every quilt you make is a step forward in your creative journey. With practice, patience, and a little confidence, you will soon be mastering quilt sashing and creating quilts that are beautifully balanced, thoughtfully designed, and uniquely yours.