King's Highway Quilt Block (looks like a complete quilt with cornerstone sashing and border... :) )

When you are new to quilting, it is easy to get confused about which is which – borders or sashing?

Not that I have an easy and foolproof way to remember the difference, but borders go around the outside of your quilt while sashing goes between the blocks in your quilt.

Now to make it more confusing – sometimes sashing strips are placed on all sides of all the blocks in your quilt – which means that the sashing actually becomes an inside border.

Sometimes I wish things were more straightforward in quilting. On the other hand, we have sooooo much flexibility, it makes creating quilts that much more fun.

Limiting today’s discussion to sashing – there are many different types of sashing to put between the blocks in your quilt, including:

* simple strips of fabric – wide or narrow, print or solid,

* sashing with cornerstones – the strips are the same size as the blocks with squares added where the blocks meet,

* pieced sashing – possibly strips of fabric or small blocks,

and many, many more.

You can also sew the blocks right next to each other, without any sashing at all.

If you are using two blocks, you can create a secondary design by alternating the blocks and placing them right next to each other. Adding sashing would destroy that secondary design – which may or may not be what you want.

Your sashing can also be as wide or narrow as you want it to be. Sometimes wide sashing can be a place for exquisite quilting. In other cases, narrow sashing with a high contrast fabric can separate your blocks for a dramatic look. Which you choose depends on the design of your quilt.

I rarely make those decisions before my blocks are sewn. I find that sometimes my original thoughts are far from the end design of the quilt. However, other quilters plan out their quilts entirely, including sashing, borders and quilting.

That means – do what works for you – don’t follow some quilters “rule” about planning and designing your quilts.

To read more about sashing and borders, visit:

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/articles/2511-border-or-sashing.php

Happy Quilting!

Penny