Always the last to know . . .

Does anyone else feel like they're always the last to discover an easier way to do something? Or come across a great project or quilt block, only to find out everyone else did it 2 years ago? I feel like I'm always playing catch up.

This little tip is probably one of those things, so I hesitate to even share it. But it's one I figured out on my own and I'm kind of excited about that!

I've always struggled with sashing when it's used horizontally and vertically around each block. I get the short strips on one direction. But then when I add the long strips the opposite way, things stretch or my blocks are off a little and when I'm finished, I have nice straight sashing one way and a jagged line of sashing the other! I'm always ripping out sections, repinning and trying to "ease" them in where they should have been.

I solved that this morning! Here's how:

I sewed my blocks together with the short sashing strip between each block into rows. Then, I added the long strip of sashing to the first row. Before I added the next row, I folded the sashing back down (right sides together) onto the blocks. Here I marked where each seam is so I can line up the seams in the next row.

Then when I pinned the next row, I had these little marks to line up with those sashing seams. When it was all done, all the sashing strips lined up straight in both directions!

Again, I suspect almost everyone does this. But if there's anyone else out there like me that struggled with this, please be kind-hearted and let me know so I don't feel so alone!