Friday, August 19, 2011

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!

8 comments:

  1. Been there - undid that!! I tried doing that with pins but they kept getting hung up. Making small marks makes more sense Thanx

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  2. I hadn't thought of that! I bet it will help alot. I just learned about using the diagonal line on your ruler when squaring up HST's. Always something to learn!

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  3. What a great tip! My sashing on my butterfly quilt was totally off and this would have solved that problem entirely! Thank you :)

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  4. I didn't know anything about it either.

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  5. I never would have thought of that! I'm so glad I read this before starting the owl quilt I'm planning. Thank you for the tip.

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  6. Nope, I've never done it that way and that is an awesome tip! Now that you have spelled it out so clearly, I'm wondering how I never thought of it! Thank you!

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  7. I linked to you! I am just google eyed for this tip!
    http://loveaffairwithmybrother.blogspot.com/2012/01/hopscotch-quilt.html

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  8. I really like this idea. Just be careful whatever marking tool you use that you don't heat set the lines. Some of those markers can bleed through to the front. I'd recommend a soft pencil line in the seam allowance or chalk that vanishes with heat.

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