Squirrel's Batik Sibling - Sashing - Part 5 -

Some of you already know that I like to "sash" my blocks as I go along -

If I'm going to "sash" them at all -

Rather than treat them as separate rows like some do -

I have explained my "process" in great detail in the tutorials that I did for my Sudoku Quilts - check out the page/tab at the top of my blog for the links -

Anyway - the right side and bottom sashing and cornerstones are sewn on all of the blocks of the first quilt top -

And I have found - through the years - that sashing is a great "equalizer" - if your blocks are not EXACTLY the same size - and the sashing is cut the CORRECT size - it makes it easier to get any "slightly off" blocks to match each other -

Why are mine "slightly off"? -

Well - I realized part-way through making my blocks that my 1/4" inch seam was off "one click" and - without thinking - changed it to what it was "supposed to be". And that "one click" for each seam on a block with a LOT of seams - adds up quickly -

If I had left it alone - all of my seams would have been the same - but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - I had to "fix it" as soon as I saw it - LOL - ;))

Anyway - to REMIND me of the correct setting - I put a sticker with a HUGE #4 on it - where I would be sure to see it BEFORE I started stitching. There is no point in using my seam guides and the 1/4" inch foot if the needle isn't in the CENTER of the stinkin' foot - ;))

This is the normal Center needle position (at 3.5) when I turn on my machine. It may not look like it - but it is "one click" too far to the left - and is NOT in the center of the 1/4" foot - and YES - I did try to adjust the "automatic/start" setting - but it only has two options - and this isn't one of them - LOL - ;))

THIS is the Center of the foot - and the needle position is 4.0 - so the label is to remind me to change the setting BEFORE I start sewing - I think I already said that -

If I'm sewing Crumb blocks - or some other stuff - it isn't as critical - but if I'm using that 1/4" inch foot - I need something to remind me to change the dang thing - because BOB is not very good at remembering to tell me these days - ;))

As far as sashing goes - I have my way of making sure the seams line up from block to block -

I press the sashing at the seam lines - so I have something to line up with the "real" seam lines -

And how do I find out where to put the press mark in the middle of the rectangle that needs to match a seam line on the next block? -

I fold over the end with the cornerstone - match it to the next seam - and press it in the middle - to give me the center guideline that I need -

Sashing is also handy to hide any needed "tucks" -

I usually try to get them as close to a seam line as possible -

As opposed to in the middle of a section where it is painfully obvious that there IS a tuck -

That way - the "fold" can be quilted over as if it were the "true" seam line -

And no one knows there's a tiny fold there but you and me - LOL - ;))

I have the second and third rows sewn -

But not to each other yet -

I still have the top row to do -

Then the two long seams -

So maybe tomorrow - ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -