June Mini Madness - Sewing the Sashing!

Now that you have all the blocks done, you need to add the sashing and cornerstones.  For the mini version  you will need two 3 1/2 inch strips (width of fabric) for the sashing and one 1 inch strip for the cornerstones. If you can cut 7 extra 1 inch squares of your sashing, you will be able to strip piece the horizontal sashing strips, which will eliminate a lot of handling of smaller pieces.

For the 6 inch blocks, you will need three 6 1/2 inch strips for your sashing and two 1 1/2 inch strips for your cornerstones.  

 

First you will want to arrange your blocks.  You can use the cover illustration as your guide, or lay them out as you desire.  This is always a fun process for me, and I can linger over this step for quite some time before my blocks are all just right! 

If you want to strip piece your horizontal sashings, now is the time to do that.  For the three inch block, sew your 1 inch cornerstone strip to one of your 3 1/2 sashing strips and press toward the sashing strip.  Cut into five 8 inch sections.  Sew these together, placing the cornerstones between the sashing strips, pressing toward the sashing strips.  Cut into seven 1 inch strips, then add the single cornerstone squares to the end.  From the remaining sashing strip cut thirty-six 1 inch strips to sew between the blocks.

You can do the same technique to make the sashing strips for the six inch blocks.  Cut one of your sashing strips in half.  Sew a half cornerstone strip to this (cut seven 1 1/2 strips from the other half) and sew a cornerstone strip to one of the remaining sashing strips.  From these longer strips cut four 12 inch sections. and seven 1 1/2 inch strips.  Sew the 12 inch sections into two pairs.  Cut these into 1 1/2 sections. Sew two of these to a single strip and add a 1 1/2 inch cornerstone to the end.  Cut the remaining sashing strips into thirty-six 1 1/2 inch strips.

 

Starting with the top row, sew your blocks together by sewing a sashing strip between each block and on each end.  Sew a horizontal sashing strip to the top and bottom of this strip...now you are on your way!

Sew another row and add the sashing strip to the bottom.

 

Add this row to the top row, and keep on going!

Until you get all the rows together!

 

Then you can add your border strips.  The top strips for the 3 inch block should be 18 1/2 by 2 inches.  Sew to blocks. 

 

Now you are ready for the side borders.  For the 3 inch blocks, you'll need 25 x 2 inches. Sew these to sides. 

 

For the 6 inch blocks, I would add the side borders first:  43 x 3 1/2 inches, then the top borders 42 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches.  This way you don't have to piece the sides.

 

Your top with 3 inch blocks will measure 21 ½ x 25

Your top with 6 inch blocks will measure 42 ½ x 49 ½

Tomorrow I will give alternative instructions for an on point setting!  I made my six inch block this way, and I am loving it - I just have to add the borders, which I picked out this afternoon.

Download the printable directions for sashing and cornerstones:

Sashing Instructions