Choosing sashing can be tricky.  I normally venture to the fabric store with a few crazy patch squares and spend quite a bit of time picking the perfect fabric.  At times, I will pick up to 10 bolts.  I recommend  finding a place in the store where you can play.  Unroll the fabric off the bolt and place the squares on the top letting the fabric peek through.  You’ll know when you find the perfect one.  It just makes sense and is visually pleasing.  Until you feel “YES”, keep looking.

My orders were very specific.  I was only to use red, black, and white fabrics, which made choosing the right sashing a cinch.  I eliminated using red fabric because I wanted to use red ladybug fabric as center squares.  My choices were then white or black.  I picked a solid fabric with poke-a-dot imprints.  I’ve learned that solid/simple fabrics works much better for sashing with crazy patch squares.  Busy prints camouflage the squares and that’s not my goal.

I laid out my squares and thought.  Wondered.  Made up my mind.  Changed my mind.  Made up my mind again.

White Sashing w/ Red Ladybug Center Squares

Black Sashing w/ Red Ladybug Center Squares

You might have noticed that each color gives a different feel to the quilt.  The white is soft and more welcoming.  The black is much more dramatic.  I personally liked both options.   Black was the riskier option and added the drama factor which was more of what the customer wanted.  I’m very pleased with the end result.

Black Sashing w/ Red Ladybug Center Squares

The sashing is 2″ finished.  Cut the sashing the length of your squares and 2 1/2″ in width.  You’ll be sewing in 1/4″ on either side, which will take your sashing to 2″ finished.  The center squares are 2″ X 2″ finished.  That means you’ll cut the squares 2 1/2″ X 2 1/2″.  I add an extra 1/4″ around the frame of the quilt (2 3/4″) because I want the sashing to be even on all sides and the outer binding will take away some of the sashing frame around the quilt.  This may sound complicated but it’s very simple.  Feel free to leave a comment if you need further explanation.

The next step is the ladybug applique.  This is going to be super-duper cute!

♥ R

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