Sunday, February 28, 2016

To Sash or Not to Sash - Finished Charity Quilts

To sash or not to sash, that is the question :)

I finally finished the quilts made from the charity blocks from the Fabri-Quilt New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop 2015 (just in time to announce the next hop, see below!).  I had 24 blocks so I figured that I would make two baby/toddler sized quilts.

I first had to decide how to combine the 12 blocks (each 12" square finished) into the quilts.  I had initially planned to add sashing but when I was arranging the blocks on my design wall floor, I really liked all of the blocks right next to each other.  Since I was making two quilts, I decided to make one with sashing and one without.  Here are the unsashed and sashed versions:


Which layout do you prefer?  I am still really torn, I really like the colorfulness of the nonsashed version and how the blocks interact with each other and I also really like how the sashing frames the blocks in the sashed version making each individual block stand out more.  Seeing them side by side if I had to pick I would go for the unsashed version.

I used my favorite go-to Aurifil color 2600 Dove for the quilting to blend well with all of the different colors.   I quilted the unsashed version with a simple meander and the sashed version using a few different quilting motifs (some were more successful than others).  Here were a few of my favorites:


Many thanks to the Fabri-Quilt New Blogger Block Hop bloggers who made such beautiful blocks to play with.  Here are the bloggers who contributed blocks (with links to the individual tutorials for the blocks):

Unsashed Quilt

Row 1: Lisa @Sunlight in Winter QuiltsYvonne @Quilting JetgirlWanda @Wanda’s Life Sampler
Row 2: Vicki @Orchid Owl QuiltsKim @Leland Ave StudiosSarah @Smiles Too Loudly
Row 3: Diana @Red Delicious LifeSharla @Thistle Thicket StudioWanda @Wanda’s Life Sampler
Row 4: Sarah @Smiles Too LoudlyLiz @LizzyClips DesignDenise @CrafTraditions


Sashed Quilt


Row 1:  Martha @Once a WingnutCheryl @Meadow Mist DesignsDina @Living Water Quilter
Row 2: Sandra @The Bias EdgeTerri Ann @Childlike FascinationHannah @Modern Magnolia Studio
Row 3: Diana @Red Delicious LifeMargo @Shadow Lane QuiltsJane @Jolly and Delilah Quilts
Row 4: Wanda @Wanda’s Life SamplerHelen @Midget Gem QuiltsCarrie @Chopping Block Quilts

You can find all of the blocks and their tutorials on Jayne from Twiggy and Opal's Pinterest board and you can find Yvonne's amazing charity quilts she made with her blocks here and here.

I will donate the two quilts through my local guild, the Foothills Piecemakers Quilt Guild.  Both quilts will go to the Serenity House which is a organization that provides women who are struggling with addiction and their children housing, food, and support.  Most of the women and children show up with little to nothing and truly appreciate the quilts.

Thanks to all of the quilters who contributed blocks for these charity quilts, they are going to make some kids very, very happy.

And now for some super fun news!  Paintbrush Studio (formerly Fabri-Quilt) is sponsoring another block hop with Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl, Stephanie from Late Night Quilter, and myself hosting.  The hop will be happening March 28-30 with tons of new blocks and inspiration! (and yes, we will be hosting another New Blogger Hop this summer, stayed tuned for details)









26 comments:

  1. Yes, I vote for the unsashed one. But, in all honesty, I think that if the sashed one had the same red fabric for cornerstones in the lattice, I probably would have chosen that one.

    More importantly, these are two gorgeous quilts and the person who receives them will love them. And thank you for making beautiful quilts for your community.

    Carla B from Maine

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  2. Both quilts are amazing and with all of the bright fabric colors it is to hard to choose which one I prefer over the other. They each contain a special charm as a quilt top and with the special quilting that adds even more beauty and a wow factor they are A plus winners. Great home destinations you have chosen. Thank you for sharing and I am looking forward to the block hop! Have a fantastic creative day!

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  3. Beautiful finishes, Cheryl! I am really excited to get to do this all over again, and I am really looking forward to all the creativity and designs we get to share in another month. :)

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  4. I think both quilts work really well, and love the difference a simple sashing makes! Thank you very much for sharing these bright and cheerful quilts which I'm sure will bring a smile to their new owners. I look forward to hearing more about your next blog hop :)

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  5. They're both so pretty! I can't decide which one I like the best! :)

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  6. I often find that sashing -- and borders, for that matter -- give a more traditional vibe to a quilt project, so my favorite here is the unsashed one. Hmmm ... but Patch the Giraffe has been using a skinny one-inch sashing lately, and it's changing my opinion on sashing overall. Consider me undecided!

    I'm looking forward to the next blog hop; last year's is a great resource for ideas. My guild is making a charity quilt with the Dutch Windmill Block from Red Delicious Life (in your sashed quilt). I can't wait to see how it turns out!

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  7. Both are pretty! If I must choose, I think I like the sashed one and how it frames the blocks so nicely and sets them apart. I really like your quilting motif in the sashing, not too dense, but adds just enough. Great finishes!

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  8. I too have a design floor, ha! I prefer the unsashed too, but don't get me wrong I think they both look fabulous!!! I personally tend to prefer non-sashed quilts. In fact, I have so very few quilts that I have made with sashing, as I prefer to set my blocks in different ways just to avoid sashing them.

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  9. Can anyone join this blog hop? I saw on another blog that it looks like the participants are already on a hop schedule. Just wondering.

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  10. Both quilts look beautiful! Thanks for all of your work on this project. I personally like the sashing in between the blocks since it makes them pop.

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  11. In this case, I do like the unsashed version better. I think it's because of the bold, solid color palette and the fact that you used the same fabrics in every block. Without sashing, it's like a bold, abstract geometric painting. Very modern, lots to love. I prefer a narrow sashing when the blocks are small and they have lots of different fabrics, and the sashing is needed to unify them and give your eye someplace to rest as you appreciate each block individually. With your blocks, I think the sum is greater than the parts. It's cool that you were able to do one quilt each way and compare the results! I will say that the sashed version looks a little more traditional, which is neither good nor bad, just preference. Congratulations on two lovely finishes!

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  12. Ooh, I can see why it's a hard choice, Cheryl! The unsashed version is probably my favorite because my eye was drawn to it immediately and it feels modern, but the sashed version is really wonderful, too, and has a nice nautical feel to it. Some blocks get so busy unsashed, but this is such a great palette for calming down the contrast.

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  13. Oh that is really tough isn't it. They both look fantastic and I love the colour scheme but for me this time the I dashed just edges it! I'm sure they will both be utterly loved and adored either way :)

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  14. I definitely like the unsashed one better. It looks more modern to me...both are nice, but the one without sashing is my clear favourite.

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  15. I usually sash blocks especially when I want larger quilts when I give them for babies ... The idea being that remain more useful if they are sized for toddlers. 12 inch blocks x3 = 36 inches wide add 2 inch sashing and slightly larger boarder and you get 48 plus size.

    I thought the current recommendation of pediatricians is not blankets or quilts in a bed with infants just warm sleepers.... but since it has been a long time since I had to worry but such I could be wrong.

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  16. They both look great. I really like the look of the one without the sashing, but the sashed one gives my eyes a chance to rest.

    Also, I've just found out that if you say (or think) 'sash' too much, it starts to seem like it's not a real word :)

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  17. I like both, and like you am somewhat torn about which is best. I like the sashed one because it frames the blocks so nicely, but I don't love it. I think a thinner sashing might be the answer. I like the non sashed one as well, but I need somewhere for my eyes to rest. Either way, both are really nice and whomever receives them will be very happy.

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  18. I like them both. You did a great job putting them together and quilting. Good luck with the new block hop.

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  19. There really was no wrong way to go about this. Both quilts look great. I'm looking forward to the next hop.

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  20. I would vote for the unsashed version too though both quilts look great!

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  21. I like both! The one with sashing is light and airy, while the other melts together...no right or wrong here!

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  22. These turned out great! I love both of them, I don't think I could chose a favorite. Both are just bright and fun. Congrats on finishing them.

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  23. I really like the unwashed one. I think the colors pop so much more in it. They are both beautiful though.

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  24. Gotta love auto correct, unsashed not unwashed!

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  25. Hi Cheryl: I missed this post. Life at the time was too crazy I guess? It's wonderful to see my block in a quilt! I like both versions. It's interesting to see the interplay of the the blocks in version #1. Some interesting possiblities between blocks.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!