QuickCheckToolsQuilt sashing calculator
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Enter your layout, block size and sashing width. You'll get every strip and cornerstone to cut, the size of the quilt centre, and how much fabric to buy.
Worked example
A twin quilt of 20 blocks, 4 across and 5 down, with 15½" finished blocks and 2" sashing (Utah State University Extension's published T-shirt quilt):
- Cut the sashing 2 + ½ = 2½" wide.
- Short strips: 3 between the blocks in each of 5 rows = 15 strips, 16" long.
- Long strips: 4 between the rows, each 68½" long, joined from width-of-fabric strips.
- With cornerstones instead: 31 strips 2½" × 16" and 12 cornerstones 2½" square.
Questions
How do I calculate quilt sashing?
Cut sashing ½" wider than its finished width. Short strips go between the blocks in each row, cut to the block's unfinished length: you need (blocks across − 1) per row. Long strips go between the rows, as long as a row: you need (rows − 1) of them. Add up the strips you can cut from each 40" width of fabric to get the yardage.
How wide should sashing be?
About a quarter to a third of the block size. Missouri Star Quilt Co. suggests 2" to 3" finished for 12" blocks (cut 2½" to 3½"), and at least 1½" finished so it doesn't disappear.
What are cornerstones?
Small squares where the sashing strips cross. With cornerstones every sashing strip is the same length as a block, and each cornerstone is cut the same size as the sashing's cut width: 2½" squares for 2½" sashing.
What does "sashing all round" mean?
A frame of sashing around the outside of the blocks as well as between them, before any borders. It adds two sashing widths to the width and length of the quilt.
How many sashing strips for a 4 × 5 quilt?
Without cornerstones: 15 short strips (3 per row × 5 rows) and 4 long strips between the rows. With cornerstones: 31 block-length strips and 12 cornerstones.
Why are long strips joined?
A row of blocks is usually longer than 40", the usable width of quilting cotton, so long sashing strips are joined from several width-of-fabric strips. The calculator allows for that.
Assumes ¼" seams (0.75cm in metric) and 40" usable fabric width (102cm). Checked against Utah State University Extension and Missouri Star Quilt Co., and the sashing is checked to fill the gaps between blocks exactly on 78 layouts.