Sash width?

Is there a standard width that you use when you sash?
I have been using two inches and now I'm questioning that..is that too wide?

Chris - I consulted an expert - my book "The Art of Classic Quilt Making" by Harriet Hargrave. She says that as a general rule your finished sashing should be about 1/4 the size of your finished block. I've seen patterns that don't follow that rule, though. It seems for artistic effect, the quiltmaker does as she chooses.

Thanks for checking your atlas, so a 12 inch block should have a three inch sash. good to know

It is all about effect. What do you want it to look like? I usually start with a piece of fabric that I am going to use as the sashing. I lay two blocks on it, quite far apart, so that the sashing fabric is showing between the two blocks. I move one block in a little bit and stare at it. If I don't like it, I move it in more. And keep doing that until I get the right balance, for me. Some fabrics look good as a 4 in sash, others 1 in... and so on. It is personal preference. But, to be honest, it usually turns out that 1/4 rule is what I end up with... perhaps 1/3.... LOL! (I just realized how snotty this post sounds. Oh well, I will post it anyhow. HAHA I am not trying to be snotty or a know-it-all. I just wanted you to know what I do.)

Doesn't sound snotty at all....I am soliciting opinions. I so far have only sashed three quilts and only had instructions on one of them which was 2.5 inches...so I'm looking at sashing this current project and wondering if 2.5 is universal Keep those opinions coming.

Well, buckle up Buttercup - I do MATH :affraid: Yeah, there's a shocker for you, ain't it?

My sashings are always a size that's evenly divisible into the block size. So a 12" finished block could have a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6" sashing - though 6" would be quite the design element... I use the same mathy-ness for borders. One or more borders, each is an even fraction of or equal to the block size.

PK, I do that too. FB, yea, after much experimentation, I also found that the divisible rule works for me. Since I use computer software, I sometimes play with widths that way too, but it usually come down to an even fraction of th block. Some blocks, like my maple leaf quilt really don't work without sashing, but 1"is plenty. For others, the sashing is a major part of the design, for example, when I put an 8 point star centered in the cornerstone. The basic rule, however, is always, "Your quilt, your choice."

More math :affraid: Those nuns always said I'd need it...I made it to 50 without!!!

I'm planning on doing 4 point stars on this one Marynel (in a hurry).
I had never heard of the divisible rule..good to know!!

Chris - I think even we non-math types like you and I can handle this math! Well - let me qualify that - my little calculator is one of my necessary quilting tools!! :lol:

PrincessKris. Not snotty at all. However, I am generally terrible at planning ahead and would make it up with the sashing and regret my decision later. Then it's on to frog stitching it.

I don't like rules... I like doing what looks good to me.... but FB and QM I will remember what you said....