sashing

Sashing is a term used in quilting to describe strips of fabric inserted between blocks in a quilt top. Sashing serves to separate blocks, create a grid-like structure, and influence the overall size and rhythm of the design. Widths can range from narrow to wide, and fabric choices include solids, prints, or batiks. Some quilts use double sashing, with two strips between blocks, and cornerstones—small square blocks placed at sashing intersections—to aid alignment and add visual interest.

In architecture and window design, sashing refers to the strips that separate panes of glass within a multi-pane sash window. These glazing strips can be made of wood, metal, or vinyl and may be full muntins or simpler bars. Sashing is common in historic and traditional buildings and can affect both the exterior appearance and interior light patterns. In restoration work, preserving or replicating sashing is often an important consideration.

Beyond quilting and windows, the term may appear in discussions of decorative panels where sashing divides sections. The meaning is context dependent, but in both common uses, sashing functions as a dividing strip that modifies rhythm, alignment, and interaction of the adjacent elements.