friendship braid question, need help-

[Cathy F]

I put together the start of a frienship braid quilt, have 4 sections done, my question is do I straighten the top and bottom before I add the sashings in between the braids? Jenny's tutorial doesn't show that part. I found one tutorial online that shows the sashings put on then the top and bottom cut straight. How do you all do yours? Here's what I have so far.

Thanks!