what is the best way to cut and
sew borders
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boarders
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knitnoid
- Posts: 1901
- Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 6:16 pm
Re: boarders
My guess is you are going to get as many answers as there are quilters and the answers will be contradict each other.
How I do my borders depends on the border fabric and quilt. Based on the phrasing of the question, I'd assume you are talking about a simple border. If a seam will not be noticeable, I'll cut my borders width wise.
So my quilt is 48 x 60 before the border and I want a 5" finished border, I'll cut 6 strips 5 1/2" wide across the width of the fabric. I'll sew 2 strips together across the short end making roughly an 80" strip of fabric. I'll then cut this to the length of my quilt. I do not try and center the seam, so I'll end up with a piece roughly 20" long cut off. This gets sewn to one long side of the quilt. Repeat for the other side.
Using the piece cut off from the long borders, sew it to one of the remaining strips. That should be enough for my top border -- 48 + 10 = 58 Measure the strip to the width of the quilt including the side borders. Sew it to the top of the quilt. Repeat with the remaining fabric for the bottom border.
However, there are occasions when the border needs to be cut the length of the fabric -- large print which will be noticeable, directional print or stripe. In those instances, I very carefully fold my fabric in half twice so I'm working with 4 layers roughly 22 or 24 long. I make sure the bottom fold is parallel to the top fold to prevent a "v" in my border -- and I'll cut it 1/2" wider if I have enough fabric -- just in case I still get the "v". I measure and sew it the same way.
Good luck
How I do my borders depends on the border fabric and quilt. Based on the phrasing of the question, I'd assume you are talking about a simple border. If a seam will not be noticeable, I'll cut my borders width wise.
So my quilt is 48 x 60 before the border and I want a 5" finished border, I'll cut 6 strips 5 1/2" wide across the width of the fabric. I'll sew 2 strips together across the short end making roughly an 80" strip of fabric. I'll then cut this to the length of my quilt. I do not try and center the seam, so I'll end up with a piece roughly 20" long cut off. This gets sewn to one long side of the quilt. Repeat for the other side.
Using the piece cut off from the long borders, sew it to one of the remaining strips. That should be enough for my top border -- 48 + 10 = 58 Measure the strip to the width of the quilt including the side borders. Sew it to the top of the quilt. Repeat with the remaining fabric for the bottom border.
However, there are occasions when the border needs to be cut the length of the fabric -- large print which will be noticeable, directional print or stripe. In those instances, I very carefully fold my fabric in half twice so I'm working with 4 layers roughly 22 or 24 long. I make sure the bottom fold is parallel to the top fold to prevent a "v" in my border -- and I'll cut it 1/2" wider if I have enough fabric -- just in case I still get the "v". I measure and sew it the same way.
Good luck
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Quilter7
- Posts: 8499
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 3:34 pm
Re: boarders
There is a free class on borders at Quilt University. You may consider taking it. Here is the link. http://www.quiltuniversity.com/registra ... r_free.htm
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Geneva2
- Posts: 2443
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2007 6:38 am
Re: boarders
After the fabric is washed, I tear fabric for all borders the length of the fabric, to the measurement I need for borders. Then I iron, it being careful to see that all edges are flat. Tearing fabric keeps the grain straight and the length grain stretches less than cross grain. I then roll up the border and set them aside until the body of the quilt is finished. If there is a little fringe on the edges of the border fabric I can use sissors to cut it off easly. If you want a mitered border be sure to accommidate that in your measurements, which of course will depend on the width of the border.