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Thread: How do you measure fabric for borders

  1. #11
    katier825 is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: How do you measure fabric for borders

    Quote Originally Posted by Vonnie View Post
    I do it the way Bonnie over at Quiltville does it: Border Hints and Tricks

    That's where I learned it from and never have a problem with wavy borders and the best thing is there is no math involved!
    me too! and mine always come out perfect using her method!

  2. #12
    Gayle8675309's Avatar Gayle8675309 is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: How do you measure fabric for borders

    Ok, I must be lucky. I just cut the borders longer, and sew them on and trim off the excess. I've never had a wavy quilt. Now I'm wondering if I should do it Bonnie Hunter's way.

    When I first started quilting I was taught to do the average of three measurements, but that never seemed to work out for me, so I started doing it my way.
    Gayle

  3. #13
    ilive2craft2's Avatar ilive2craft2 is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: How do you measure fabric for borders

    Quote Originally Posted by katier825 View Post
    me too! and mine always come out perfect using her method!
    I use Bonnie's method too! Just found her recently and I really like her quilts and her methods. Still love Jenny of course!

    Quote Originally Posted by Gayle8675309 View Post
    Ok, I must be lucky. I just cut the borders longer, and sew them on and trim off the excess. I've never had a wavy quilt. Now I'm wondering if I should do it Bonnie Hunter's way.

    When I first started quilting I was taught to do the average of three measurements, but that never seemed to work out for me, so I started doing it my way.
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  4. #14
    coffeebreak's Avatar coffeebreak is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: How do you measure fabric for borders

    I just measure the length of each side then cut enough strips to equal that plus a few extra inches for "just in case" issues. I then sew the strips together (I cut salvage to fold) at a diagonal, then just start pinning the border to the quilt. If that seam in the border is very visable like in a light color, I try to position that to match a seam in the quilt so it kind of matches. Dark colors usually don't have this issue. Then just sew it one the two sides, then top and bottom. Then bind it. I have found that that diagonal seam helps in keeping the length of fabric from stretching to much. Just enough so it doesn't buckle or look stiff against the blocks. I have tried one long length and it just stretched to much and made the border look like it was bulky.

  5. #15
    Pandabear's Avatar Pandabear is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: How do you measure fabric for borders

    I do what Gayle does. Cut the borders longer and sew them on. I don't pull on the border when I sew it to the top nor do I pin. I just make sure it stays where it's supposed to as I sew it to the top.

  6. #16
    SuzyQue is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: How do you measure fabric for borders

    This is the very post that caused me stress last weekend. I had always just sewed borders on and not had a wavy one yet, but after reading this thread, I decided that now that I knew better, I had to do better.....so I did the measure down the middle technique. After pinning, I was afraid it was going to ripple. I consulted on here, then took a deep breath and sewed it down. It worked just find. It was not off and I didn't have much to ease, but it was just a little tighter or less stretchy when I was done. I think it helped, but it was weird. Not sure how I will approach the next one. I say.....do what works for you, but always have a little fudge factor on the strip...don't cut till after you sew the border on....just in case you need to fix something.

  7. #17
    Cat n bull's Avatar Cat n bull is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: How do you measure fabric for borders

    I also use Bonnie Hunter's method for measuring across the centers. If the quilt is too big to really lay flat for a tape measure measurement, I use my strips of border fabric the way Bonnie recommends. Since I almost always miter mine, I do measure the length I need from that fabric, then add the extra I need for my miters.
    Vonnie likes this.
    Cathryn

  8. #18
    MartinaG's Avatar MartinaG is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: How do you measure fabric for borders

    I measure across the center and cut to that length. I actually do the measuring on the ironing board. I square off the side, measure to a given length - let's say 50" and put a pin at that point. Then I pull the fabric over and measure from the pin until I get the final measurement.

    The reason for not just cutting a strip and adding it to the side is that the side can be stretched. Adding a strip without control can lead to wavy borders. When using the "unstretched" measurement from the center (or averaging the measurements from 3 points) you can ease the border fabric to fit the edge of the top. I generally mark my half-point and quarter points (up to 1/8th depending on the size of the top) with pins on BOTH pieces. Then I align the pins and distribute any excess evenly between the different sections. I have never had a wavy border.

    Now for mitered border you need the length of the edge PLUS the overhang of the miter. (I generally figure: Length+(width of border x 2) + 2"] That gives me plenty of wiggle room.
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