How do you measure fabric for borders
Hello all
Here is something I always struggle with & I thought "what better place to get a definitive answer than this Forum"?
What's the best way to measure the long pieces needed for my borders?
I don't have much trouble on small quilts, just lay out the fabric on the dining room table, measure & cut. But when I make big quilts for beds it's a real hassle. I tried just using an oversized strip & pinning & sewing it on, then cutting off the excess. Problem is sometimes the border doesn't lay flat...
Can anyone tell me what works for them??
Thanks for any help you can give me :)
Re: How do you measure fabric for borders
Re: How do you measure fabric for borders
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!
Re: How do you measure fabric for borders
What Vonnie mentions above is how I was taught at the classes I took. Lay two strips down the center of the quilt and cut off at the bottom. When you do the top - lay across the middle and cut the two at the same time. Then ease or stretch a little as you sew them on.
Re: How do you measure fabric for borders
I added borders to a wall hanging this morning using this method. It worked very well..
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Vonnie
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!
Re: How do you measure fabric for borders
I measure across each end as well as the middle, add together then divide by three. Match up the centers, etc and sew. That is how I was taught and mine turn out fine.
Re: How do you measure fabric for borders
I have never understood the logic behind measuring in three places, cutting, and then sewing. What confuses me is that for mitered quilts, you must cut your border longer than the top. I lay my quilt out on the floor and unfold fabric until it is longer than the quilt top. I mark that length, then cut off, then carefully fold and cut the width of my border. Only one time did my border turn out a bit wavy was when I put a black piping between the border and the quilt top. I couldn't quilt across the piping, so my border didn't get stitched down with quilting stitches. What I worry more is working with bias fabric, especially when it is on the edge of the quilt. I've got some pretty good waves then.
Re: How do you measure fabric for borders
I don't understand it either!!!! It was how I was taught, and I questioned about it, but still didn't understand the why's of it, but it works, so that is how I do it!!! Since I have never done mitered corners, I know nothing about that.....
Re: How do you measure fabric for borders
Quote:
Originally Posted by
madampolo
I have never understood the logic behind measuring in three places, cutting, and then sewing. What confuses me is that for mitered quilts, you must cut your border longer than the top. I lay my quilt out on the floor and unfold fabric until it is longer than the quilt top. I mark that length, then cut off, then carefully fold and cut the width of my border. Only one time did my border turn out a bit wavy was when I put a black piping between the border and the quilt top. I couldn't quilt across the piping, so my border didn't get stitched down with quilting stitches. What I worry more is working with bias fabric, especially when it is on the edge of the quilt. I've got some pretty good waves then.
I've been using this mitered border tool and it works great! Have you tried it?
Quick Easy Border Mitering Tools - Quilting - Rulers & Templates - Supplies - Nancy's Notions
Re: How do you measure fabric for borders
Thanks all
I get the part about measuring in three places, it makes good sense to me. I guess I'll need to find floor space big enough to lay out my quilts flat, somewhere where the dog can't curl up on them LOL
I'll check out the links tonight when I get home. :)
Re: How do you measure fabric for borders
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Vonnie
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!
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.
Re: How do you measure fabric for borders
Quote:
Originally Posted by
katier825
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
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.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
