Uneven quilt top

[JennKC]

So I am new. Let's just remember that this is my very first project...

I did the jelly roll race. Added a 1.5 inch stop border. And a 6 inch second border.

Now I just measured my quilt so I could start to figure out the backing size needed. My top and bottom are measuring about 63" and 65". My sides are about 76" and 78 ".

I'm off two inches!

What now? Do I need to take it all apart and try again? Or just quilt it and then square it up? I'm so lost. And I thought I was doing so well

[Davidsgirl08]

When I do a quilt I'm usually a 20 inch difference between the length and width, seams like your doing fine

[Hulamoon]

I do wierd things like block it like a wet sweater. Then iron it.. Probably not everyone's advice. lol

[pharris123]

Did you square it up before you added the borders? Don't worry if it doesn't match the dimensions listed in the tutorial. just make sure it's squared off as best you can. Does it look terribly wonky when you lay it out? If it does, and it were me, I'd rip the borders off and try to square it up. If it doesn't look too bad I'd leave it (that's a lot of ripping) and chalk it up to experience. Two inches isn't too too bad, especially for a first quilt.

My advise? Leave it. My first quilt is crooked, the seams don't match very well, and it's quilted terribly. I love it better than life itself.

[pharris123]

I do wierd things like block it like a wet sweater. Then iron it.. Probably not everyone's advice. lol

or block it like a wet sweater!

Hey - that's actually a pretty good idea. Hm........

[mpattylou]

How much of a perfectionist are you? If you are happy with what you've got....quilt it and forget it. If you are not happy and want a more perfect quilt...remove borders and square it up and put borders back on (make sure you watch a tutorial on adding borders the correct way...don't just take extra long strips of fabric and sew them on without measuring and making the sides fit those measurements). You are the only one you have to please.

[quiltsRfun]

First quilt? I'd finish it as is and move on to the next one.

[quiltingaway]

This was my first thought too. I think the JRR quilts really need to be squared up before adding borders. That said I would probably leave it since it is your first quilt. Just keep it in mind for future reference.

[Granny Fran]

My JRR2 wasn't really square either, but I just cut my backing to match it, sandwiched it and then serged the edges and I'm not worried about it being square because I love the fabrics I used and the outer border is large enough to hide the fact its a little off. It will be used as is and who cares if the measurements are off. No quilt police in this house. LOL

EDIT: It was bound after the serging. I like to serge to hold it all together before binding. Find it easier to bind that way.

[tnmtgrl]

Great advice from all above....just go for it.... a 2" difference isn't going to make a whole lot of difference in the amount of material you'll need for your back...if you piece....horizontally 4 1/2 yds......vertically 4 yds. at 44" fabric.....if you use wide width fabric without piecing it it'll take 2 1/2 yds. of 108" wide fabric.