bearpaw

I bought the border fabric for the BOM I finally finished. The instructions say to cut the fabric lengthwise. This is the largest quilt I have made so far, so I've never had a border this long before. I've always cut from selvage to selvage and then pieced them together to get the length I want. I'm just afraid that if I cut the fabric lengthwise that I will end up with a zigzagged cut (from not folding the fabric straight). I read in another post about ripping the fabric, I've never done that before, can you rip it lengthwise? I'm a little afraid about ripping this fabric, it was pretty expensive. Help - I'm confused!! :(

babeegirl

Cutting a straight border has always been my fearful task also. I'd love to know how to take the fear out of this step too.

humbird

I know some people will cringe when I say "I rip!" but I do. I rip the strips a bit wider than called for, then trim off the "ripped" edge with my rotery cutter and ruler. This has always worked for me.......... I'm sure you'll get lots of advise on this. Hope what ever you do works well.

Phyllis

patricej

ripping is a valid approach. if that idea makes you swoon, though, try doing a folded cut about a half-inch too wide. straighten one side at a time, a bit at a time going from bottom to top, using your ruler and rotary cutter. the first side will required the most care to straighten. the second side will be a snap.

b.zang

If your hands just won't grab that fabric and rip, try pulling a thread. If you make a small snip into the fabric and separate one thread, you can pull it out of the fabric. You need to work carefully so as not to break the thread, pulling a little then flattening the gathers. The pulled thread will create a line in the fabric that is completely straight as it is the line made by one straight piece of the grain. Sometimes I will cut as I go to shorten the distance of the pull or if the thread breaks, you will need to cut up to the broken piece in order to pick it up again.

Really, though, ripping is easier.

crashnquilt

I most always have my borders on the lengthwise grain. When your fabrics are on the crosswise grain you can get some stretching. Fabric will "stretch" more on the cross grain than length grain.

I take the finished width of the border and add 1 inch. I will clip the fabric and rip to the other end. Then I will fold up the border fabric to trim off the ripped edge. Usually this edge will curl just a bit. Then I apply my borders to the quilt. At this point I have not taken off the whole inch that I added for the ripping. This little bit of extra fabric gives me enough room to square up my quilt top and have my borders lay flat.

The stretch of the cross grain border really shows up when you load the quilt on your longarm frame in prep for quilting.

Also, ripping on the lengthwise grain you will get a straight line.

Hope this helps.

sspingler

You all may not like me for this but I will NOT tear. It does not straighten the fabric and as the others have said, they have to trim anyhow. What a waste of fabric!
Here is what I do. I unfold the fabric and press out the fold line. Then bring your cut edges together, keeping your selvedges even (sometimes I have to pin every so often) fold to a manageable length, cut off your selvedge then cut the width you need for your borders.

Moonpi

I learned by ripping, so I am not intimidated. There is something satisfying and attention-grabbing about the sound, and my strips are straight. I do cut an inch or so to get it going. Occasionally, you get fabric where the print was not aligned to the grain, and then I have to cut bit by bit. Sometimes for the outmost border, I leave extra and fold it over to reinforce where it will get the most wear.

patricej

silly girl. we love you whether you rip, cut, or chew the fab to get your borders. :wink:

sspingler

AAAHHH bless your heart Patrice. Does a body good to hear things like that after a hard day at work.