Borders -- how do you handle them?
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4,688
Borders -- how do you handle them?
I was just thinking about borders as I was trying to figure out the size for a quilt -- here are some questions:
-- Do you measure down the center to get the length of the border or do you just lay a piece of fabric down and sew on the border, cutting it afterward?
-- Do you ever fudge the width of the border a bit to get the quilt the size you want?
-- When you piece the border (with stars, flying geese or ...), do you adjust the size of the blocks or do you put in a "fudge factor" of a plain strip somewhere in the strip so everything comes out even?
-- When you do mitered corners -- do you stitch all your borders together so you only have to do the miter once or do you miter each individually?
-- Have you every used left over strips of random widths in a piano-key-like border and did you like the affect?
-- Do you use cornerstones, miters or just lap your corners?
-- Have you added prarie points -- and how do you handle the bulk?
I'm interested to hear your thoughts on borders.
Thanks.
-- Do you measure down the center to get the length of the border or do you just lay a piece of fabric down and sew on the border, cutting it afterward?
-- Do you ever fudge the width of the border a bit to get the quilt the size you want?
-- When you piece the border (with stars, flying geese or ...), do you adjust the size of the blocks or do you put in a "fudge factor" of a plain strip somewhere in the strip so everything comes out even?
-- When you do mitered corners -- do you stitch all your borders together so you only have to do the miter once or do you miter each individually?
-- Have you every used left over strips of random widths in a piano-key-like border and did you like the affect?
-- Do you use cornerstones, miters or just lap your corners?
-- Have you added prarie points -- and how do you handle the bulk?
I'm interested to hear your thoughts on borders.
Thanks.
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
YES...
to most of your questions---
1. yes i measure through the center- cut the border and add it----
yes, i have added borders to the sides then trimmed them to size
2.yes- when necessary i 'adjust' the size of a border to fit the bed
3.yes- when piecing borders i adjust the blocks to fit-
yes- sometimes i have to add (fudge) to make a border work
4. yes- when mitering multiple borders i stitch them together then do the miter- if that works for that project- if not- i add/miter individually
5.yes- i've made varying size strips in a piano key border---yes i liked it
6. yes- i use corner blocks if the quilt calls for it- yes i miter corners if the quilt needs that type of border- and yes i overlap borders on some quilts
7.yes- i've used prarie points --- you trim the bulk
so see- each quilt is an individual- each needs/has it's own needs- there are no wrong answers= you can make your quilt any way you want to achieve the outcome you are seeking.
to most of your questions---
1. yes i measure through the center- cut the border and add it----
yes, i have added borders to the sides then trimmed them to size
2.yes- when necessary i 'adjust' the size of a border to fit the bed
3.yes- when piecing borders i adjust the blocks to fit-
yes- sometimes i have to add (fudge) to make a border work
4. yes- when mitering multiple borders i stitch them together then do the miter- if that works for that project- if not- i add/miter individually
5.yes- i've made varying size strips in a piano key border---yes i liked it
6. yes- i use corner blocks if the quilt calls for it- yes i miter corners if the quilt needs that type of border- and yes i overlap borders on some quilts
7.yes- i've used prarie points --- you trim the bulk
so see- each quilt is an individual- each needs/has it's own needs- there are no wrong answers= you can make your quilt any way you want to achieve the outcome you are seeking.
#3
-- Do you ever fudge the width of the border a bit to get the quilt the size you want?
-- When you piece the border (with stars, flying geese or ...), do you adjust the size of the blocks or do you put in a "fudge factor" of a plain strip somewhere in the strip so everything comes out even?
-- When you do mitered corners -- do you stitch all your borders together so you only have to do the miter once or do you miter each individually?
-- Have you every used left over strips of random widths in a piano-key-like border and did you like the affect?
I also like cornerstones, corner blocks, mitered corners, lapped corners - whatever looks nice. I've not used prairie points - yet - but I love the look of them.
Here is a quilt I did with the piano key border:
#5
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4,688
thepolyparrot -- I love your quilt!!
Thank you for your responses. I was trying to find out how folks approach their borders. I normally measure through the middle of the quilt before I cut the borders, but sometimes on small quilts I don't bother (slap my hands). There are so many options, with borders that I wanted to see how folks approached them.
Thank you for your responses. I was trying to find out how folks approach their borders. I normally measure through the middle of the quilt before I cut the borders, but sometimes on small quilts I don't bother (slap my hands). There are so many options, with borders that I wanted to see how folks approached them.
#7
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Northern California mountains
Posts: 12,538
First, I make sure the quilt is pressed and opposite sides are equal. If not, I fix them. For straight borders, I am lazy about sewing then cutting. This works because of the first step and my very even pressure in combining the parts. I use both methods for miters, "depending". For pieced borders, if I need a fudge factor, it's generally in inner border strip, although sometimes I design something to put into the middle of the border to serve that purpose, generally also reversing the direction of the border in its middle. (Flying geese flying towards each other, for example). I use just about eery form of corner, but I think I use cornerstones more often than not.
#8
#10
OMG thepolyparrot--that is an absolutely fabulous sunny take away the winter time blues quilt. It could come to my house and make me happy any November at all!!! Lovely!!
Okay, back to the origional post. I have a need to keep my measurements right. I measure thru the center of my top, then cut the border and mark the block increments. I have found that it is easier to ease fullness and also helps to square up the blocks. Takes a bit more time and more math but it really really helps--especially if you have done the same for the sashing. I hate wonky tops.
Okay, back to the origional post. I have a need to keep my measurements right. I measure thru the center of my top, then cut the border and mark the block increments. I have found that it is easier to ease fullness and also helps to square up the blocks. Takes a bit more time and more math but it really really helps--especially if you have done the same for the sashing. I hate wonky tops.
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