Fabric not long enough for borders
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 158
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Hi, closej and welcome! It's exciting to get back to quilting but not so exciting when you take a nose dive. Feeling your pain.
So, I'm looking at the link. The quilt pattern I see is Cleared for Takeoff and finishes at 41 inches square. Looks like there are two borders, an inner border of white and outside border of a blue windowpane check. At 41 inches I'm estimating the outer border is 3 inches wide and the inner is 1 1/2 inches wide. And the blocks are 8 inches.
I'd do one of two things;
Change the inside border, either switch it out with the blue which would allow you enough fabric, or decrease its width to a half inch so you have made up the two inches.
The other idea is to stay with the blue outside border, make some blue cornerstones, then on either side of the cornerstones (between the cornerstone and the border piece) insert a four patch block just like in the quilt.
Basically, think of ideas that would be in keeping with the original design and build on that.
Also, remember how potato chips were invented. A French chef botched a recipe. Thoroughly frustrated and pressured for time, he followed a whim and threw potato slices in a pot of hot oil. Mistakes make opportunities.
So, I'm looking at the link. The quilt pattern I see is Cleared for Takeoff and finishes at 41 inches square. Looks like there are two borders, an inner border of white and outside border of a blue windowpane check. At 41 inches I'm estimating the outer border is 3 inches wide and the inner is 1 1/2 inches wide. And the blocks are 8 inches.
I'd do one of two things;
Change the inside border, either switch it out with the blue which would allow you enough fabric, or decrease its width to a half inch so you have made up the two inches.
The other idea is to stay with the blue outside border, make some blue cornerstones, then on either side of the cornerstones (between the cornerstone and the border piece) insert a four patch block just like in the quilt.
Basically, think of ideas that would be in keeping with the original design and build on that.
Also, remember how potato chips were invented. A French chef botched a recipe. Thoroughly frustrated and pressured for time, he followed a whim and threw potato slices in a pot of hot oil. Mistakes make opportunities.
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Posts: 9,475
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You could put corner stones in each corner the size of your border or you could just split your border and add back ground fabrics or other fabrics you have used in the quilt. I think someone else on her suggested that and it would work great. Good luck to you and please don't get discouraged. Also, sometimes your seam allowance is not the same as the maker of the pattern.
#13
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I would insert a little piece of fabric that coordinates with the quilt in the borders with maybe a small appliqued something to go with the quilt appliques. You could make it as long as you want to make up for the shortage that you have. You could even insert more than one on each border...staggering them in different places on the borders. Hope this makes sense.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 601
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Hi All,
I haven't made a quilt for about 10 years I followed the pattern for measurements of required material but when cutting strips as per pattern the fabric isn't long enough it is about 2 inches short.
What have I done wrong when buying the fabric and how can I fix this problem?
I haven't made a quilt for about 10 years I followed the pattern for measurements of required material but when cutting strips as per pattern the fabric isn't long enough it is about 2 inches short.
What have I done wrong when buying the fabric and how can I fix this problem?