Question about borders
#42
Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Colorado
Posts: 79
Like most everything in quilting, it all depends on the look you want and what the quilt is going to be used for.
If it is a quilt that is going to be used and loved, then piecing your border isn't going to matter much. Even if the "print" doesn't match, is that going to make the quilt any less loved??
If you are making a quilt to enter into a show, and want to win a prize, then find out what the judges look for in a quilt and the borders. Do they want to see a continuous border?? If so, then DO NOT PIECE your border, or you will lose points.
I think too many people get stuck on doing things the "right" way. If you are not making quilts to enter into shows, then doing what you want, with the fabric you have IS the "right" way. Do you really care if your borders are a bit wavy if the quilt is going to be used by a toddler and dragged around on the floor? Is the quilt going to be used in a teenagers room, and do they really care if everything is "perfect" on the quilt?? If you are making a quilt that is going to hang on someones wall, then wavy borders may distract from the quilt, and you will want to do them differently.
The question you need to ask yourself, is how much of a difference, in the overall look of the quilt, and what it is going to be used for, will make in the way you do your borders.
If it is a quilt that is going to be used and loved, then piecing your border isn't going to matter much. Even if the "print" doesn't match, is that going to make the quilt any less loved??
If you are making a quilt to enter into a show, and want to win a prize, then find out what the judges look for in a quilt and the borders. Do they want to see a continuous border?? If so, then DO NOT PIECE your border, or you will lose points.
I think too many people get stuck on doing things the "right" way. If you are not making quilts to enter into shows, then doing what you want, with the fabric you have IS the "right" way. Do you really care if your borders are a bit wavy if the quilt is going to be used by a toddler and dragged around on the floor? Is the quilt going to be used in a teenagers room, and do they really care if everything is "perfect" on the quilt?? If you are making a quilt that is going to hang on someones wall, then wavy borders may distract from the quilt, and you will want to do them differently.
The question you need to ask yourself, is how much of a difference, in the overall look of the quilt, and what it is going to be used for, will make in the way you do your borders.
#43
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 238
I will never cut a border that is not from selvage to selvage because I did one from end to end of fabric and had to run a stitch on the outside to pull in the stretching on the outer edge. I had done this several times without problems but would rather have seams in my borders than having to pull it back in line. Gail
#44
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bay Area near San Francisco
Posts: 1,213
It is not written in stone that you can't piece a border cut on the grain. It takes the same amount of fabric whether you cut the fabric on the grain or WOF. If you are making a 5" border you can get 8 pieces out of a 44 inch width of fabric. Buying a yard and a half of fabric and cutting it on the grain gives you a border long enough for a Queen Size quilt (432 inches) that WON'T stretch as you sew - not to mention your design is all running the same direction. Cutting WOF you sometimes get a wavy border, simply because you pull the fabric as you're stitching it.
#45
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North Carolina - But otherwise, NOTW
Posts: 7,940
OK, here is a web site giving information on straight, cross and bias grain of fabric.
http://www.suite101.com/blog/cdmwrit...nd-fabric-bias
Really good explanations. I myself usually cut WOF, because like many others I cannot afford to buy 3 yards of extra fabric just to cut straight grain borders. I have never had a problem with the nice fabric we have access to stretching in a WOF cut. I don't pull hard, and am careful when pinning and sewing a border on.
Recently I heard a group of quilters lamenting.."Why can't we just go back to making quilts?" I agree. All this agonizing over what is "right" and what is not. Whew!! Let's quilt!!!
No one needs to think they have to ONLY cut straight of grain borders..its expensive and not really necessary..... unless it's a quilt for a judged show. Then, yes. Do it.
http://www.suite101.com/blog/cdmwrit...nd-fabric-bias
Really good explanations. I myself usually cut WOF, because like many others I cannot afford to buy 3 yards of extra fabric just to cut straight grain borders. I have never had a problem with the nice fabric we have access to stretching in a WOF cut. I don't pull hard, and am careful when pinning and sewing a border on.
Recently I heard a group of quilters lamenting.."Why can't we just go back to making quilts?" I agree. All this agonizing over what is "right" and what is not. Whew!! Let's quilt!!!
No one needs to think they have to ONLY cut straight of grain borders..its expensive and not really necessary..... unless it's a quilt for a judged show. Then, yes. Do it.
#46
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bay Area near San Francisco
Posts: 1,213
Originally Posted by jljack
I myself usually cut WOF, because like many others I cannot afford to buy 3 yards of extra fabric just to cut straight grain borders. I have never had a problem with the nice fabric we have access to stretching in a WOF cut. I don't pull hard, and am careful when pinning and sewing a border on.
No one needs to think they have to ONLY cut straight of grain borders..its expensive and not really necessary..... unless it's a quilt for a judged show. Then, yes. Do it.
No one needs to think they have to ONLY cut straight of grain borders..its expensive and not really necessary..... unless it's a quilt for a judged show. Then, yes. Do it.
Like I said, same anount of fabric either way. It's your personal choice and whatever you choose is acceptable. However, if you want straight of grain borders, it's no more expensive to cut and piece them than it is to cut and piece WOF strips.
#47
Originally Posted by Linda Hawkins
Great, WOF it is!
I thought the quilt police would come after me. ;-)
I thought the quilt police would come after me. ;-)
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