Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • squaring top before borders >
  • squaring top before borders

  • squaring top before borders

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 12-17-2013, 09:00 AM
      #1  
    Junior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Marsh's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2013
    Location: Glendale and Flagstaff, AZ
    Posts: 185
    Default squaring top before borders

    Have any of you squared up a quilt top before adding borders? I did the stupidest thing Monday, squared up my blocks, and then decided to give them a really good pressing. STUPID - I don't know what I was thinking. So, instead of squaring again, I sewed all together, and of course the top is really off. Thx for your responses and help. Merry Christmas.
    Marsh is offline  
    Old 12-17-2013, 09:07 AM
      #2  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Jun 2011
    Location: Southern California
    Posts: 19,127
    Default

    Yes, I always square up my quilts. That will make your borders, especially miter ones to be much more accurate. Take your time. There is NEVER anything to rush over. Think of it that you are doing major surgery on a patient who happens to be your quilt. If you are off more then a 1/4 of an inch off, try to find out the offending block. I would take out any big offender. NOT a lot of fun but you want when you finish your quilt for the happily ever after result. GOOD LUCK !!!
    ManiacQuilter2 is offline  
    Old 12-17-2013, 09:30 AM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    MacThayer's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2011
    Location: Nevada
    Posts: 1,103
    Default

    I square up everything as I go along. I would advise pressing before squaring the blocks, but I probably don't need to tell you that! Sorry! Sometimes I will even block the top before adding borders. Skewed quilts drive me nuts! And having them squared sure makes everything go together much more easily, with corners matching and points lining up. My Great Grandmother actually taught me to do this, and she was a quilter of local great fame.
    MacThayer is offline  
    Old 12-17-2013, 09:36 AM
      #4  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Ontario, Canada
    Posts: 41,501
    Default

    ​I always square up as much as possible, before adding borders. You have to be careful not to trim too close to points though.
    Tartan is offline  
    Old 12-17-2013, 10:39 AM
      #5  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Sep 2011
    Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
    Posts: 4,923
    Default

    Yes, yes yes! Square up those tops! One time I over pressed a top, even after I had squared the top and wouldn'tcha know it... the quilting police called me on it. The top ended up not quite square and the edges were wavy. We had to ease and gather up the edges to square the top up again, before it was machine quilted and it still ended up with a couple of minor puckers and bubbles near the binding edge.

    She was right. Sometimes it pays to listen to the law.

    ~ Cindy
    tropit is offline  
    Old 12-17-2013, 04:55 PM
      #6  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jan 2011
    Location: Minnesota
    Posts: 4,144
    Default

    Oh, oh. Sometimes I forget to square up my blocks.
    Sandra in Minnesota is offline  
    Old 12-18-2013, 07:35 AM
      #7  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Jan 2011
    Location: Upland CA
    Posts: 18,376
    Default

    I do square up, but again watch out for points.
    mighty is offline  
    Old 12-18-2013, 04:35 PM
      #8  
    Super Member
     
    quiltinghere's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2010
    Location: PROFESSIONAL Longarm Quilter NW Indiana
    Posts: 3,398
    Default

    Questions before offering advice:

    How much is it off square? You just said 'it's really off'. Measure the top in 3 places in both directions and let us know.

    If you trim off fabric, are you cutting of seam allowances? Are the blocks something that NEED seam allowances to make them look nice (i.e. star points)?

    Who is the quilt for?

    Nan
    quiltinghere is offline  
    Old 12-18-2013, 07:11 PM
      #9  
    Power Poster
     
    BellaBoo's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2009
    Location: Front row
    Posts: 14,646
    Default

    I rarely add a border for this very reason. I can trim and square and trim and square and trim until the quilt is gone and never have a perfectly square quilt edge for a border. I took a class that had everyone but borders on a 4", 8" 16" and 36" square piece of fabric. It was very plain many of the class members including myself couldn't get a perfect square to start with. LOL
    BellaBoo is offline  
    Old 12-18-2013, 09:50 PM
      #10  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Oct 2012
    Location: NW IL
    Posts: 493
    Default

    I was taught by teachers whom have many patterns and books to square up after the boarder was added if it needed to be squared. Never trim the blocks as you will lose the points or what is needed for yout 1/4" seam allowance. If your quilt was that far off before adding the boarder then find which blocks were causing the problem and fix them. The first quilt I ever made many years ago under these teachers was a nine patch and a flying greese, points had to meet up or you pulled out the seam ripper and re-sew the block. To make sure your cutting (use the same brand of ruler in the quilt/blocks, never trust or use the mats lines), seam allowance were right 1/4" and you were butting up seams when sewing the blocks. This has paid off I rarely have to square up my boarders or have problems now.

    Are your wavy boarder due to the fabric stretching on the ends after being handled? I fine even some of the so called best fabric is awful this is where the walking foot really helps eases and smooths out
    caroloto is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    hutch farm
    Main
    32
    01-12-2015 09:22 AM
    carslo
    Main
    13
    08-13-2013 10:24 AM
    carolaug
    Main
    21
    10-10-2011 04:26 AM
    cizzors
    Main
    4
    02-18-2011 10:11 AM
    Stummel
    Main
    13
    03-31-2010 02:38 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter