Trouble sewing on borders that lay straight...wavy edges
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Posts: 832
Trouble sewing on borders that lay straight...wavy edges
I am puzzled about sewing on borders... I cut the fabric lengthwise, I use the walking foot, I measure fabric first, then sew together. But my border edges still seem to stretch. What am I doing wrong. I am about to make a quilt for a friend who is buying very expensive fabric and I don't want to ruin her quilt.
I have not had this problem with every quilt I have made, could it be the fabric? Am I leaving out an important step???
I have not had this problem with every quilt I have made, could it be the fabric? Am I leaving out an important step???
#2
I measure 3 time. Once on each side (doing the sides here) and once thru the middle. Average these measurements. This is the figure for your side borders. Once you have sewn them on than measure again, across the top, the bottom and thru the middle. (This is assuming you are not mitering, a whole other subject.) Than I also sew with a walking foot with the body of the quilt on the bottom. Hope this helps.
#4
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,539
Check the quilts where you got the wavy borders for bias edges. If you have bias edges along the sides, it is easy to stretch them when you put on the borders. Starch the fabric well and if I think the edges of my blocks may stretch, I do a row of stay stitching around the quilt edge before sewing on the border. It also helps to put the quilt top on the bottom so the feed dogs ease in more fabric when sewing the border on top.
#5
I do the same as dakotamaid. EXCEPT I find the middle of the quilt and the middle of the border .... I start pining from that point to each edge.
OR you can use Elmer's Washable School to glue the border on the stitch. If interested see http://sandyquilts.blogspot.com/2008...nd-quilts.html
Actually I do glue, I hate pins!
OR you can use Elmer's Washable School to glue the border on the stitch. If interested see http://sandyquilts.blogspot.com/2008...nd-quilts.html
Actually I do glue, I hate pins!
#6
I do mine the way Bonnie Hunter (Quiltville) does. I cut strips the width of the border (not the length). I trim one end, fold the quilt in half, lay the border out along the folded center, align/pin one end, smooth out (do not stretch) along the quilt and trim at the other end. I do not use a measuring tape. My borders are never wavy using this method, and it's easier than trying to measure a long border. If the quilt I am working on is big, I will pin every foot or so along the way so it doesn't shift, then trim when I get to the end. Once I sew those 2 on, I refold the other way and do the same for the other sides.
Here is a link to her hints.
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/...der-hints.html
Here is a link to her hints.
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/...der-hints.html
#7
I must be nutbars I cut mine wof. if it takes two strips so be it but the wof makes it sure easier to quilt on. I also pin top edges then middle edge then work my way out pinning about every 4 inches lots of pins but seems worth it.
#8
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: NE Pa.
Posts: 1,738
I also cut my fabric the WOF and use two or three strips depending on the size of my quilt. Then I lay the border down the middle from top to bottom and cut it off that length. I then start pinning along the side and if the quilt is a tad bigger than the lenght of the border I ease it in by pinning it. Once the sides are on and pressed I measure the quilt from the middle side to side. Then I pin it on the top and bottom . My borders are never wavy and I do this with every border that I add on.
#9
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Posts: 832
I do mine the way Bonnie Hunter (Quiltville) does. I cut strips the width of the border (not the length). I trim one end, fold the quilt in half, lay the border out along the folded center, align/pin one end, smooth out (do not stretch) along the quilt and trim at the other end. I do not use a measuring tape. My borders are never wavy using this method, and it's easier than trying to measure a long border. If the quilt I am working on is big, I will pin every foot or so along the way so it doesn't shift, then trim when I get to the end. Once I sew those 2 on, I refold the other way and do the same for the other sides.
Here is a link to her hints.
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/...der-hints.html
Here is a link to her hints.
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/...der-hints.html
I don't know where I got cutting fabric LOF I will try WOF, thanks.
#10
Power Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,127
Check the quilts where you got the wavy borders for bias edges. If you have bias edges along the sides, it is easy to stretch them when you put on the borders. Starch the fabric well and if I think the edges of my blocks may stretch, I do a row of stay stitching around the quilt edge before sewing on the border. It also helps to put the quilt top on the bottom so the feed dogs ease in more fabric when sewing the border on top.
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