Using strips for borders
#1
Using strips for borders
I am using a striped piece of fabric for a border. My problem is, if I use the straight grain them my stripes are off and if I make the strips right, the grain is off. What is the best way to go? Am I making any sense?
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,539
If the stripes are large, I would cut with the stripe and ignore the grain line. If it is a fine strip, you could cut with the grain as it will be less noticable. Personally, I would go for the look over the grain line.
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: The Deep South near Cajun Country, USA
Posts: 5,434
Could you show us a picture or that fabric and the rest of your quilt? According to how the rest of your quilt looks, the stripes may look good cutting them into squares and then alternating them as 1 straight, then 1 sideways..all along the border. Another alternative is to cut the strips so that you can miter the corners. So, you would cut all down the length of the fabric and miter the corners. or cut them across and have small stripes all along the border, think piano key, and miter the corners.
Edited to add: Now you know why I can't get quilts finished. I see too many possibilities.
And I just read that the stripes are off. What do you mean by that? Not a straight print of the stripes? That could make it all even more interesting.
Edited to add: Now you know why I can't get quilts finished. I see too many possibilities.
And I just read that the stripes are off. What do you mean by that? Not a straight print of the stripes? That could make it all even more interesting.
Last edited by Barb in Louisiana; 01-07-2018 at 05:05 PM.
#5
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
Quilt construction isn't like garment construction. You can be less concerned with the fabric grain because you're not looking for the item to drape a certain way when it's done. You should strive to keep the grain, however, the print trumps this. Cut it on the stripe. The quilting will take care of the grain being off.
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,490
If you miter the corners so the strips meet up, it should look great. Of course mitering has never been easy for me to do but with my trusty bottle of Elmer's washable glue, I have better luck getting them to match up correctly.
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,857
It is not going to be that critical when using it in the border. Think about the quilts that have been made of lots of bits and pieces. Go with the most pleasing to you. If you do not and you go with the 'rules', you will never like the look of the top!
#10
Super Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,184
If you use the grain of the fabric (rather than the print on the fabric) your borders will be wonky.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
craftybear
Links and Resources
1
08-10-2011 12:37 PM
craftybear
Links and Resources
5
07-08-2011 05:45 PM
justflyingin
Main
37
04-19-2011 08:43 PM