Michellesews

I'm a longarmer so when I get wavy borders on a customer quilt, I'm kind of stuck with them! I have had success with steaming them heavily with my cordless iron and shrinking them up some. I have also had some success with using spray baste and evenly distributing the waves and smoothing them to the batting. But the BEST thing to do is fix it befor quilting it. I like the suggestion given to measur through the middles and less subtract 1/4".

I recently finished a BOM, Stitchers Garden and there were multiple border pieces, one of which was 4" embroidered squares! I knew this spelled trouble and I was ever so careful...I even cut all the solid borders on the lengthwise grain! But guess what? Yep...I had some wave! I used the above tricks and managed them but they can truly be frustrating and amazingly invisible until you're quilting the quilt! Best of luck to you getting this resolved.

lfletcher

Batiks shouldn't be the problem. They usually have a tighter weave so there is less stretch. I do cut my borders on the straight of grain instead of cross grain which can help. I believe your problem might be in the half-square triangles pieced border.

Jan in VA

Here's a suggestion that might help you tame those wavy borders.
Using this technique below, cut your twill to the length of the correct border, then "ease" in the outer border to fit the twill.

Twill tape can be found at Joannes in the rickrack/hem tape section. It has NO STRETCH and works well to stabilize things like this. Be sure to apply it within the seam allowance.

Jan in VA

Abby'smom

I have had a wavy border only one time -- and this also happen to a quilting buddy -- we figured out that we pinned the borders to the quilt top and held the pieces on our laps, instead of laying the pieces flat on a table to pin -- since then I have used a table top to lay border and top out and pin them together without problems of wavy borders -- good luck to you!!

Doggramma

Thank you Jan for reminding me about the twill tape! I took a class where the teacher suggested that method and I totally forgot. I need to make myself a note!

ManiacQuilter2

Tartan is correct. Sewing multiple borders especially when pressing and sewing them individually can easily stretch them.

nightquilter

Geri B, Sorry about the spelling, long late evenings. yes I measure top, bottom and middle and ease any difference in. I was only 1/4 inch off all 3 measurements. I could not sew the borders together because of the design I want to have with the 1/2 square triangles. Like I said I had never had this happen before. Thank you so much for your help.

nightquilter

I did use 1/2 square triangles for one border, there is a good chance I turned these around or up side down to get the design I wanted. I like working with batiks and didn't want this to make me shy away from them.