Tutorial on Borders:
How to Add Them Correctly
- A border adds a frame to your quilt but it also helps you bring your quilt back into “Plumb.”
- For Vintage Quilt Tops, adding a border to all 4 sides of the quilt, help to frame the quilt, and bring the sides of the quilt back into alignment.
- A border is also important to keep straight sides to your quilt especially if the outer edge squares are Half-Square-Triangles or Half-Diamond-Triangles.
- Our Goal: We are trying to avoid “Clown Colar” or “Frilling” the Edges.
1. It is your choice to have 1, 2, or more borders on your quilt. I usually add 1 border around my quilt that is 5”-6” inches wide. If the quilt-body is made up of a busy quilt-pattern or fabric, then I choose solid or small fabric-print for my border. But remember, you can choose what is pleasing to your eye. The border should "Frame and Compliment" your quilt-body and not distract from all the work that you have already done.
2. If you are still unsure about how many borders you should have and how wide they should be, "audition" your fabric! In other words, lay your quilt body out, and lay fabric strips on the edges of your quilt and see what you like best. Because... This is your quilt, your piece of art, your creation, you get to decide what you like best. Next...
3. Measure the Length of the Quilt, top to bottom. I make sure that I add a few inches...just in case. It's easier to cut it later than to add more fabric because I cut too much off, too soon. Then cut the side border strips, strips #1 and #2.
4. If you need to add strips together to make
your border strip long enough for each side, do a straight stitch or mitered
stitch to combine them.
5. The sequence of adding borders are:
Side-Side-Bottom-Top, Repeat.
You can have 1, 2, or 3 borders, it's your choice!
After laying out your borders,
it's time to pin them to the body of the quilt.
6 .Find the middle of the Border Fabric Strip,
Pin from Middle to Edge,
then Repeat for each side,
Middle to Edge
You Can choose to go First Border Light Fabric, Second Border Darker, Third Border (if you choose one) Lighter Border. You can “Audition” fabric by laying them next to the quilt body and your other border fabric choices. Ask someone else for their opinion, then choose your layout and get going! Remember, the border is to:
1.
Frame
the Quilt Body.
2.
Bring
the Quilt Body back to “Plumb.”
3.
Compliment
the Quilt and not Over-Power or Take Away from the Piecing of the Quilt Body.
Every Quilt deserves to be finished! Let me help you finish your quilting projects.
Quilt it Done with Debbie!
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