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My friend told me that say you do the top and bottom borders first they should extend 6" past what the side border width is. I'm not sure what the purpose of it is. She has been quilting for 25+ years but things she tells me and things I've read about here and in books are totally differentOriginally Posted by quilt1950
Generally speaking you do the sides first so you are getting the best use of your yardage. Lots of quilts are rectangular and longer than they are wider. So if you put your side borders on first, you are using less fabric on the sides than if you put the top/bottom on first. Otherwise, in my opinion, it makes no difference.
I totally agree. This is what I do and why.
Linda Wedge White
I believe UFOs are like scraps, ferns and dust bunnies. Once you get two, they send spores out into the air and more just happen anywhere the spores meet.
I normally attach the side borders because they are the longest. I never hear any wise talel as to one way or another. I prefer the top and bottom to extend over the side borders because I agree with it looking better too. You won't have this problem if you miter the border corners.
A Good Friend, like an old quilt, is both a Treasure and a Comfort
By sewing the longer sides first, the borders require less yardage (assuming you aren't piecing them). I can't think of any reason why it should matter, whether the top is done before the bottom or vice-versa.
Neesie
By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.
~Richard Dawkins
I don't think it's any harder to do the tops & bottoms first. It's mostly a matter of preference.
If you do the side borders first they would not extend past the top & bottom. You put both sides on Then measure and add the top & bottom
hiding away in my stash where i'm warm, safe and happy
The Pa. Amish quilters do the sides first then the top and bottom. But I think the judges at the big shows prefer to have them mitered which is hard for beginners but it is something you can get used to. I don't really care if any of my quilts get into a quilt show or not. To each his own.
After reading all the comments, I agree with the fabric saving. However I thought that one item was left out. I sew sides on first then top and bottom borders. The reasoning that I have is that you pull the quilt up under your chin by pulling on the top border of the quilt. By one piece construction, the border is more durable. I also longarm quilt the border a little more densely for the same reason.
Like most others here I do the sides first but I suppose it a personal choice. The more important point is to take measurements, not just sew a border on and hope for the best.
Divide both the quilt top and the border into 1/4s and match up the marks. Do this and you'll always have flat borders providing you have measured properly. Measure twice(three times if you need to) cut once.
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