I'm making my very first quilt, which is a crib size baby quilt for a special friend. The top is pieced and I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. However, I haven't touched it in a week due to BORDER PHOBIA. Now, these are two simple non-pieced borders and for some reason I was terrified to cut into my fabric. I finally forced myself to get 'er done. I measured, re-measured, chickened out, measured again. Finally..I just cut. I just pinned the long sides of the first border to the top and it looks like it fits perfectly! I know that borders are critical and can make or break a quilt. I feel like I'm going out on a limb here having an inner and outer border on my first quilt. I would really appreciate any tips from the experts here before I go any further!

Cindy, I'm no expert . . .but after putting quilts together for 20 years or so, I recently read that the borders are critical, which I never knew.

So don't get yourself all worked up; borders usually come along just fine and your quilt will be beautiful!

Cindy, I'm certainly no expert either, however, I was taught to do the sides first then the top and bottom. See what others think.

I was taught to measure the middle and the two sides, average these numbers and cut the side borders, pin to fit.

Then measure the top middle and bottom, average and cut. pin to fit.
This eliminates the "floppy" borders.
Purple

You poor thing. Don't get stressed by the borders. I've cut them longer and squared everything after they've been sewn and pressed. I know that's not how it's done, but it works until you have that perfect measurement technique down. It all takes practice. You'll be a border pro in no time!

I don't worry too much about borders...I do what makes me happy and looks good (Ihope)
I ususally line up one corner/edge then square it before placing the opposite border...
Then I'm done...
Hope this helps.
Kirsten

I agree with purplemem, measure each side and through the middle, then average the number. After you get the first border on, repeat the process. I've tried cutting them longer, then cutting off the extra but it's much too easy to get one side longer than the other that way.

I hope you will post a pic of your quilt!

When I do borders I put the sides on first. I take the border I cut lay it down the middle of the quilt and cut it the length of that measurement. Then I lay it along side the edge of my quilt and pin the two ends on then pin starting in the middle an going each way until it is all on. If the quilt is a tad longer than the border I ease it in. Pin closely together and put the quilt on the bottom when sewing and the feed dogs will take up the extra. this will prevent wavey borders. Then I take the top and bottom border lay it across the middle after the side border are on and cut it to that size. Repeat the process. Hope this helps. Marge

Update! Border is on and all is well :D I chickened out on the double border and decided on a wider single border. I have a bad habit of trying to run before I can walk. Many Thanks to everyone for helping me along my way. Miracle of miracles - my quilt is sqare! I am sandwiched now and trying to decide whether to baste or safety pin. How much extra backing and border should I leave around the top? I have quite a bit extra at this point. 4"-5". I will have to machine quilt due to time constraints. This is a gift and I hope to have it ready to go by next week. I am already stressing over the actual quilting. The design has 5"
plain blocks and I am wondering how in the world I can fill these. I am literally flying by on the skin of my teeth! I will try to post a couple of pictures of what I have so far, but that is another new skill too.

Drat! Pictures did not work. Back to the drawing board to learn how to post a pic.

Trying again to post pictures.

It worked! Any ideas for quilting in the 5" squares that would be easy for a beginner?

It is beautiful! I am sure one of the more experienced quilters can give you great suggestions on how to fill the plain squares.

Gorgeous!!

I'm not very experienced at actually quilting the squares - I used to tie - and I mostly quilt in the ditch or do echo quilting now - but a simple quilted X across each plain square would be quick and echo the pieced squares kinda -

I know lots of these ladies will have much better ideas!!!

Hi CindyBee, that's a lovely quilt you've made :thumbup: . I like QuiltinSolitude's idea for the quilting. I'm not the worlds greatest machine quilter :? , so I mostly do stitch in the ditch and straight lines. If you want some thing fairly quick I would Stitch in the ditch right across the quilt to frame your blocks and then the X. I have drawn up a quick sketch of what I mean cause I'm lazy and it's easier to show a pic :lol: . The red lines show in the ditch quilting and the black are to show the X. The largest gap between your quilting would be 2 1/2", which I think is ok for most batts.

Sounds like a great plan! You'll be done before you know it! Your quilt is beautiful--such soft colors!

I kind of like to quilt diamonds.

I actually wouldn't quilt all these lines, just the main diamond box in the center of the square is probably all I would do, since you're under time constraints.

DITCH STITCHERS UNITE!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

That is sure a pretty quilt. Thanks for the pattern. I'll have to do that someday. I sure need to burn a CD before I lose all the good ideas here.

Shelly:
Thank you so much for taking the time to show me how to quilt this!
I am a visual learner and this has helped me tremendously. How do you get the graphic of the quilt? Is that a special program that you use? It's awesome!

To everyone: Thanks for all the encouragement. It's so wonderful to have you all as mentors. I hope that I can help and encourage others also as I gain experience.

Been there, done that! Just make sure your measurments are correct and you shouldn't have a problem at all. Are you going to try to mitre the corners? Once you do it, your fears will be gone. What if you do cut it wrong?????? CUT ANOTHER ONE or, better yet, add more but not on one of the ends (middle). Now you may know why I always buy a little extra fabric when I start a quilt.

This can't be your first quilt???????????? WONDERFUL WORK!!!

Shelly, that is a great diagram. I am fairly new too and that is a great plan, thanks for the pic.

Cordelia,

I like your diagram as well!

Thanks to all of you.....I don't ever dare to add more borders after I bind it but I am wondering if it is possible.....

I love it just the way it is. It's just looks beautiful. Any baby would looked dressed up with that.

My goodness. I never thought about it before. The first quilt I made (now owned by my sister) has sashing and a couple of borders. I just cut and sewed. Now that I have done quite a few quilts, I usually do whatever happens to be the shorter sides first, if it is a rectangle.

There have been a few of my quilts that I did not bother with borders. Do not stress your self over them. What ever pleases your own eyes should be fine.