Does anyone know how to go about making a wavy border? I don't want to spend money on a book or templates and can figure the math part out. I guess I am looking for the how to sew part and/or suggestions. I did a google search and didn't find much that was helpful. For instance, do I cut the waves before or after I sew the border on? Is it better to go ahead and quilt it, then cut the waves into the border? I did read that it's easier to sew the binding before cutting ~ anyone tried that?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! :)

i've never done it, but i would imagine it would be better to cut your wavy border strips before you sew them on...that way if a mistake is made, you can just recut a border instead of having to fix everything.

I have a border book - it says to sketch your wave on some paper (to scale) to determine where you want the high curves and low curves. This actually applies if you are making applique wavy border pieces on a your border background. I think the same technique could be used to do a wavy border and just mark your strips with the templates and cut.

1.Cut your border strips, and make a plastic template from the paper drawing, adding 1/4 " seam allowance to the long flat edge only and identify the center of the shape.
2.On the right side of the fabric border strip, mark 1/4" in from each end and the center. This allows for seam allowance and identifies where you will be and end the design.
3.Place the template on one end of the border at the 1/4" mark, tracing the curve andmarking the beginning and center of each repeat shape in the seam allowance. These markings will help make any adjustments at the center area, by lengthening or shorting the center curve. Work from both ends to the center.

From there it says to applique, but for your purpose, you could just cut out the shape you have marked on the fabric.

Hope this helps!

and for copyright police, I got this info from Borders, Bindings, Edgings: the art of finishing your quilt by Sally Collins :D

I mean kind of like scalloped, but longer space between the curves...not as formal looking I guess. Not freeform, but somewhere in between.

Thanks for the instructions. I could do this and make a wavy inner border. I hadn't thought of that. It might actually be easier to do it that way. I could attach the inner border to the outer border and treat it as one piece.

Any idea how this differs from a scalloped border? I did see instructions of how to measure/cut, but not much on how to best attach it.

I used a saucer as a template to make the scallops for a wallhanging border. I remember the corners taking a lot of time to figure out, if I remember right, start at each corner to make the scallops.

Did you cut before or after you sewed it?

I may have something (pattern) in my acrobat....PM you email and I'll try and find it

This is on the idea of what I want to do. I was pretty limited in PowerPoint on the wavy part, but it gives you an idea anyway.

Look on Quilt In A Day website. I believe Eleanor Burns has a template. for wavy borders that makes it really easy.

You can buy a long wavy ruler, one size has bigger waves than the other, not sure what brand our guild has one, I will find out tomorrow for you if I can :D