Help! I am regressing in my quilting skills!!

I've been quilting for decades and I am suddenly having reoccurring problems with adding borders.

When the quilt top is ready for its borders to be sewn on, the top is flat. But when I sew the first 3" border on, it doesn't lay flat anymore! It's driving me nuts!

I know about the measuring down the center of the quilt to determine the length of the borders. This has always worked for me. But now it's failing. Does anyone have any tricks??

Thanks in advance for your insights.

Maybe measure in three places? Center - a foot from the left - and a foot from the right?

And average the numbers if they are different.

Maybe its your tension pulling on the fabric, you might try shortening your stitches also. Thinner fabrics wave alot, is it thin? PIN PIN PIN, learned this the hard way, and starch starch starch. Theres been times when I cant get a border not to wave so I end up tucking it.

When I quilted for others, I found the problem with wavy borders to be that the border was longer. I would also suggest that you measure the outside of the border to see what that measurement is. Then you can compare with what it should have been. Did you cut the border on the straight of grain of the fabric?? Good Luck !! :mrgreen:

I got this tip from Quiltville:

Lay your quilt out. Lay the border fabric on top in the center (either vertically or horizontally, whichever you are doing first). Smooth the fabric out, then cut it the same size. I pin at a few intervals along the way so it doesn't move, then bring my cutter and small cutting mat over and trim the strips. Match the ends and center points and pin before you sew. Press your border seams and repeat for the other borders.

The reason she does it this way is because measuring tapes can stretch, but if you smooth the fabric out the same as the quilt, it doesn't. I have done many quilts this way and never have problems with wavy borders. Give it a try!

I cut mine lenght wise grain and have fewer/no problems. If I cut cross wise grain I ALWAYS have problems.

great tip Katier!!!!!

Here is the Quiltville link of border hints:

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/...der-hints.html

Me too - always cut lengthwise grain and I measure the center of the quilt with a tape measure. Then, I cut a length of border a couple of inches longer than that measurement (across the center of the quilt) and then use the border to measure itself by laying it across the center of the quilt and then cut the exact measurement. I hope I said that clear enough??? Anyway, that technique I saw on a program featuring Jinny Beyer and it sure works for me. Oh, and I use tons of pins, both ends first, then the middle and everywhere in between. And if you still have a wavy border, then hang it high and keep it moving :)...

Thanks I didn't get it at first. The pictures helped. Her Nureyev corners look easy too!!