Squaring quilt question
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: West Bend, WI
Posts: 2,229
Squaring quilt question
Do any of you have tried and true methods of squaring a quilt? Or do you have a favorite video on how to do so?
I have always had my quilter square them for me and now I want to learn how to do it myself since I purchased the longarm.
Thanks so much in advance!
I have always had my quilter square them for me and now I want to learn how to do it myself since I purchased the longarm.
Thanks so much in advance!
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
The best advice I got was square it up as you go. Square the blocks. Most importantly, make sure your top is square before you add your borders. There's usually not too much to do after that. For large quilts, I use a 20.5" square up ruler. I square up the corners, then use a 6' ruler (Lowe's $11) to do the sides.
#3
Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 18
Laser squares
I haven't used these yet, still working on my first quilt, but they seem like a good idea! I got 2 so I could lay out the quilt and see how all 4 sides would line up.
This is not the exact photo - I got mine from alibaba.com.
This is not the exact photo - I got mine from alibaba.com.
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,092
After I quilt on my longarm I use my 12" square ruler to square the corners before adding the binding. I mark the areas off the square with pencil, sew the binding to the pencil marks and trim the excess before folding and sewing down the binding on the second side. If you trim before adding binding you may have trouble with loosened batting getting in your way. I must have learned this from someplace but really don't remember from where but it does work for me.
#6
I try to be accurate in my cutting and sewing as i go, then there is minimal need for "squaring up" before i put on the binding. I also abide by the rule "If it can't be seen from a galloping horse, then it doesn't matter."
#7
Kimmy Brunner did two excellent webinars for HandiQuilter on how to make sure that a quilt comes out square after longarming, even if it wasn't square before then. I just watched them yesterday, and I learned a lot. Look on HandiQuilter's site under education/webinars.
#8
Dunster, thank you for the HQ webinar information.
Like Becca, I try to cut and piece accurately along the way... I will finalize my "squaring up" by using my 12 1/2 inch square ruler and my 6x24 inch ruler.
Like Becca, I try to cut and piece accurately along the way... I will finalize my "squaring up" by using my 12 1/2 inch square ruler and my 6x24 inch ruler.
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,783
After quilting I use my giant square ruler (I think it's 20" square) to square up the corners, then I use the same ruler along each side, trimming to join the previous corner cuts. That huge ruler is expensive, but well worth the cost when squaring up quilts.
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Anthony, TX
Posts: 259
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