Welcome to the Quilting Board!

Already a member? Login above
loginabove
OR
To post questions, help other quilters and reduce advertising (like the one on your left), join our quilting community. It's free!

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2
Results 11 to 20 of 20

Thread: what causes the borders to "wave"?

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Super Member meyert's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Southern Indiana
    Posts
    1,625
    Thank you... never thought of cutting the braid after I had the sashing sewn on... I did starch, but maybe I need to starch more. I am going to try the stay stitch too

  2. #2
    Super Member Onebyone's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Posts
    5,984
    I always cut my borders from the length of the fabric. Sometimes I measure sometimes I don't. If I don't measure first I always pull the border fabric a little taut and the quilt top on bottom not pulled. I haven't had a problem with wavy borders unless the fabric was bad to begin with.
    I love my life!

  3. #3
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    213
    I take classes at the local tech college (only $28 for seniors) but I digress. The way I was taught, and does not make wavy borders, is to measure through the middle of the quilt, and cut the border to fit, patting several times (put the quilt and border to make sure there are no ripples or bulges - do not run your hand over the fabric as it may stretch it. Then, once the border is cut, fold the border in half and pin that mark, then in quarters and pin those marks. Do the same for each side of the quilt you are placing the border as well, and match the pins, easing as necessary. I pin a lot if there is lot of easing to be done. Pin the middle first then the quarter marks and then in between. Works for me!

  4. #4
    Super Member AZ Jane's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    2,317
    Quote Originally Posted by Jakers1 View Post
    I take classes at the local tech college (only $28 for seniors) but I digress. The way I was taught, and does not make wavy borders, is to measure through the middle of the quilt, and cut the border to fit, patting several times (put the quilt and border to make sure there are no ripples or bulges - do not run your hand over the fabric as it may stretch it. Then, once the border is cut, fold the border in half and pin that mark, then in quarters and pin those marks. Do the same for each side of the quilt you are placing the border as well, and match the pins, easing as necessary. I pin a lot if there is lot of easing to be done. Pin the middle first then the quarter marks and then in between. Works for me!
    That is how I was taught. Takes a little longer (very little) and you have no waves!! I figure anytime you don't have to unsew and re-do, you did it the fastest way!!
    Better to do something imperfectly, than nothing perfectly.
    Done is better than perfect.

  5. #5
    Super Member judy363905's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    3,166
    Quote Originally Posted by AZ Jane View Post
    That is how I was taught. Takes a little longer (very little) and you have no waves!! I figure anytime you don't have to unsew and re-do, you did it the fastest way!!
    This is how I was taught at my very first beginner class ...looks like Sandy was an excellent teacher . I have never experienced waves borders.

    Judy in Phx, AZ

  6. #6
    Senior Member HouseDragon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Kaua`i
    Posts
    565
    Quote Originally Posted by Jakers1 View Post
    I take classes at the local tech college (only $28 for seniors) but I digress. The way I was taught, and does not make wavy borders, is to measure through the middle of the quilt, and cut the border to fit, patting several times (put the quilt and border to make sure there are no ripples or bulges - do not run your hand over the fabric as it may stretch it. Then, once the border is cut, fold the border in half and pin that mark, then in quarters and pin those marks. Do the same for each side of the quilt you are placing the border as well, and match the pins, easing as necessary. I pin a lot if there is lot of easing to be done. Pin the middle first then the quarter marks and then in between. Works for me!

    This is the way I learned how to do it. Add Bonnie's method of "measuring" and I think we may have the perfect way to do borders.
    If life gives you lemons, make Limoncello!

  7. #7
    Power Poster ManiacQuilter2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    17,174
    There is a class on Craftsy. I had a wavy border on a table runner and my friend who is hand sewing the binding to the back, she hand baste the outside and slowly pulling the basting brings the quilt side to line up before she sews the binding on. It is a technique she swears by.
    A Good Friend, like an old quilt, is both a Treasure and a Comfort

  8. #8
    Super Member QandE2010's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Florida - formerly Montana
    Posts
    3,446
    Just a thought! If the quilt portion is longer than the border/binding, put the longer portion on the bottom. When you sew it together, some of the excess will normally be gathered up into the border fabric. Hope I explained this correctly.
    Alma
    Nami to 6

  9. #9
    Power Poster Jingle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Outside St. Louis
    Posts
    26,781
    I lay a border strip on the quilt center and lightly smooth it out and mark where it touches the edge. Then I cut the other border strip the same way. Sew them to the length and repeat for the top and bottom. When I sew them on I make sure they are smooth. No wavy borders, if you always measure the borders like this.
    Another Phyllis
    This life is the only one you get - enjoy it before you lose it.

  10. #10
    Super Member IBQUILTIN's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    North Fork Ca
    Posts
    8,258
    Staystitching helps, and when you have a lot of bias edges it usually helps if you cut your border lengthwise of the grain instead of crosswise

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

SEO by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.