Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Border Thoughts >
  • Border Thoughts

  • Border Thoughts

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 04-04-2022, 04:26 AM
      #1  
    Junior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: May 2021
    Posts: 123
    Question Border Thoughts

    Usually I make my borders with one long strip of fabric, but with fabric so expensive now a days I really don't want to buy fabric with enough yardage length for making the border one piece.

    There are no quilt police, but what are your thoughts in making a border (same fabric) in multiple pieces. With a wide border would you do it with mitered joins or straight joins. I also thought about putting in a 2 1/2" piece of one of the block fabrics in in the center where a seam would need to be, but evenly on each side. Or, just joining the border fabric together to make it long enough. Mostly, it would just be one join on each of the 4 sides.
    berrynice is offline  
    Old 04-04-2022, 04:51 AM
      #2  
    Banned
     
    Join Date: Oct 2021
    Posts: 184
    Default

    That's funny as I just came here to ask the question, "Borders or not?" Anyways, I've always pieced my borders with a mitered seam, but, I would just as soon not put borders on unless the pattern makes them a necessity.
    PurplePansies is offline  
    Old 04-04-2022, 04:52 AM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    OhCanada's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2014
    Location: Montreal Canada
    Posts: 1,120
    Default

    I think it’s fine to make do with what is in our stash. So if that means joining a border, why not.
    I would do a mitered join. You can always plan your quilting to go over the join if you are
    concerned about it showing.
    OhCanada is offline  
    Old 04-04-2022, 05:15 AM
      #4  
    bj
    Super Member
     
    bj's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Apr 2007
    Location: Ft. Worth, Texas
    Posts: 3,674
    Default

    I’ve had to piece borders before. Seems like mostly, once you quilt it, the joins don’t really show up very much. I do press the seam at the join open so it lays flatter, but that’s just my preference. If the fabric is a print, the join shows up even less. Good luck!
    bj is offline  
    Old 04-04-2022, 05:22 AM
      #5  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jan 2014
    Location: Gaylord, MN
    Posts: 3,961
    Default

    I like to make a block for each corner, picking a fabric that is dominant in the quilt. Usually it is all just one piece, but sometimes I will make a 4-patch that goes with the rest of the quilt top.
    Karamarie is offline  
    Old 04-04-2022, 06:23 AM
      #6  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Oct 2012
    Location: Twin Cities, MN
    Posts: 2,503
    Default

    I have pieced borders many times. If there is a pattern to the border, I do a pattern match, so that is usually almost invisible. Many times, once quilted, it is almost impossible to see the seam. I just did a floral border last night, and didn't miter the corners. Sitting 10 feet away, and looking at it hanging up, I cannot see the joining seams from top to side.
    Anniedeb is offline  
    Old 04-04-2022, 08:27 AM
      #7  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Ontario, Canada
    Posts: 41,481
    Default

    If the border fabric is a print, I find any joins are less noticeable. If I am just a little short, I use corner stones or place a partial block of the quilt into the borders.
    Tartan is offline  
    Old 04-04-2022, 08:34 AM
      #8  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jan 2015
    Posts: 2,867
    Default

    I prefer a straight join. The time I tried a miter on a wider border, it was harder to get it to lay perfectly flat. I don't think a well pressed seam shows very much after it's quilted. I actually like a border cut crosswise better than one cut lengthwise. The little bit of 'give' in the crosswise helps 'fudge' discrepancies in the lengths of the sides of the quilt so it stays square (or rectangle).
    Irishrose2 is offline  
    Old 04-04-2022, 09:05 AM
      #9  
    Super Member
     
    juliasb's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jun 2010
    Location: Waterford Michigan
    Posts: 7,241
    Default

    I piece borders all the time when I am making larger quilts. Then I press the seams open, like other do here. I frequently do NOT miter the corners and the quilts always come out just the way I want it to.
    juliasb is offline  
    Old 04-04-2022, 11:34 AM
      #10  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jul 2013
    Location: Houston, TX
    Posts: 9,567
    Default

    I do a lot of pieced borders due to using my stash and not always having enough length. I prefer mitered joins and have had no trouble working with them.
    cashs_mom is offline  

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter