Originally Posted by donnajean
I don't see in your steps that you are checking to make sure quilt is squared up. I use the 12" square ruller to check corners & 24" ruler for sides. Does your quilt top lay flat before adding the borders?
Originally Posted by QuiltMania
No matter what I do, I can't get the @#%** borders to lay flat. They always have a bubble somewhere. I'd appreciate it if you folks would look over my process and tell me where I am going wrong. Here's what I've been doing for borders.
1. Press quilt with dry iron.
2. Measure quilt through middle (vertically and horizontally)
3. Add 2x width of that measurement and cut border strips to that length
4. Attach top and bottom borders
5. Attach side borders
I agree. If your quilt doesn't lay flat before adding borders, it won't lay flat afterward no matter what measurement you take. So you need to figure out why, and fix it before you move on! I always lay the quilt flat, pin border on, leaving an inch or two at the top and bottom. Sew the border on, and then press the seam toward the border.Trim the border even with the top and bottom of the quilt, using the rotary ruler and cutter to be sure you are trimming it square. This works for me. I find that when your border measures less than the edge (if the center measures less than the edge) you will have one of two results - the edge looks 'gathered' into the border or the border is going to be stretched, and the result looks wavy.