My rule of thumb for mitered borders is to cut your border the length of the top plus the width of your border on each side, plus a couple inches. So if your top measures 50", and your pieced border is 5" wide, you would add 50 + 5 + 5 + 2. Then, when you start to sew the border on the top, be sure to place the border so there is a 6" tail on either end. If you are making a pieced border with strips, this is the best way to add the border and really looks good.
Last edited by mckwilter; 07-29-2013 at 09:40 AM.