Originally Posted by
SueSew
Feline and Paper Princess, that was great help in understanding what goes on. I'm awed and floored that someone could consider a quilt to be done and be an inch or more out of square - for that to happen, something has to be wrong in joining the rows.
Joining rows, joining pieces into blocks etc. Consider 1/4" seam allowance being off a mere 1/16th of an inch but multiply that by many pieces in the quilt. It can be fixed along the way. If the blocks are squared up during assembly a fraction of an inch "easing" is fine and can be inconsequential to loading on a LA rack and quilting. Even the whole top can be off if it is squared up with the final borders it is amazing how much a difference that will make. Just taking that final step of putting the borders on by measuring center of quilt first, then cutting your border to the center measurement of the quilt then easing in the small variances that our bound to happen during construction (fabric distorts, it is the nature of the beast) while attaching the border (yes that means using the dreaded PIN) makes all the difference in the world.
A lot of issues, the LAQ can work around, ease in, manipulate while quilting. We steam, we spray, we pin and starch the smooth with one hand while guiding the machine with the other to try and avoid complications (only when working from front, can't do any of this when doing pantos from the back). For many of us it is our art and we want to do the best we can for every quilt and make it pretty as possible. We want our clients to be happy, really!
Many people just cut the border strips, WOF (which also distorts because it has stretch), sew several together until they have more than enough, sew them to the edges of the quilt then lop them off when at the corner with their ruler, assuming it is straight and square. I have had quilts come to me that measure 2 or more inches more on the right side than on the left side and same top to bottom. If the quilt was set on point with setting triangles cut so the bias edge is on the edge before attaching that final border it can be much, much worse. One quilt I got was so bad out of square, I had to remove the outer borders, measure and recut them. One of them I cut 6" off the length! SIX! I couldn't believe it myself. But this quilt was for a long distance friend and I did it because she was a friend. I explained the problem but I don't know if she got it or not. I think quilting was a passing passion for her and she burnt herself out. Thankfully the majority of quilts that cross my rack are true and square and load with no problems and quilt up just beautifully. In fact, my only problem quilts all came from this one friend who jumped in with both feet and churned them out like her life depended on it.
For the OP, this would be the perfect teaching opportunity for your friends if they want to continue quilting, if they are like mine who only seemed to have the passion as a passing fancy then I wouldn't bother. Have them see for themselves the difference in measurement and explain what will happen in quilting with the wonkiness (pleats and puckers) and how they can keep that from happening in the future. Of course it would have to be done prior to quilting.