Originally Posted by
citruscountyquilter
Jan's illustration is great (as usual). Thanks Jan......I stay stitched (about 1/8" so the stitching would be in the seam allowance for the binding) around the edge of the entire quilt top so the bias edges wouldn't stretch in the quilting process
Thank you for extending the instructions on this method I wrote. Because the setting triangles made with my method are larger than needed, ON PURPOSE, there is room to trim this section of the quilt all around; I did not mention this in the instructions posted. BUT...Allow yourself slightly MORE than what would be the 1/4" seam allowance when you trim and the quilt blocks will "float" when the border is applied. No risk of losing your points this way!
If you'll note,
cutting the squares for the setting triangles the way I do does not give you BIAS edges, so there should be no distortion on handling and quilting. (Nonetheless, I routinely stay stitch around all my tops. as you mention, before quilting, too.)
Jan in VA
EXAMPLE OF "FLOAT"