How do you do borders that match both front and back of your fabric?
Hi, I have a question for the board. I have made my first quilt top and I am ready to make a quilt sandwich. But before I do that I need to measure out what the back fabric should be. This is my problem. On the front or top of my fabric I put a 2 1/2 inch border of yellow fabric on it. And I want to do the same with the back side so it matches up with the front when everything is done. So there is a 2 1/2 inch yellow border on both front and back. But I know from reading about this part that we are suppose to make the back fabric and batting something like 4 inches longer on each side than the front before we start quilting whatever design were going to have on the quilt top. Correct? I guess this is because as you quilt the top it pushes out or something and you don't want to end up short? O.K. so that's fine but is it going to match up my borders? I read that after you quilt the top with whatever design you want you cut off the extra backing and batting before binding. In my case I can't cut off any extra because my border will be there. And if I end up cutting off some then my back border won't match my front border. How does anyone do borders? Do they wait until after you have quilted the top? Which would probably be difficult sewing the border strips on when it's been all sewn together with meandering, or lines, or what ever you choose to put on your quilt top. Is it going to match up nearly perfectly with 4 inches added to the back? So this is where I am right now. Should I just not put a border on the back at all? My back piece doesn't quite fit my front so I have to add something. I was also going to put like a 24 inch block in the middle of the back of other fabric that matches my top fabric to make up for some of that as well. Advise? Thank you