Border help
08-10-2020, 11:50 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 213
Border help
I’m having trouble again. My border is made up of blocks but they do not fit.
I doubt that having the end block smaller than the others is going to look right, but I can’t think of anything else to do.
Any ideas?
I doubt that having the end block smaller than the others is going to look right, but I can’t think of anything else to do.
Any ideas?
08-10-2020, 12:28 PM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: The Deep South near Cajun Country, USA
Posts: 5,387
I take it that your border blocks are too long. You can add a small border next to your center of your quilt so that they will fit. If they are two inches too long, then add a 2 1/2" border strip down the length of the side, thus allowing the blocks to fit the length. You will probably have to remake any corner blocks to fit the new size, but then again, measure first, because if your block sizes are correct for your outer blocks, then your corners should fit perfectly.
Pictures please.......
Edited to add: To make sure this would work, mark a piece of fabric the amount you think you need to add and just lay it under your center. Put your blocks next to it. Does this work for all sides? Sometimes, the best thing you can do is ditch one of the blocks on the outer border and put some small fabric pieces in between your other blocks to get the border blocks where they will fit. If you don't have corner blocks, then upsize these, if needed by adding small borders on adjoining sides.
: Your border blocks only fit down the sides. Your corner blocks will go all the way to the inner, center part of your quilt. So all side borders will be the same size.
Pictures please.......
Edited to add: To make sure this would work, mark a piece of fabric the amount you think you need to add and just lay it under your center. Put your blocks next to it. Does this work for all sides? Sometimes, the best thing you can do is ditch one of the blocks on the outer border and put some small fabric pieces in between your other blocks to get the border blocks where they will fit. If you don't have corner blocks, then upsize these, if needed by adding small borders on adjoining sides.
: Your border blocks only fit down the sides. Your corner blocks will go all the way to the inner, center part of your quilt. So all side borders will be the same size.
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 08-10-2020 at 04:56 PM. Reason: shouting/all caps
08-10-2020, 12:38 PM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,076
When it is a too-big as built but as designed it should fit situation, if the border is sewn together but not yet attached, consider going over some of the seams just a thread or so away from the existing.
Remember that any corrections you make are double because it is two pieces of fabric. If you just need to take in an inch or two, I prefer to restitch one set of blocks, skip the next set, and the restitch every other set. Checking often to make sure you haven't gone too far! If you need to take in more, you still have the ones you skipped before.
As Barb said, you can also use a "coping" strip to fit the top to border. Sometimes that is done on purpose, like when you have a block that is set flat, but you use a portion of that set on the diagonal for the border, you need to account for the changes in the math somehow.
Remember that any corrections you make are double because it is two pieces of fabric. If you just need to take in an inch or two, I prefer to restitch one set of blocks, skip the next set, and the restitch every other set. Checking often to make sure you haven't gone too far! If you need to take in more, you still have the ones you skipped before.
As Barb said, you can also use a "coping" strip to fit the top to border. Sometimes that is done on purpose, like when you have a block that is set flat, but you use a portion of that set on the diagonal for the border, you need to account for the changes in the math somehow.
08-10-2020, 08:00 PM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: North Idaho
Posts: 1,687
In my own (minimal) experience, I have found that I can never get a good accurate measurement of my quilt top or border strips because I don't have a big enough flat space to lay things out appropriately. also, the seams have a certain amount of "give" that can expand or contract and cause my mis-measurements.
Therefore, if you know how big your quilt is "supposed" to be (for example, all the blocks are 6" blocks and your quilt is 10 blocks wide, you know it is supposed to be a 60" inch width). and then if you do the same for your border blocks (border blocks are 3" and you have 20 of them), then you can "know" that they are theoretically the same size. Even if you are off a smidgen in your seam allowances, you can find the center seam or block of each and put a pin in. then pin the corners to match up. the space in between those pins can usually be fudged in with additional pins.
When you sew, if the border still seems a little too long, then position it so that it is on the bottom when feeding through the machine. that will help it ease in more.
....okay, yes, I know, that is not a "professional" method or response. but I actually find it more accurate than trying to take measurements.
If you trust your measurements and are certain they are "off", then do as they say above, add your cheater strips to either the top or the border to make it work. please post pics if you can!
Therefore, if you know how big your quilt is "supposed" to be (for example, all the blocks are 6" blocks and your quilt is 10 blocks wide, you know it is supposed to be a 60" inch width). and then if you do the same for your border blocks (border blocks are 3" and you have 20 of them), then you can "know" that they are theoretically the same size. Even if you are off a smidgen in your seam allowances, you can find the center seam or block of each and put a pin in. then pin the corners to match up. the space in between those pins can usually be fudged in with additional pins.
When you sew, if the border still seems a little too long, then position it so that it is on the bottom when feeding through the machine. that will help it ease in more.
....okay, yes, I know, that is not a "professional" method or response. but I actually find it more accurate than trying to take measurements.
If you trust your measurements and are certain they are "off", then do as they say above, add your cheater strips to either the top or the border to make it work. please post pics if you can!
08-11-2020, 08:09 AM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Posts: 9,475
If I have a border that does not fit in size then I go to the middle of the middle of where I will attach the border and add maybe a pinwheel or just a solid fabric to make the border fit. Good luck to you and it looks like you have a lot of good advice here from the members
08-11-2020, 09:27 AM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: kansas
Posts: 6,407
I have a book called Border Bling that is all pieced blocks borders--she recommends ...to press the seams as you stitch the blocks together to avoid stretch--just square the blocks individually to correct size and then put together. As you pin/stitch to block border to the top, you make sure to get the seam allowance to lay down flat. Never had hear of this before and it works!
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 08-11-2020 at 02:26 PM. Reason: shouting/all caps
08-11-2020, 11:33 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 682
You could make a strip any size by making flying geese to fill it and make it as long as you want. A other idea would be to figure out the size and make a thin block with just two strips of fabric and put a square or a square on point in it to fill in the space or one on each end,
