Thank you all for your replys. So many different ways of doing it. I will study different ways and try the one I think will work best for me.

Also - take a look at your fabric to see if it has "stripes" - many fabrics have horizontal repeats as well as vertical repeats. These "stripes" can be very subtle, but many fabrics have them. If I am using a printed fabric for a border, I like to have the "same" look on all four sides of the top.

I generally try to avoid ripping, too. Exception is when I want a chunk off a long piece, and I know I have "lots" of the fabric. If you do want to rip - do a test to see how badly tearing traumatizes your fabric. Sometimes it is more than an inch on each side of the rip.

My method is very similar to Feather3's - measure 7 inches in from the edge - make a mark - and then connect the marks using a long straight edge and pencil. I rotary cut - usually only two layers at a time.

Make sure your blade is sharp. Cutting thru several layers requires it.

Ripping fabric scares me. I'd just use the June Taylor Shape Cut ruler and fold it several more times. A sharp blade would be necessary, but it can be done.

Dina

I now have an AccuQuilt Studio and the 7" Strip die . . .before that, rulers. I'm a firm believer in the right ruler for the job when possible. 7" borders are common enough that a wider ruler would be worth it, IMHO, if it makes your quilting experience more enjoyable.

i had fun watching a friend nearly faint as i ripped a border off a quilt rather than pick the stitches out. i had seen ricky timms do it, so i tried it and sure enough, it worked just fine. would not do it on a small stitch length before testing on a practice seam.
i got my degree in home ec and we tore woven cotton or failed the class.

I recommend measuring what you are planning to attach your borders to before cutting the borders.

Your top may or may not be "exactly" what the pattern calls for.

Having had problems with puckering when ripping, I carefully cut off the selvedge with scissors; fold the length of the fabric in half twice (only) so the cut edges line up (to reduce cutting slippage from having too many layers) and folded piece fits on cutting board. Measure width of strip and cut a short cut at each folded edge of fabric, then turn too-narrow ruler back to line up with these slits and cut the rest of the way.