How to prevent wavy borders?
03-01-2014, 02:55 PM
#2
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Location: Cincinnati, OH
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When you cut your border, measure 3 times across your quilt, then average it. This is the length you cut your border. Start pinning in the middle and pin to both ends. Also, when you sew the border to the quilt top, put the border on top. Hope this makes sense.
03-01-2014, 02:56 PM
#3
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Location: South central Nebraska, US
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I always sew on my borders with the quilt top on the bottom, the border piece on top. Even with a walking foot this helps "ease" in the quilt top and keeps the border flat. Clear as mud? 
Be sure and measure 3 times, once thru the middle and both sides and then take the average. Some people just take the middle measurement but I like to average. Do the same procedure for the top and bottom borders.
Raggiemom, we were typing at the same time!
Be sure and measure 3 times, once thru the middle and both sides and then take the average. Some people just take the middle measurement but I like to average. Do the same procedure for the top and bottom borders.Raggiemom, we were typing at the same time!
03-01-2014, 03:02 PM
#4
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Location: dayton OH
Posts: 1,911
I tend to cut my borders on the crosswise grain- but that is what works for me. When I attach them to the quilt, I take the measurement down the middle of the quilt and use that, not just the measurement down the side.
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03-01-2014, 04:03 PM
#5
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
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Borders are wavy because there's more fabric in them than in the rest of the quilt. So measuring, as the others have responded, is the key. You can also keep the border fabric more stable by starching it and handling it carefully.
03-01-2014, 04:09 PM
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 314
Here's a great online tutorial for adding borders: http://frommycarolinahome.wordpress....nding-the-why/
03-01-2014, 04:14 PM
#7
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 1,594
Also pin the border to the quilt top. I have a friend who doesn't think measuring and pinning is necessary, then she wonders why her border is wavy and her quilt not square. I will admit, I cut my border a tad longer than I've measured, pinning where the edge should be but that gives me a little fudge room when it just doesn't work out that way. 
03-01-2014, 04:43 PM
#8
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Location: Utah
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I measure carefully through the center of the quilt. I usually check as I'm putting the top together to make sure both sides are even. Cutting is either lengthwise or crosswise depending on the fabric. I mark the middle and quarter points of both the top and the border. Then I pin pin pin matching the middle and quarter points. I usually sew with the border on the bottom so I can make sure my block seams aren't twisted. Putting on borders is my least favorite part of quilting but mine always lie flat.
03-01-2014, 05:10 PM
#9
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Location: Southern California
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Originally Posted by dunster
Borders are wavy because there's more fabric in them than in the rest of the quilt. So measuring, as the others have responded, is the key. You can also keep the border fabric more stable by starching it and handling it carefully.
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