luvspaper

I agree with using cornerstones to break the stripe ...if you don't then I think the left/right vs top/bottom will stick out like a sore thumb. If you use cornerstones it shouldn't matter which you do first!

Iamquilter

I always do the sides first and then add the top and bottom. Your quilt looks lovely.

granny5

I am a new quilter, but on the few quilts I have done I always do the sides first and then the top and bottom. That just seems to be a "natual" thing for me. By the way, LOVE your quilt-it is going to be awesome when finished.

dorrell ann

Do the sides first and then the top.

Arleners

AMEN!

KSenn

One of my favorite things about quilting is there are no rules. You can do whatever you like!

mjorgenson

By doing the sides first, the top and bottom are a continuous line. The human eye likes to follow a horizontal line better than a vertical one, so it makes the quilt more pleasing to look at.

Bev

That is a really good looking quilt!
Put sides or top and bottom on first. To me it makes no difference.

countryone77

For rectangular quilts, the length is usually greater than the width. Say that I have a quilt, whose finished center is 40" x 60" and I want the finished border size to be 5" wide. (I am using finished sizes below. Add ½" to all sizes to add the seam allowances.)

Add Side Borders First
==============
The length of my side border strips will be the center's length, 60" long.

If I add the side borders first, then I am added 5" to both sides of the finished quilt's width, so I now have

width = 40 + (2 x 5) = 50

So my top and bottom borders will be 50" long.

Add Top & Bottom Borders First
====================
The length of my top and bottom border strips will be the center's width, 40" long.

If I add the top and bottom borders first, then I am added 5" to each, which adds 10" to the finished quilt's length, so I now have

length = 60 + (2 x 5) = 70

So my side borders will be 70" long.

Finished Quilt
=========
In both cases the finished quilt will be 50" x 70", because we added 5" to all sides. If you sew on the side borders first, then the length of your borders will be

side border length: 60"
top/bottom border length: 50"
Total length of fabric = 2x60 + 2x50 = 220"

If you sew on the top & bottom borders first, then the length of your borders will be

sides border length: 70"
top/bottom border length: 40"
Total length of fabric = 2x70 + 2x40 = 220"

I am using the same total amount of fabric, but when I sew on the top & side borders first, then I must deal with a longer length for the side borders. So, if you are not piecing long borders, then it is a little more economical to sew on the side borders first, because you can purchase a shorter length of fabric. If you make small quilts and cut the borders across the WOF (Width of Fabric), then this is not an issue.

Another option would be to use cornerstones in your border.

donnalynett

I love your quilt!