How wide to make the inner border? And ? about the finishing...

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01-08-2011, 06:38 AM

#21

quiltmom04

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: PA

Posts: 2,879

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naturalmama

I want to put a narrow strip around the quilt before I add the larger border. So far it measures 49" x 41" and I used 5" charm squares (so the squares are now 4.5"). How wide should I make this inner border? And the outer border - I was thinking of making it the same width as a charm - sound ok?

Also, I was thinking of finishing it like another quilt I saw - not stitch in the ditch, but stitching just a bit next to the seams on either side. (So each square would be outlined in stitching). Would I need to use a walking foot for this? I have a generic one but I have no idea if it actually works or even how to use it. :oops:

I would make the inner border about2" - 1 1/2" finished and make the outer border a bit larger than the blocks, say 6". It looks more interesting to have the measurements varied, just like it looks more interesting to have pattern size varied. And yes, a walking foot will make your stitching more even. If you have lost the directions for your foot, you can either look online, or your LQS should be able to help you.

01-08-2011, 07:42 AM

#22

bizzyquilter

Junior Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Posts: 106

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naturalmama

I wish I could sit in a room with all of you! :)

Me too! :-D

01-08-2011, 07:52 AM

#23

prayerquilts

Member

Join Date: Oct 2010

Posts: 82

Another idea for quilting would be to sew diagonally from corner to corner making x's through the squares. You can start at one corner of the quilt and sew to the other end. You'll be able to quilt with fewer starts and stops. On some it even gives a look of lots of smaller triangles in the piecing. I don't have a walking foot and have had good luck, but the two I did had a backing with a lot of body in it and very little stretch.

01-08-2011, 07:56 AM

#24

GammaLou

Senior Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: West Michigan

Posts: 533

For doing straight quilting a walking foot will help the fabric feed evenly. Otherwise it will pucker! Yes, start from the center and work out for best results. My last quilt was a king size and I did borders in 1", 3" and 6" to make it the size I wanted. The gradual increase looked great. Then the binding was 2.5" before sewing on and folding over. I think it finishes to about 1/2 to 3/4 when done. Have fun and post a picture of your finished quilt!!

01-08-2011, 08:00 AM

#25

G'ma Kay

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: west central Illinois

Posts: 1,048

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holice

it depends on what width will balance. A 2" sounds about right for me

And yes, a walking foot will give you better results.

I don't like to go any narrower than a 2 inch inner border, not all that confident in my skills, and I feel the narrower it is, the more obvious my crooked stitching will be.

01-08-2011, 01:44 PM

#26

IBQUILTIN

Super Member

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: North Fork Ca

Posts: 8,234

Any size you want to. Most of us use either 1 1/2 inch strips for a 1 inch(narrow) border, and some 2 1/2 inch for a 2 inch (just a bit wider) border, but its all up to you. lay your fabric under the edge and audition both to see which you like

01-08-2011, 03:10 PM

#27

Diane C.

Junior Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Claridon Ohio

Posts: 253

I like making the outer border half or less of the squares and the inner border half of the outer border. Only works well with smaller blocks though. Diane C.

01-08-2011, 05:04 PM

#28

vickie1976

Junior Member

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: Anacortes,Washington

Posts: 135

I would use a 1.5" which 1/3 the with of your squares, the border should be 3 that width, You are framing the quilt top so the inner strip is like a mat around a picture and the border is the frame.