I can do the math if I know the equation but in this case I don't even know that there IS an equation other than trial and error! lol which I would REALLY like to avoid at this point.

So here is the question, what if any is the equation for making boarders. I know measure the quilt length first and add side boarders I know all that mess, but when you are putting strips together to make a boarder and you are doing the 45 degree seams how much extra do I need to add to the total length so I am not wasting a bunch of fabric? Does it depend on how wide your boarder is going to be? Should I add X inches for each seam needed to get the total length?

Maybe I am just making it way to complicated and I don't have to add anything other than the usual 1/4 inch to either piece for seam. lol It just seems like your cutting way more off when doing a 45 degree match up.

Good question. I can't wait to see the responses.

I love to make mitered corners, because I love the look of them. But to date I still waste a lot of fabric because I can't even figure an approximate.

Linda

Are you asking how much extra border length on each side to MITER the border corners?

No math, if your border is 5" wide all around, then your borders need to be 10" longer + a little fudge room if you want to be safe.

IOW - each border corner needs to extend at least to the outside edge of the connecting border.

I am with you, I do not attempt them...

Are you saying the 45 degrees' farthest point should be twice the width of the border + wiggle room?

Thanks.

For every mitered seam you'll lose a square equal to the width of the borders. If they're 8 inches wide for each seam you need an extra 8 inches.

Huh? :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

If the border is cut 8" wide and the quilt center is X inches long, wouldn't I need an additional 16" in length? So the border would be cut x+16, right?

If you're doing two mitered corner seams you'll need 16 inches extra on an 8 inch wide border. If you're cutting cross grain strips and seaming them together in the middle then you'll need another 8 inches for each one of those seams too.

Deleted for being totally irrelevant to the conversation. :wink:

The formula is X + 2Y + 1 inch
X = length of quilt top (normal border length)
Y = width of border
1 inch = 1 inch

You need the normal length for the border plus twice the width of the border plus one inch.

A 60 inch quilt with an 8 inch border would need a minumum of:
60 + 8 + 8 + 1 = 77

why dont you cut strips of newspaper and make a paper border and then measure.

Did you all read what the OP wrote? She's (he?) is asking about mitered seams in the length of the border, not mitered corner seams.

I guess I just don't think of the straight border (put together with miters) as creating any waste.

So you're suggesting I measure like this for, say, a 60" quilt side measurement

I should cut one one WOW strip (40" ) of the border width (5" ), and then calculate the additional needed (20" ) plus an additional width amount? And then only cut the second strip 25" x 5"? (ignoring seam allowances on purpose)

While I usually cut lengthwise borders as a matter of habit, if I were going to do it WOW, I would just cut a whole other strip anyway. I never think of that as waste.

I never thought about making up a formula for calculating the number of strips to cut for a border. I approximate the number of strips and sew them together. If I need another strip, I cut it and add it to the border piece going on the last side. So now I know I need to add the width of the border plus 1/2" for seam for every seam in the border.

AudryB - Thanks for the equation. It answers my question about the corners. I must have misinterpreted the question, as I thought it was about the extra corner length required.

Linda

Thank you for the info everyone! :)