I don't know why but I put my top and bottom on first, then the sides.

Maybe it's because I'm left handed. Ha!

i usually do the longer sides first!

Hey Tim. Good to see you're still alive and quilting. I was wondering about you and Steve, too. You've been so quiet lately.

If you want your quilt to be as square as possible without "waves" in the borders it is best to do the sides first and cut the fabric for those sides on the selvage edge. That part of the fabric stretches the least. If it is not possible than do what you have to do. All of us have ended up with quilts that won't lay flat. Straight of grain does make a difference. It also helps if you starch your fabric. Another tip is to put the least stable fabric be it the quilt top or the border on the bottom when stitching. The feed dogs will ease it in.
Good luck.

I tend to do the longer sides first, even if I'm mitering the corners.
And if it's square, what I perceive as the sides get done first.
Guess I'm quirky that way.

But, as stated before, there are no quilt police. And it's a good thing, too. I would have been locked up long ago.

I was just reading Carol Doak's book, she says you have the choice between putting sides or top and bottom first.

Thanks everybody. The top is together and the borders are on. It's ready to sandwich.

I put the side borders on first, then the top and bottom with corner squares. Once I get a pic, I'll post it.

Funny thing. It's square. So I put the side borders on and then couldn't figure out why it wasn't square anymore. Evidently I didn't have my Wheaties today.

Once I finally got it figured out, I added the top and bottom borders without the cornersquares on. Again...breakfast being the important meal in the day.

So...once I got THAT all rearranged, the top is now complete. I made hotcakes and sausage for dinner to get a head start on tomorrow.