Border Question
 

Hi All,

This is probably a dumb question, but is there a correct order to putting on borders? Top and bottom first, then sides? Sides first, then top and bottom? I've never seen this question addressed and I was curious. I tend to do top and bottom, then sides. Have I been wrong all these years?

Thanks!

It's personal preference. I try if I can to cut my borders in one piece, which takes a lot of fabric. So I put the sides on first because I can buy just that much less fabric. But it doesn't matter.

Usually you want to do the longest sides first, then the shorter sides, as this can save on fabric -- especially if you do not want to piece the borders. Basically you are minimizing the longest lengths of fabric and expanding the shortest lengths. Otherwise you are keeping the short borders as short as possible and making the long borders as long as possible.

Hope this is clearer than mud......

Often people chose to put the sides on first just because of length, if you add the top & bottom first the length of the sides can be quite long, since the quilt is often longer than wide adding the sides first adds to the width instead of the length. If it’s a square quilt it doesn’t matter.
Such as a quilt that is 63” x 72” and you are putting 4” borders on— if you put them on the top & bottom first you need 80” long side borders. If you put the sides on first they are only 72” & the top & bottom are 71” so 2 yards handles all 4 borders.

I just like the "look" I get when I put the sides on first, then the top. It's just how I started to do it. I think either way works!

I usually do the sides first (I think?). Maybe I switch it up? LOL I guess I haven't really thought about it.

I do the sides first. Years ago I read in a quilt book to do the top and bottom first. Don't remember when I changed.

I always use WOF cuts for borders and binding and join with diagonal seam. Once it is finished I can't tell until I really look for the joins.

I, typically, do sides first....saves fabric and is easier to to lug around...personal preference and how I was trained. When you do mitered corners, it doesn't matter.

I usually do sides first; then top and bottom. It is personal preference, I guess.

My longarmer tells me it's better tô do the sides first... then do top & bottom. As there's pulls when quilting at the ends of all the corners. Makes sense?

I do the sides first and then the top and bottom for no other reason than I like the way it looks. I piece my borders so it doesn't make any difference with the amount of material I use. There is really no right or wrong way but rather the way you like.

How many borders do you want?

I like 3.
1.The inner border is the same as the background fabric and is about 3-4 inches wide.
2. The middle border is the framing border and is the darkest color used in the quilt. Cut about 2 inches makes a 1 1/2 border.
3. The outer border can be quite varied. It can have piecing in it or be plain or be scalloped. I like a medium to dark, but not as dark as the framing border.

When I put them on..(Now this is just my opinion and there is no Gospel here), I like to alternate the sequence.

Inner border put on sides first, then framing border top and bottom first, then outer one sides first. If you do not do this, then your corners are weaker, (I think). By alternating you don't get the stacked effect.

Marcia

I also put my sides on first then the top and bottom. I just like the finished look better.

I have found, over the years, that if I have a limited amount of my border fabric, I do better putting on the long sides first. If I have a lot of fabric, it does not seem to matter.

I've never thought about it until I read your question. There's a different look one gets if the sides go first or the top and bottom go first. If I want the quilt to appear visually longer then I do the top and bottom first so that the sides are one long length. Sometimes I do top, side, bottom, side. If I have enough fabric then I miter the borders and then it doesn't matter which is sewn on first.

If you miter your corners it doesn't make a bit of difference.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]591356[/ATTACH]Here is a pic of the corner of a three bordered quilt. The inner border is the same as the background fabric, then the darkest framing border and then an outside border. They were cut 3 1/2; 2 1/2 and 6 inches. It's just what I had and I like to make queen sized quilts. I hope you can see that the sequence of sewing them on looks like a brick corner, interlocking. Marcia

It "seams" that the sides have won. Thanks for the advice. As I said, this was just more of a curiosity question than anything. Now, when I think about it, I do my sides first.

I never thought about that before, but it makes sense.

And thanks, Battle Axe, for your explanation of the 3 corner theory. That makes sense to me too.

I always do the sides first and then the top. I just like that look best.

Ditto here! Sounds like we're in the majority!

I always put on the longest ones first - I don't know why. That's just what I do