Borders Help
 

Hi all,

I am making my Grandson a spiderman quilt and I am at the borders. It seems that my borders are coming out wonky. I am being carful to just glide it threw but it has happend on each side I have done. not sure what I am doing wrong ? Help... Blossom

I think we're supposed to measure through the middle vertically and horizontally of the quilt and cut borders per that and if the quilt is a little longer on the sides and top than the measurement, ease it into the border. Wait on someone else to tell you the answer.

Barny is right. Measure vertically in the center to get the measurements for your side borders. After you have the side borders on, measure horizontally through the center to get the size to cut your top and bottom borders.

Pin the borders on starting in the center, then sew with the quilt top next to the feed dogs and the border on top.

and perhaps you could make your stitch length a bit longer or use a walking foot to ease the fabric more. good luck.

Thank you. What I have been doing is, Taking my border and sewing from the top down. With the border on top and quilt next to the feed dogs. Then I cut it to size. Is that what I am doing wrong. I should pin from center then sew. I am not pinning it at all. Just sewing it on. So that is wrong ? ok Next border I will pin from center down. Thanks again for your help. Take Care Blossom

if you don't measure the quilt and then cut the border, you'll end up with a ruffle.

Yes that is what happened. lol

Some quilters take three measurements horizontally (and vertically), top, center and bottom. Then they take the average to cut the borders. (Hopefully thay are not too far off in these places.) pin them and make them fit! Don't cut anything off.

You can also sew from the center of the border to the end. Sew the first half and then turn the top over to do the other end from the center out. I do this all the time.
peace

Yes, definitely measure and pin your border. I used to do the same as you, but my borders come out much better now that I take the time to measure, cut and pin everything.

I do mine like Bonnie Hunter from http://www.quiltville.com

I lay out my quilt, layout the border fabric in the center of it, smooth it down and cut off the extra. If it is longer than my table, I pin it every so often so it doesn't shift, then I fold it up a bit at one end until the rest fits on the table, then finish smoothing and cut off the extra. What she says is that measuring tapes don't drape the same way that the fabric does. I've been doing mine this way for a while and I never have wavy borders. She's got a "printer friendly" version of the instructions on her website. Here is the link:

http://quiltville.com/borderhintspf.html

One of the guests on one of my quilting shows said she always sews the quarter inch seam on her border piece before attaching it to the rest of the quilt. (you will sew over it again, when attaching.)
It's like stay stitching and she says it keeps her from ever having wonky borders.
I haven't tried it yet, but I've sewn clothing all my life and stay stitching is an awesome technique.
I hope it works out for you :thumbup:

Also helps to fold the quilt in half and mark with pin then do the same with the binding. Match the pins together and insert pin to hold. Divide the halves on either side of the center in half and do the same thing. Pin every so often in between then sew. If there was ever a time to use pins it's now, in my humble opinion.

Try using a walking foot so both top and bottom pull evenly.

I use pins and quarter in the middle and then between the middle and the edge. I also measure in the middle to get the right length and width. It works every time.
Deb hope this helps