"Easing" a Border
 

I have a pieced border that is slightly less than an inch too long, over a five foot length. Is it possible to ease this in? Or will it make the whole border wavy?
Should I mark it at the midpoint and ease 1/2 an inch through on either side? Or will it matter?
I can't take a piece out to change the length.

Watson

I would make the order the right length. Easing it could very well result in a wavy border. Can you just make a few seams a bit bigger?

I'm with Dunster. take up the inch in smidges here and there at the seams.

You don't say how long the border is, but the longer, the better for easing that much in.

Also, remember things will work to your advantage if you sew the seam with the "baggy" on the bottom, since feed dogs are pushing fabric through on the bottom side.

Easing it in will probably make the border wavy. I'm with Dunster & sewNso, make the border fit with smidges larger seams.
Another option is to add a spacer 1" border on the body or 2 1/2" borders

i'm with dunster and sewnso... make the border block seams a little bigger

yeah, while I'd be trying hard to figure out a reason NOt to re-do--I definitely agree with Dunster. almost an inch is quite alot to ease in. Can you just adjust some of the seams on the pieced border to take up--maybe adjust several seams so you are taking up little in several spots--would only need 5 spots over the whole border if you took up 1/8" inch at each seam for 5/8", etc.

I'm having trouble seeing how I would adjust the seams on the border, as they are all paper pieced on an angle and criss-crossed. Have to give this some more thought.

Watson

1" is way too much to ease in. Especially if you plan on loading this on a frame, it will cause you untold amounts of angst and grief. Yes it will also result in wavy edges. I speak from experience here.

Are all 4 of your pieced borders too big? If so then you can put a narrow inner border to account for it as petthefabric suggested. If you post a pic of it we may be able to offer some other suggestions.

I had a similar issue and the ladies at the lqs suggested I spray the top of my quilt with a lightweight starch and give it a good pressing while stretching a bit. I had to do it twice, but I managed to make it stretch enough for my borders to fit.