Explain this:
 

I'm adding borders on a quilt top. When I measured for the first border my numbers for the length were: Top: 89.25 Middle: 89 and Bottom: 89.25. I cut the borders at 89 and sewed them on. Then I measured the quilt for the second border and my measurements became: Top: 93.5 Middle: 94.5 Bottom: 93.5.
How did middle measurement become an inch larger than the others? The strips were all cut at the same width and I used the same seam allowance.
What should I cut these borders at? Use the middle measurement? Average?

use average and ease in the borders.

Agree 100 %

To help ease in the borders, should they go on the bottom (next to the feed dogs)?

First, measure again to be sure you got it right. It's easy to make a mistake when you are measuring anything larger than a yard or so. Also be sure you're not stretching the quilt while you measure and that it's pressed evenly. It's not terribly unusual to have an inch difference, since just 1/16 of an inch difference in each seam, spread over 16 seams, equals an inch.

Usually the part that is longer and needs to be eased in is put next to the feed dogs.

If you ease the borders you'll likely get wavy borders.

Yes, you want the bulkier fabric next to the feed dogs to help with the ease. Another trick I saw on a sewing program long ago was to hold your finger behind the presser foot and let a bit of the seam length bunch up tightly behind the presser foot. With a seam that long, let go and repeat as often as necessary. That and the feed dogs should help ease the excess. But I also agree - re-measure. It sounds awfully odd that your dimensions would be off that much after adding a single border.

It sounds like you did everything right. You measured the quilt top, averaged the measurement for the borders and eased in the top to the border fabric. I have no idea why the middle suddenly is wider than the top and bottom. Good luck!

That happens to me all the time! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one.

Which border did yo sew first? If you did the top and bottom first and then the sides this would make sense to me. I always have odd measurments because I often go off on my own and do my own thing so it is not the pattern size it should be.

I was taught to --- I guess the word I am looking for -- was to square up the quilt before adding the next border. If the first border was lets say 2" it should be 1 -3/4"after sewing it on. Lay your ruler on it and trim to 1-3/4" all the way
Around.

me too!
 

I'm feeling the same pain! I was working last night to get a Christmas table topper that was all cut out--it's a hexagon so lots of large triangles. I've even made the pattern before! But nothing fits--finally gave up and went to watch Christmas movies with my hubbie instead. Going to try to figure out where I went wrong now--maybe the "brownies" have remeasure and fixed things for me overnight!

For my borders I measure the sides first and cut those border strips the average of the 2 measurements (I don't measure the middle). Apply them and press. Then I measure the top and bottom, average, apply and press. There are several factors that will affect different measurements. If you iron instead of press, your fabric can stretch. If you are using a "plastic" measuring tape, they can stretch. Laying the quilt on any surface can result in an area being stretched. We aren't talking about any major amounts in any of these, but it can cause the quilter to be frustrated and confused. Just do your best.

I agree!on the wavy borders. The quilting police will hunt you down and make you do it over! LOL

Thanks for posting about squaring up a quilt.

To answer your question of how it happened -- quilt gremlins!

They strike all of us at one time or other. Gotta be diligent. Down with quilt gremlins!

I don't know if they'll hunt you down and make you do it over but they'll definitely snicker behind your back.

Easing in is another way to say gathering. If you do enough gathering it's really ruffling. If you want flat borders ruffling is definitely not the way to go.

I see others have given you great advice for measuring and adding your borders so I hope this is not a repeat of helpful tips. When adding borders I pin at the two ends and in the middle. If the quilt is large I will divide it up even more and pin those spots. I also add about a 1/2" of border beyond the ends to allow for squaring-up at the corners (hope that makes sense).

Aside from the measuring, which it sounds like you did right, did you "Starch" or use "Best Press" or somthing similar? I've found it really makes a difference in the accuracy of everything I've done since I've started using Best Press....

Measure twice and cut once. I usually cut my borders a little longer just in case. I would use the longest measurement and cut off the extra as you sew the borders on. Sorry for your problem. No explanation for why this happened.

Make sure you sew from the middle out on both sides. If pinned well, you should be able to ease in the extra. Good luck.

Yu are right on the money with using easing to fix borders. I can confirm the wavy borders after easing in too much. Do you have some hints to avoid this? Sure is frustrating. Glad you brought this up.
Susan

The first thing is to start with a quilt that is square. I generally have less than a quarter of an inch difference between left, center and right. To get my quilts that even I don't put them together in rows. I make four patches out of the blocks and then turn those into giant four patches and so on until I have the quilt in four quarters and sew the two top halves and the two bottom halves together and then I just have one long row to sew. I started putting my quilts together that way because I really hated sewing long row after long row.

Once I have a square top I cut and piece side borders long enough. I pin the border on starting at the center and I pin every six inches or so. I do not measure. Then I sew the border to the top with the top next to the feed dogs. The feed dogs will always ease that side slightly. After both sides are on I press them and trim the ends off using my biggest square ruler. Then I add the top borders using the same method.

Hi, I just had some problems with borders, and to make matters worse the perimeter of my my quilt was all on the bias. I did use a lot of starch and instead of measuring with a tape measure, which was really messing me up, I used toilet paper. No I cannot tell you the length or width in inches, but I marked and cut the toilet paper the same size as the middle measurement on my quilt. To me it was easier than using a tape measure. Peace and Joy this Christmas

Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville site has a real good explaination of doing borders to fit. Quiltville.com love her site