Fustrated.......pieced border!
 

So I'm venting a minute because this is the second time I have to stop and breathe over this border strip. I'm not this dense I know I'm not!!! So I needed to make two border strips 2 1/2 by 62 I cut and sewed, they turned out great then I realized I measured wrong and was short 1 1/2" on each so I thought ok not that bad and next time wait to have someone hold the other end of the measuring tape so it's accurate. When I piece my border strips I do them on the diagonal so i cut an extra piece for each one 5" thinking that's more then enough since I only need 1 1/2" ....can you believe I'm still 1/2" short??? I know it has to do with piecing them on the diagonal and I should have double checked. So I probably have already answered my question and will cut it all off and do it again since I have extra fabric...but still...ever feel like a quilt is fighting you the whole way and WINNING! To top it off this was a finished UFO top that I never quilted because I never liked it so I'm fixing it and am trying to get it ready to be quilted Monday if it would cooperate already!!! Thanks for letting me vent, Rachel

LOL...Been there...done that. Sometimes you just need to walk away for a bit then come back..

Stop piecing them on the diagonal and you won't have that problem. There is no actual reason to piece borders on the diagonal and it wastes fabric.

Been there also. One time I added a pieced block to the corners so the border being short was a good thing. It really added a better finish to the quilt.

I think a block on the cornor is a good idea and will solve the problem. I also piece my borders on the diagonal because I like the look better than straight across. I know it takes more fabric but if I like the look better I guess it is worth it.

I like piecing the borders on the diagonal also. You usually have to really look to see the seams and that is a plus in my book.

I never piece anything on the diagonal....once it's quilted, the seams become virtually invisible....and you save yourself time, fabric and piece of mind!

I piece on the diagonal also. I like the looks of. I just feel like I can always spot a straight seam in a border, just my opinion. I know it takes extra fabric but I bank on that when I buy the fabric and then I just put the scraps in my ever growing scrap pile!

Isn't it great that we can each do it the way we prefer and they all turn out just the way we want them....eventually!

I have read books that recommended piecing the border on the bias to make the pattern flow better. I've never used one of the gorgeous big borders (because I never seem to have the perfect fabric), so I've never tried it. However, I do have a question. Doesn't this introduce stretchiness where you least want it, on the outside of the quilt? I have never quilted something with bias on the outside edge, but I wonder if this is a problem when quilting, especially for longarmers who need to stretch the fabric on a frame?

How very frustrating!!! The corner block may well be a good idea. I am guessing but 1. try pressing again and see it the results change. 2. You are off 2% per inch. That probably translates to a 1 thread seam allowance error.

thanks ladies!!! I always love this board....To answer a few ??'s yes I agree I do like the look on the diagonal, it's a personal thing. I have pieced in the straight and since I quilt for me and I can see it I avoid it lol but have no judgement for others!! I have never had a stretch problem but it's the way I was taught and I was taught to be careful as well with the bias. I'm amazed at what I learn here and the differances and trust me I have used many tips and tricks on here! I just needed someone to understand my frustration my family sometimes looks at me like I have grown three heads lol. you wonderful ladies and I have coffee every morning thanks again!! Rachel

I lay my border pieces on top of the quilt center across and up and down, Lightly run my hand over the border to get to the same length as the top, cut it and do the same with other end. I then pin top in center, then pin halfway to the center pin on each end, do the same with the border, pin together and hold at each pin and sew, match up the ends and sew to the end. Sometimes this will take up a bit of fabric without puckering anything. I piece on diagonal and it never stretches. I have also had to attach a bit of fabric to lengthen tha border. Not noticeable until you look really close. I hope this helps and gives you an idea of possible fixes.

I miter the binding strips but not the border pieces. When short, a corner block is a nice addition.

If your border is 2.5 inches wide you'll lose a 2.5 inch square for every diagonal seam. 6.5 inches, lose a 6.5 inch square, etc, etc. Plus the seam allowance.

I agree with QuiltingCrazie that we all have our preferred methods and isn't that a nice thing. I like diagonal seams best. I took a class where the instructor said don't bother with the tape measure. Put the strips of border fabric across the middle of the quilt making sure all is smooth and not stretched, and whack them off. You then have two same size border pieces that you can ease in on the top and bottom. Do same for sides. Or sides first, etc.

Scissor Queen thanks for the formula.

URGHHHH! Been there done that.

piece your lengths together first, either on diagonal or straight seam, THEN measure the length of the strip to match the length of the quilt.

She's probably piecing them on the diagonal for the design factor and that is the best reason of all for any decision on a quilt. A regular border might very well be very ho hum boring.

I piece on the diagonal as like the look better but either ay works as it is your quilt.

there is some kind of formula for figuring the length of a piece to be cut diagonally.......I think it is something like add the width of the piece of fabric twice then add an inch........to get the proper length.........not sure, as I cut border, sash pieces straight..only use the added length rule when I am planning mitered corner...which is rare......only if fabric actually has a "line" to it.....

I, also, use the diagonal seam because I feel it is less noticeable.

I found this way the easiest .Once in a while before I used this method I had slightly wavy borders when I gave myself extra then whacked it off.

Maybe it knows you don't like it, so it's giving you a hard time! LOL!

Yes!!!!!!!

Ok, OK, OK,now I have to see one!!!!! I don't think I've ever seen a pieced, diagional boder. Does anyone have pics??

I do what paulswalia does, piece the borders together first, then measure and cut them to fit the quilt. Even when I don't piece them I pin them on before I cut. It is SO EASY to come up short.

Sorry that's for the binding. I do what the others do piec them then measure the quilt in the middle and cut them to size.

Amen to that.

I piece mine on the diagonal because (1) I like the look (2) It reduces bulk and (3) I want that fabric to know it can't win! froggyintexas

Are you intending to cut your borders from the length of your fabric------------or do you use WOF and piece it? Being the chicken hearted person that I am, I just start sewing-------------when I get to the end of my seam------------then I cut---------and leave a tad to spare just in case.

Hi quilting crazie, during the holidays of 2011 I started to make a quilt for a really sick child (cancer) I made it a simple design, thought a month tops it would take. Well around thanksgiving the quilt just did not want to be made ( it was my plan to have it done before thanksgiving). I put pieces together and took them apart so many times I just gave up I figured the quilt just did not want to be made. I put it all away cleaned up my sewing room that I use for big dinners set the room up for the 20 plus people. 3 weeks later took the quilt out again and it still did not want to be put together. Finally by the end of january I was able to take it to the little girl and her grandpa. She rreally loves it and plays with it every day. The quilt is titled "Dreams do come true" I used disney fabrics. SOOOOooo I guess what I am saying maybe what you are working on is not ready to be created. ;~)

I've done that too, come up short. But usually just because I runout of fabric. I do what be of the other quilters said - piece the border, sew it on and THEN cut. If you pin in on right, you won't have any problem stretching or waviness. Also, if I don't have enough fabric, I have added pieces of the fabric I used in the design, into the border, as if I had planned it that way all along. I did this with a Bargello quilt, and I got a lot of compliments on the border.

Think we have all had days like that. But you have to show this quilt who is boss!!! lol

As a friend always said "There are no mistakes, just creative possibilities". I live by this and have made so many mistakes that turn out better than if they were planned. I made a baby sampler and this time the name across the top turned out awful. The design I had done was so stitch intensive I hated to lose it, so I cut the fabric out across the top, got a new piece of fabric and joined it with a decorative machine stitch - it turned out adorable. The next name was so much better.
I tried to add a border to a quilt to enlarge it, had nothing but small pieces left of the fabric, and I can't go into describing what I did it was so involved, but that border is my very most favorite of all I've ever done.
So, yea for mistakes, you can improve it.

Are you measuring your quilt thru the center for your borders or along the edge? Measure thru the center
I do that, put a pin in if I am using a shorter tape measure and then add the two figures together to get the
right measurement. I have done borders on the diagonal and cut them the correct measurement. Sometimes
I don't want to do that and I purchase enough fabrice to cut them without piecing and then cut the correct measurement. This keeps your borders from waving. The only time I have pieced borders straight is
when I used a stripe and wanted it to match instead of having the 45 degree angle.

this is what I do and I had the problem of the border being too short on my daughters quilt. Put a corner block and it not only finished it off nicely, I was able to have thier brand embroidered on each corner.