help with how to cut a length of fabric border
 

I've tried looking online for either a tutorial or instructions on how to cut a length of fabric border but nothing i've found so far is helpful. I have a directional fabric I want to cut length of fabric but don't have a lot of extra fabric and want to do it right the first time.

well i've torn some the length, then trimmed the torn edge off. (that's how I cut my thumb badly, he, he.)

Depending on the design, make sure that you note where the repeats are - and plan accordingly.

I prefer to have all four sides have the "same" part of the design showing - or at least have opposite sides have the same.

I think it looks "odd" when one side is different from the rest of them.

Even some patterned - supposedly all-over - prints, have subtle striping in them.

OMG - I would never have thought of this. Thank you!

Any time I have had directional fabric I want to cut length for border I do one layer. no folds and just slide the fabric along as I cut it, 24" at a time (that is my longest ruler size.). If it is a border print I follow the border design, even if it is printed slightly off grain. If it is a directional design, I also cut a single layer but use my ruler, not the printed design.

I'm a ripper for borders. But I'm usually using a solid where the print doesn't matter.

When I did this for my mom's quilt, I laid the fabric out on a flat surface (floor, kitchen island, conference table at work--whatever you can find). Using a 6" x 24" ruler, I drew a chalk line all the way down the first side of the area I wanted to capture (I was cutting parallel to the selvage as I didn't want seams in this border). Once I had the first side marked all the way down the length of the fabric, I measured over the desired width and drew the second line. Once both chalk lines were in place, I could then draw the other three in the same position relative to the print across the rest of the fabric.

It took a fair amount of time (and hyperventilating!) to avoid a cutting mistake (I had just enough fabric but not enough to correct if I miscut). In the end, it was worth the effort because the flowers in the print are centered in the border's width, which was the goal.

Good luck with your border!

Couple of thoughts here. First, do you have a reasonably large piece of the same fabric that you can tear to see if the design is printed on grain? If so, once tested I would then tear my border lengths with a tad extra on width to trim torn edges. If you are looking to get a specific section of the directional print lined up with your quilt, I would also do as Terri D suggests re measuring. But instead of cutting, if the design is printed correctly relative to the grain of the fabric I would still tear. If the design is printed off-grain, then I would follow Terri D's recommendations.

Adding a picture of part of the quilt and the border fabric.