Help! I'm too stupid to figure this out!
 

Seriously, I cannot brain today I has the dumb! I am making a pieced backing for a table runner top and cannot seriously figure out how to cut the border and backing pieces. I want to use a separate color for the center of the backing piece and add borders. Sounds easy. Don't know why I can't figure this out but today, no matter what I do, I'm just stuck.

My borders are 2.5 inches what the heck size do I need for the center if my top measures 62.5x16? Should the center piece be 60.5 x 14?

60.5 + 2.5 =63 and then you lose the 1/2 inch right? and the width would be 14 + 2.5 = 16.5 and then lose the 1/2 inch

Seriously, I cannot believe I cannot figure this out. I get brain fog really bad and today is that day. Ugh!!!:mad::thumbdown::hunf:

draw it out on graph paper. I use it at times and it really helps.

Don't forget that you'll want to add the typical amount (4-6") around the edges for ease of quilting. So your borders would be 2.5 plus 5 (if you're having 5" all around). But I think you're correct about your center measurement being 60.5 x 14.

Thank you! I don't need it to really be much bigger all the way around as it's just a table runner and I am only doing a simple outline for finish quilting. The top is pretty just as it is so I'm not going to go crazy with actual quilting. It's also going to have the binding so having it measure up equally is going to be just fine for this case. I wouldn't do it for an actual quilt that way but for table runners it always works out fine.

Geesh I have no idea where my brain is today. Anyone seen a brain lying around? Seriously, if they did a CT Scan, I would probably find out I really have noodles instead! LOL!

Don't you lose 1 inch, 1/2 for each side? Left border 1/2, right border 1/2, (for one left to right) top border 1/2, bottom border 1/2 (for one top to bottom)?

I was just thinking this same thing. It's not a 1/2" is it because there is nothing attaching on the outside edges. I am losing 1/4 inch on the middle piece and border piece on both sides and the top and bottom. So, the middle piece will lose 1/4 all the way around because of the added border pieces and the borders will lose a 1/4 inch when attached to the middle piece.

Does that make sense?

Each seam is a 1/2 inch loss (2, 1/4 inch seam allowances per seam) you will have 2 seams in each direction.

Right. So, if it needs to be 62.5 x 16 and the borders are 2.5" cut, then what does the middle piece need to be cut to?

Maybe draw out the back with the "finished" measurements - and then add the seam allowances on?

See attached drawing.

Assumptions: that the dimensions given are for the size of the top right now

that you want the borders to be 2.5 inch

I would cut the center piece 58 x 11-1/2

Some days things just don't "click" - or "clack" - for that matter.