Hidden Wells Quilt
 

I just finished my Hidden Wells top, and I want to add a border, do any of you have any suggestions on how to add the border without getting ripples since it is all on the bias. Thanks, Sandy

I've done several Hidden Wells quilts, and I do my borders just like any other quilts I do. Measure across the middle both for the width and the length, pin the borders in place, and stitch! It will ease in and ripples will disappear if you by chance have any, which you really shouldn't have, if you haven't stretched on the biased edges. My favorite one I've done so far was all in neutral colors... a gift for a dear friend of mine, which I called "Sands Of Time", which describes our friendship.

It is a beautiful quilt - I am sure it will be treasured.

Madan49, that quilt is exquisite.

As far as the borders,starch helps stabilize the bias edges, handle carefully, measure, pin, sew. But I haven't made that pattern, and so I don't understand why the edges would be on the bias. Aren't they cut like setting triangles for any quilt that's set on point?

Here's a trick that I developed when I had my first top with bias edges. I freely share it with the QB.
It uses narrow twill tape, found in the hem tape/blanket binding/rick rack section at Joann's.

Twill tape has NO stretch and is narrow enough to be sewn into the seam allowance along the edges. You will need several packs to go around a large quilt, measure before buying.

This graphic was drawn for a braided border, but can be used in a similar way for any bias border. Carefully ease tape onto the edges of the quilt and sew it down. Include it into the seam allowance when the next borders or the binding is added.

Jan in VA

Dunster, every block in this pattern is quartered diagonally, and then reset to form the pattern, and you end up with a lot of bias edges... trust me. LOL! It's not THAT difficult if you're careful, but it does mean you have to pay attention not to stretch everything out of kilter as you work. But it's one of my favorite patterns... very versatile and choice of fabrics can change it from fun to elegant with a flick of the wrist. You should try it!

What a beautiful quilt! I have the pattern but have never made it. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks to everyone. I don't think I stretched it any while sewing, I was real careful. It turned out so cute that I just wanted to get somebody else's opinion before I tried to sew a border on. I did a Spider Web quilt top from feed sacks and it rippled so bad when I sewed the border on, I took it off and it still is hanging in the closet, still has no borders. Thanks again for the suggestions.

I find that if you're working on a quilt that has basis edges, to starch the heck out of the fabric beforehand. I'm working on a Smith Mountain by Bonnie Hunter and I didn't starch any of it and am regretting it greatly. Won't make that mistake again. Also someone gave me the suggestion once when I found I had stretched my quilt when I it was on the frame to steam it and that should get rid of some if not all the extra fabric. I tried it and it worked like a charm for me.