Does anyone know how to go about making a wavy border? I don't want to spend money on a book or templates and can figure the math part out. I guess I am looking for the how to sew part and/or suggestions. I did a google search and didn't find much that was helpful. For instance, do I cut the waves before or after I sew the border on? Is it better to go ahead and quilt it, then cut the waves into the border? I did read that it's easier to sew the binding before cutting ~ anyone tried that?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! :)

i've never done it, but i would imagine it would be better to cut your wavy border strips before you sew them on...that way if a mistake is made, you can just recut a border instead of having to fix everything.

I have a border book - it says to sketch your wave on some paper (to scale) to determine where you want the high curves and low curves. This actually applies if you are making applique wavy border pieces on a your border background. I think the same technique could be used to do a wavy border and just mark your strips with the templates and cut.

1.Cut your border strips, and make a plastic template from the paper drawing, adding 1/4 " seam allowance to the long flat edge only and identify the center of the shape.
2.On the right side of the fabric border strip, mark 1/4" in from each end and the center. This allows for seam allowance and identifies where you will be and end the design.
3.Place the template on one end of the border at the 1/4" mark, tracing the curve andmarking the beginning and center of each repeat shape in the seam allowance. These markings will help make any adjustments at the center area, by lengthening or shorting the center curve. Work from both ends to the center.

From there it says to applique, but for your purpose, you could just cut out the shape you have marked on the fabric.

Hope this helps!

and for copyright police, I got this info from Borders, Bindings, Edgings: the art of finishing your quilt by Sally Collins :D

I mean kind of like scalloped, but longer space between the curves...not as formal looking I guess. Not freeform, but somewhere in between.

Thanks for the instructions. I could do this and make a wavy inner border. I hadn't thought of that. It might actually be easier to do it that way. I could attach the inner border to the outer border and treat it as one piece.

Any idea how this differs from a scalloped border? I did see instructions of how to measure/cut, but not much on how to best attach it.

I used a saucer as a template to make the scallops for a wallhanging border. I remember the corners taking a lot of time to figure out, if I remember right, start at each corner to make the scallops.

Did you cut before or after you sewed it?

I may have something (pattern) in my acrobat....PM you email and I'll try and find it

This is on the idea of what I want to do. I was pretty limited in PowerPoint on the wavy part, but it gives you an idea anyway.

Look on Quilt In A Day website. I believe Eleanor Burns has a template. for wavy borders that makes it really easy.

You can buy a long wavy ruler, one size has bigger waves than the other, not sure what brand our guild has one, I will find out tomorrow for you if I can :D

Here's a link to it!!

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://softexpressions.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/nN/WaveEdge50.jpg&imgrefurl=http://softexpressions.com/software/...zNeXEbpDbP6MeM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=40&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dolfa%2Bwavy%2Bborder%2Brule%26ndsp%3D 20%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4SUNA_enES268ES269%26sa%3DN %26start%3D20%26um%3D1

Just scroll down quite a bit and click on the link to it, it's on the right hand side of the page :D

my quilt borders typically have odd shapes.

i don't cut the odd shapes until i'm done with the top this way nothing stretches out of shape.

i'll square up the quilt top - then i fold it in half lengthwise lining up the border for both sides and then i cut the shape, then i fold it in half widthwise lining up the border for both sides and then i cut the shape.


i do my border shaping free hand with the rotary cutter you don't need a ruler to cut a wavy line and by folding the quilt and lining up the border you'll achieve an exact copy on each side.

I like that wavy ruler, but don't want to spend that much. I think I will draft my own pattern. Maybe I can do something on the computer and replicate it onto a long sheet of paper.

I did speak with someone at my LQS, who also suggested sewing first and cutting after. Makes more sense to me that way to help prevent distortion.

Thanks for the ideas! :) I won't be able to work on it till the weekend, but will post a picture when I get it done (or close).

i may have missed this while i was gone but has anyone suggested finishing the waves by using a facing instead of binding? this would keep the off-grain curved edges from, hmm, waving.

simply cut another layer of fabric, backing or coordinating, using the existing edges as a template. sew, right sides together, 1/4" from raw edge, clip where absolutely necessary, turn, topstitch or handstitch 1/4" in from the edge to hold in place and hem on the back. makes a nice frame if you use a different fabric than the quilt back. this is a commonly used method for finishing an odd-shaped edge.

If I try this, what about the batting? Do I need to trim it back more to reduce the bulk?

go to:

http://www.adventurequilter.com/

choose 'learn with ellen'

choose 'free articles -directory'

choose 'facing' (about 1/2 way down the list).

she gives three methods. i like method three.

in answer to your question, the edge stitching holds everything done, so plan some decorative stitching close to the edge. maybe just follow the wave once or twice.

http://pir8.freeservers.com/quilting/

This is the best site EVER for instructions on how to do most things. Go half way down the page and you will see a section of four different finishes for wavy edges.

Hope this helps......

Have you thought about using freezer paper? Measure your border, cut freezer paper to that length, fold the freezer paper the number of times you want your repeat and work from there. The links given above probably tell you the same thing, but I have dial up here at home and didn't check them out. BTW you can cut the freezer paper in stips the width you need and you should be able to make 2 patterns and use them for opposite borders! Hope this makes some sense. :?