I always do the sides first too, for the reason Judy stated about the amount of fabric. Even if I am using cornerstone blocks I do the sides first.

Sides on first for me. Reason- the books I've been using tell me to do it that way. :-)

If I am doing a square quilt I've gone around like you would a log cabin. I usually do sides then top & bottom also though.

It's a matter of preference....but I put sides on first. It's more eye appealing to me for the top and bottom border to extend to the edge of the quilt.

It's a matter of preference....but I put sides on first. It's more eye appealing to me for the top and bottom border to extend to the edge of the quilt. I've cut those darn borders a few times and ended up with borders too short...then I can always use those for the top and bottom and still have enough fabric.

Are you thinking of the binding? That goes on after quilting.

If I'm doing square corners on my borders, then I put the longer sides on first, whether it be the top and bottom, or the sides.

If I'm mitering corners, which is my preference, I just put two opposites on, then the other two, because there is NO way to tell in the end.

The square corners definitely look different.

Kara

Hmmmmm well I kinda meant those that have been quilting for 100 years or so.......and always know best, you know what I mean . LOL LOL

I think (now mind you, I'm not even close to being an expert) that the reason most people put the sides on first is that the quilts themselves are usually rectangular in shape, with the "long" edges being the sides. So if you put the sides on first (unless you are mitering), you will use less material than if you put the top and bottom on (length + width of border instead of just the length)

Did I explain my thought clearly enough? :oops:

Yes, you did, Lee, and that's probably true. But if I am making a horizontal wall hanging, no matter what the size, I still put the sides on first, for I want the top and bottom border pieces to go edge to edge. For me, it's all visual.