Joanns sells 1/4 inch masking tape to use in outline quilting. Makes that outline stitch nice and easy to get straight. Just don't leave it on too long,(more than a day or two) and DO NOT iron over it! It will leave a permanent residue if you do.

Quote:How wide should I make this inner border? And the outer border - I was thinking of making it the same width as a charm - sound ok?Quote]


That's the beauty of being the quilt creator -- YOU are Queen of the Quilt -- whatever pleases your eyes. Enjoy.

I would suggest smaller is better. No more than 2" maybe even 1 1/2 to finish 1".

I sometimes do two inner borders 1" finished in a very dark and then a 1.5" finished, then the outer border. Don't always do borders though, some I like without any at all

I went to sew on some four patch blocks on to my wall hanging anf thought I better use my walking foot- now this is my first quilt- but I read a lot, I tool off my 1/4" foot and realized I wouldn't have a guide, so I put a piece of tape exactly where the 1/4" would be. I started sewing away and got "motor overload" and my Viking diamond stopped. I finally switched back to the 1/4" foot and then realized I had put the tape over the feed dogs!! Okay I had my laugh, but really, with such a big foot, why don't they put a mark on the foot since it has to be so big and quilter are so anal? It came out well so fay anyway, and I am going to do some fancy freemotion stuff on it with the help of Patsy Thompsons DVD's. It's just for me, so it will be a practice piece, but I'm really looking forward to it. I'll post a pic when I'm done. I just had to give you all a laugh for the day!

Same here
:)

I've read or heard that the borders should be divisable or multiple of your block size. i.e. If your block is 4-1/2" then your small border should be 2-1/4" ... or 4-1/2" or 6-3/4"????? Just a thought.

Yes, use your walking foot if you can.

I don't think anyone has mentioned this, since I just scanned the replys. But one thing I think about when deciding the width of my borders is also...how will I quilt it? I'm a hand quilter and have a number of border stencils. I sometimes adjust my border by a half inch or so to make it fit the border pattern I will quilt in it.

You can get blue painter tape a Lowes/HD that comes in different widths from 1/4- 3 inh. This will give you straight lines of different widths. It comes up easily and leaves no residue. Also it can be used many times before stickness wears off. I am hooked on it. YES use a walking foot since it feeds the fabric evenly on top and bottom with no puckers.

I usually always do a I inch border It shows off the blocks like a picture in a frame