Joining strips together for a border or log cabin?
 

I am working on a simple quilt (supposed to be!). I need to join strips of the same fabric together for longer strips. I am wondering if they should be joined on an angle like binding strips or just put the right sides together and make a seam.(kind of like a border when strips are not long enough) Thanks

I would join them straight since its a border.

If I have enough fabric I always join at an angle. If I am short on the fabric I join with a straight seam.

The theory is that the angled seam is less eye catching with most prints. Especially once quilted.

I have found this to be true with most prints but some prints show no matter what unless you take the time and effort to match it (something I won't do). Solids show no matter what style seam you use but it can be camouflaged with quilting.

I don't think I've ever joined border fabrics on an angle. Always use straight seams. But I will also agree, that depending on the fabric design, angle and matching might be less distracting by using an angled seam.

I always join at an angle.

Watson

Angle because it is less noticseable. The eye will stop at a straight and not at an angle. There are times that fabric is short on borders and binding and I will join at whatever angle can be done. An angle less than 45 degree, in my opinion, is better than straight.

When I am joining fabric for width if I can do an angle I do, not only is it less noticeable but in my opinion more stable than a "butt joint".

If it is a border then I look at the rest of the quilt and also what I'm using for my fabric. If the quilt was all butt joints and no angles, then unless I was working with a stripe I'd most likely put the long sides on first, then the top and bottom.

Thanks. I am using both solids and prints . Yes I might just butt ends. I guess quilting will distract and because it is log cabin style I should be ok.

I use either one. If I do a straight seam I make it about 1/2-1" at the join.

I have a Lover's Knot booklet by Eleanor Burns where she uses straight seams. I figure if she does it then I can too.

I always join them straight. They seem to get too stretchy using the angle. Having said that, it could be me that's the problem!

I always join the strips on an angle as I think it looks better and lays a little better too.

I do my border joining on the diagonal, also do the same for sashings.

I don't like the angled join. For one thing, it's a longer seam, so More noticeable. For another thing, it's on the bias, and may ripple. It doesn't make any sense to me.

I've never joined strips at an angle, only for binding. I don't have experience so i will just tell you that doing them straight has worked well for me.

I've always joined using the 45 degree angle, even my borders. I know that means I'll be wasting fabric but I keep those cutoffs to use when making HST. So really their not a waste but a pe-cut. I like the look of the angle more so than a straight seam. Just my preference.

I agree, always at an angle.

I always use an angle unless I don't have enough fabric

I do exactly the same as Tartan.

I use an angle unless there isn't enough fabric. My last border is orange with white dots about the size of a pencil eraser. By some magic luck, when I cut it and joined it, the dots all look like it is one long piece. I couldn't have done that if I tried.

I only join as an angle in borders. In blocks I don't see a difference.

Wide borders, straight join. Narrow borders - angle join.

I much prefer angle joining for borders and sashings. They are less obvious when quilted.

Straight angle ... always.

I never join at an angle. I know the theory but I can't see that it makes a difference, frankly, and it's easier to make a straight seam.

So, I think it's a personal preference.....unless you're entering quilts in a competition which may have sewing rules.

When joining something in the middle of a strip, always Press the Seam Open, whether it is a straight or bias seam. Especially on solid colors. With the seams open, there is less chance for the light to catch on that little hump formed when seams are pressed to one side.

Flip a coin. Heads--angle, tails--butt (of course) . If you like the process and result, great. If not, you can do it differently next time. (But I'd probably be consistent within the same quilt.)

I do know from working with page layouts that the eye tends to starts in the upper right corner, and travel down and around clockwise. So if you don't want the seam to get noticed right away ,put it on the left side. If you have multiple strips joined, then stagger them.

I use Bonnie Hunter's guideline of joining borders at an angle up to about 3/5" wide, then straight. She explains why here <http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/border-hints.html>.