Piano Key Borders- Any suggestions?
 

I really like the look of piano key borders but , WOW, they take so much time!! I try to use all the fabrics I used in the quilt plus more that will coordinate and make it all look nice. Some pieces are full widths, some pieces are only wide enough for 1 key.

I cut strips of fabric 2 1/2" wide and sew them together, then cut the length I want... and that seems easy. But I press all the fabrics before cutting so they will lay flat, then cut the strips, then sew together, then cut into desired lengths, then take apart any strips that aren't long enough and re-sew, re-cut, take apart, re-sew, re-cut, etc. I don't want the fabrics to be in a certain order that will pull your eyes away and distract from the body of the quilt.

I don't know if it's the time, the fitting of different pieces of fabric, then re-adjusting, etc. I just find it really frustrating every time I make one of these. There's got to be an easier way.

I would cut stripes of fabric and join together as if making a bargello quilt without making the roll. Then cut into rows of the desired width and join together. It should be easy straight sewing. What about the corners?

I'm like you and like random piano keys better than orderly colour/fabric switches.
Of course, for some quilts the orderly look is more appropriate.

I press at every step of the process ... with Best Press for the fabric before any cutting is done.

I've done it much like you ... and yes, slow, but yet well worth the efforts.
Here's how I do it ...
I like narrow ... so usually go for 2" or 1-1/2" strips.

For example, If I want 6" finished keys ... I cut the strips into 7-1/2" or 8" pieces.
Then I make piles of one of each fabric.
Then I sew a pile together.
I stay random, though sometimes will set a strip aside (eg. 2 of the same colour) for a different placement.
Sew pairs together, press.
Then pairs of pairs, etc. till the pile is together. Press after each seam.
Once a pile is all together ... a good final pressing and Best Pressing.
Then I trim it down to the perfect size of 6-1/2".
Gives you a nice crisp edge to work with when joining together later.

Then onwards to the next pile(s).
Join the strips from each pile together after the precision cutting!
Meanwhile, keeping in mind how many I need for a side/end ... so I don't get a group together and discover it is longer than needed.

For corners ... mitre them!

It's time consuming ... but not really difficult!
And so much FUN to see them come together.

Here's a look at one of my piano key projects .........
(sorry, I just realized I don't have a photo of this quilt after quilting was completed!)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]434376[/ATTACH]

QuiltE, that is a fabulous quilt! love the piano border, too.

QuiltE, your quilt is beautiful..... I do like the thinner keys but since I've already cut a ton of 2 1/2" strips I'll stay with that for this one. I do like your suggestion of cutting the strips into 8" lengths and stacking them. That would eliminate the taking apart and re-stitching strips back together...... thanks.

I've never done a bargello quilt..... would like to sometime. I have done cornerstones for the corners before, but after seeing quiltE's mitered ones, I might try that for the quilt I'm working on.

Thank you!
I wish I had a quilted pic to show you ... it looks so much nicer all finished off!!

It was a $10 quilt ... we paid $10, and then you got a strip of fabric 3" x 1/2WOF and were told which block in the quilt pattern to do. You could use all the strip or just a smidgeon ... and then you dug into your stash for the rest of the fabrics. Once you had that done, you took it back for show and tell, and got your next strip. It was fun to work away, and decide what fabrics to bring into the mix and how to get them all blending together. The fabrics in this one were all "darks" ... almost muddy tones to them.

I was having so much fun, after the first strip, I decided to do a 2nd one, using the "batiks", so it took on a totally different look.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]434377[/ATTACH]

I did the mitred corners as cornerstones, and then joined into the strips.
It was considerably easier than trying to mitre with a long strip attached.

very smart.

Good suggestion.... thanks.