Question about amount of material needed to miter corners
 

I am looking at a quilt that has vertical/horizontal borders. The quilt is 56" square and the borders are 3 inches wide.

I am guessing that a mitered border would measure be cut at 3 1/2-inches x 56 1/2-inches. Is that correct?

I've never mitered a border before, but I think this particular quilt will look better with a border. Any advise?

TIA,
Dray

to miter, you would need to cut it longer so they can "overlap" at the corners. usually you would cut it the length, plus the width and maybe 2 more inches more.

plus 2x the width (you have to take into account the miters on BOTH ends of the border strip).

56" (length of quilt) x 3" (topmiter) + 3" (bottom miter) + .5" (seam allowance) = 62.5" border to be cut.
That's the exact measurement.

I usually like to cut it a bit longer (another couple of inches), but I MARK(pin) off the 62" on the border strip so I can center the strip on - and know where the miter has to start/match up with - the quilt top.

Can someone check the math?

MTS, check your math???????????? Yes, that's it and I agree that you might need a little leeway.

If your border fabric has a pattern to it, you might want to adjust to make the pattern in the mitre join in a pleasing way. I usually lay the border fabric along the side and top and look how the corners would match. If matching requires longer strip then I will take a few tucks down the side to bring it into place. I believe one looks at the mitre first if a printed fabric and is better to have some kind of logical match at these points. If the fabric is directional which is usually the case I might split at the half way point on sides and ends and take up the difference in these places.

oh my...you can see why I didn't do well in math at school...LOL I completely forgot that it had another end...duh <slapping self on forehead> LOL

So glad that I have you to keep me straightened out. Thanks for the figures and your how-to's...they helped a lot. Now I'm going to write it down so I don't forget.

Thanks!

I love love love love mitered borders, regardless of the fabric.
I think they almost always look better than straight borders.

Like most techniques, it's not that difficult, you just have to take your time.

There are many different methods - here's a link to Sharon Schambers video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAAa66kJRr0 it's got multiple parts.

Watch it through, even though it's a bit over the top, to see what she's trying to accomplish, and what you need to look out for.
Of course, it's easy for me to say it's over the top as I haven't won a 334 National Best of Show awards. ;-)
But it's always helpful to see how a master work her craft.

Then you can find some other sites online to see other methods.
Good luck - your quilt will look so much more "finished" with the miters.


Oh, and the width of the border strip would still be cut 3.5"

If you want you can 'play' with an inexpensive wallpaper border to see how pattern affects a mitered corner to get the idea.

Otherwise MTS is right, I just like to add extra for my comfort.

MTS, thank you for the link to the Sharon Schambers videos. Such patience! and love her little iron.

I just use my Miter Ruler, so much easier. 45 degree angle on one end with the 1/4 in. added. and its 8 1/2 inches wide. Most borders are under 8 inches wide. Made Mitering much easier for me.