Sewing 4 strips?
 

I'm making a piano border. I'm sewing 4 strips together, then cutting them into sections to make the border.

I have already sewed the strips in pairs. I know I have to now sew from the opposite end of the strips so it doesn't bow.

Can I take 1 pair of strips and turn it around and not cause a problem when it sewed to the other pair?

Ok, either no one knows or my question doesn't make sense.

set one: brown, tan
set two: dark brown, cranberry

If I kept them that way I'd sew the tan and dark brown together.

Can I take set one: brown, tan and flip it to tan, brown and attach to dark brown and cranberry without causing a bow in the fabric?

I sew all my strips in the same direction and the set does not bow.

No easy answer. I think a lot depends and how you have cut the fabric in the first place. Did you cut it length of fabric or from selvedge? Are the strips perfectly straight on grain? When you press the seams, do you move the iron up and down, or back and forth? Do you starch your fabric? Each factor can cause waviness. So, I'd give it a try and see how your strips work. If you get waviness, I'd start starching the strips to fix it.

Thanks all! Penny I didn't realize there were so many variables! LOL!!

Ok, now I guess I'll try and just rip if it doesn't work!

You can also use shorter strips and won't be as likely to get bowing. A lot of it has to do with pressing the strips.

Of course you can. Just be careful not to pull either one out of true.

I agree on flipping your strip sets and sewing them together. If you don't have bowing in those 2 sets, you're likely (in my opinion) to not have any when you sew those two strip sets together, either. But starch is definitely your friend!

If I'm understanding your question, sew up one side and down the other to keep from bowing. Then when you cut them to size for the border, it will be too short to make much difference if you flip them or not.

Also, as was already said, cut your strips in the same direction as the selvage and you'll get less stretch.

Your sewing machine can have a lot to do with that, too.

bkay

Are you sewing long strips together?
I would sew them one to the next and flip each one.I would not sew them in pairs. I put a piece of painters tape with an arrow marked on it in the direction I am sewing the first two strips together and it acts a reminder to flip each additional piece. top to bottom, bottom to top. I would sew 6 strips together and check for bowing by laying the strip set on the cutting mat to see if it is straight.

Start with smaller strip sets and if it is going okay then add a few more to the set. IMHO, smaller sets work better.

How wide are the keys you are making going to be?
The bowing may not be an issue at all.