I love the look of sashing and borders that are joined with an angled or "mitered" seam. The problem I have is sewing a straight line on the angle when joining the strips. I've tried marking it with a pencil but always seem to stretch the fabric with the pencil.
Today I found a good trick to solve this.
When I line up the seam under my pressor foot, I take a couple of stitches and leave the needle in the down position. Now, take a piece of folded paper and place the fold right up against the left side of the needle, it slides under the foot easily. Now move the bottom part of the paper until the fold is right where you want to end the seam. Stitch along the folded paper to make the seam. If you happen to make a stitch on the paper it doesn't matter because the paper rips out easily.
I used this for 5 " borders and it worked like a dream.

thank you

What a GREAT idea!! Thank you for sharing it with us :D:D:D

Thanks for the tip! I was just working on a quilt with a mitered border and wondered how I was going to sew a straight line without marking the fabric.

Can you take a couple of photos. I am more visual than text?? Thank you for the tip though!!

Something I have done also is to iron the 45 degree crease on larger pieces (say 3 inches or over).....on one or both pieces. Then I match the ironed lines.... This has helped me on larger borders.

What a wonderful tip. I have the same problem and this seems like a perfect solution. Thanks for sharing.

Great idea. thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing! I am bookmarking this so I won't lose it.

Nice tip. Thank you.

Have you tried a long strip of (A-4 size)photo paper, shiny side down? It holds well, won't slip. I also use it often when paper piecing the way you describe , on top of freezer paper foundation, under the presser foot.

That is a really awesome idea. May try it in my PP class next month. Thanks.

Great tip, thanks for sharing!

Melinda, I love your Avatar.. So cute!! :thumbup:

Two things I find that prevents stretching. One is starch and the second is
to mark from the ends to the middle instead of corner to corner.

Hi again. Someone requested photos, so here they are!
I do starch my fabric beforehand.

that is a great idea. now just to get paper to be cut straight. hehe.

Awesome....I usually mark the line. This is sooo much easier. and faster!!

Thank you, I just LOVE Maxine!

I was reading this again, and had the very same thought when PP'ing :D:D:D

ooh thanks for the tip.. :thumbup:

Same here, would like to see a photo demonstrating this if you could.

Thank you!

hevemi- i need the coffee cup in your avatar!! cute.