Is there an easier way to put cornerstones in the border?
 

I struggle a little when I decide to put cornerstones in my border. I have a difficult time getting the cornerstone seams exact. Maybe someone out there has an easier method.

1. First I sew the border on two opposite sides and trim the ends to make sure they are super smooth and straight.
2. I measure border seam to border seam for the 3rd side and add 1/2" for the seams.
3. I sew one cornerstone to the end of the border piece, sew the other end on as well and sew the border to the 3rd side.
4. I do the same thing as steps 2-3 for the 4th side.

Somehow, I have problems with that last cornerstone not lining up perfectly with the side border seam.

Any suggestions?

When mitering large wide borders corners for queen size quilt, I always had one corner that was off needed to be fixed.

I would remeasure to see why the one border was off. I would measure the length of each size because one side could be just a 1/4" longer or shorter than the other one. I would pin base the border to see if my measurement were accurate and then sew the border on. I always use pins so that the fabrics won't shift but I am careful to pull the pin out before getting to close to the needle. Hope this helps.

I've always had trouble with this, too, but I have no explanation. For a long time I thought my math was wrong, but now I think it's my sewing :o

nanna - I feel your pain. I used to have this problem a lot too. I THINK the problem is 1/4 inch seams, and possibly stretching the fabric a little when sewing. Now I measure the 3rd border, hold it up against where it's going to go, just to double check. Then I sew the first cornerstone on, press and check again. Then I sew the second cornerstone on, press and then check again. THEN, I pin the seams where they are supposed to go and then pin the heck out of the whole rest of it. I think this is one of the only time I use pins. Then, if your sewing machine can regulate the pressure of the presser foot, fiddle with that a little bit. If my pressure is too high, it seems to push the top fabric and un-align all my hard work. Good luck!!

I do it your way Jean - but i switch to my walking foot to avoid shifting - and i pin like crazy....and have not really had any problem with the match up. I'll be checking back to see if there are other suggestions.

You don't mention whether you pin the last borders to the quilt. Fabric can shift quite a bit with a long seam. Using a walking foot helps, but lots of pins (or glue) will keep those pieces together.

How about not sewing that last cornerstone on until you've sewn the border on to within a few inches of the seam you need to match. Fiddly but might work!

Thank you all so much. The pinning worked. I was just very careful and put in a lot of pins and it worked. This cornerstone is looking good.

That is exactly what I do. Then i make sure the cornerstone and the border match up perfectly, use elmers washable glue to SECURE the match (pins seem to distort the match), and sew it on.

But there are those times when nothing works. That means I've done enough for one day.

I do mine this way, saves me a lot of unsewing trying to make it fit.

I was thinking the same thing Kitsie.

i measure - alot - and pin to keep things from shifting.

If the length of the strip with the cornerstones is " right" before i start sewing it to the top -

I divide the lengths of the top and border strips into eighths - and then mark those intervals.
Then I match up the marks and pin. It is a lot easier for me to keep shorter lengths matched up than the whole length.

That extra step has helped me to get things to come out even more often.

I think it has to do with 1/4" seams and pins. I recently made an Irish chain and had difficulty with the snowball like blocks because I sewed with a scant seam that made my "strips" about a 1/16 to 1/8" too long. Also, if you by chance aren't using the thinner longer quilting pins, your pins may be taking to much of a "bite" out of the fabric.

Looks great! Nice fabric

I divide my border and my quilt top in fourths, pinning at those points and then pin the border to the quilt top, matching those pins. Add more pins in between and you should have no trouble. Your feed dogs can make the difference because they pull the fabric through at a faster rate than the top piece of fabric. Or better yet, if you have one, use a walking foot.

I have only done cornerstones one or two times. I found that I had to pin just about every other inch, but it came out okay.

Where are you measuring the length of the borders. You should be measuring at the center of the top and maybe either side to get the length of the borders. This is the measurement that you should use for the borders. If you are adding cornerstones then make the main border smaller by the width of the other border for the cornerstone. Just measure the width of the inside of the top not including the side borders. Then add the cornerstone that is the width of the border. this should fit the top.

You should not just sew the borders to the side of the top and then cut off the excess border since te sides of the top may stretch and each side of the top may be different.

To add borders- Measure the INSIDE of the top and cut both borders the same length using this measurement. Fold the border and the top in half and quarters and then pin these sections together. If ther is a difference then ease the extra fabric into the other top/border. This method assures that the quilt will be even on the sides. should prevent wavy borders.

Going to make note of all these tips. Love this board.

A problem with excess fabric, even after measuring, might be if strip lengths are cut WOF where there is more stretch in the weft as opposed to Length Of Fabric where the warp is taut.

When I add borders or sashings with or without cornerstones, I consider what should be (if there are 12 inch finished blocks plus "x" number of sashings each of "y" inches width) and then measure what I've got. Hopefully they are exact (Haha) or within a 1/2 inch. I, too, pin like crazy, but divide and mark the quilt in half and then in half again (fourths) as well as mark the added strip (sashing or border) so that the marks (fourths) match before I sew. If there is any fudging to do I can adjust by slightly tugging/stretching the quilt or strip. Measuring and marking and pinning at the corner fabrics also helps. It takes a bit of extra time, but well worth it!

I hope that all makes sense.

Good luck.

I forget where I heard to do it this way, but it was an experienced quilter, I'm thinking Eleanor Burns. Anyway, try sewing the corner stone to the border strip first (you'll have to do the math to get your length right). Then attach the other side with corner stone attached to that one too. Then attach the top nd bottom. Hope this makes sense.

if it is off just a bit, remember to put the larger piece on the bottom and often the feeddogs will ease it in.

I've had better luck putting the larger piece on top (and stretching it- only a little) to fit (ease in) the smaller pieces on the bottom

That is just the solution I was going to suggest -- it always works for me.Letty