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Originally Posted by vickynboise
Help! I am regressing in my quilting skills!!
I've been quilting for decades and I am suddenly having reoccurring problems with adding borders. When the quilt top is ready for its borders to be sewn on, the top is flat. But when I sew the first 3" border on, it doesn't lay flat anymore! It's driving me nuts! I know about the measuring down the center of the quilt to determine the length of the borders. This has always worked for me. But now it's failing. Does anyone have any tricks?? Thanks in advance for your insights. |
Yes the quilt goes on the bottom.
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Thank you for your suggestion, I'll give it a try.
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Thanks! Love the picture and your ribbons!
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All these suggestions are great. I also start by cutting the border piece to fit the center measurement. Then I mark the mathmatical center of the border strip. I then find the center of the quilt top by design (I hope that makes sense) I pin the top and bottom of the quilt to border and then pin the two centers. I then ease the quilt top onto the border strip and sew.
Note - If you piecing is accurate, there should be no differenct between the mathmatical center and the design center, but hey - you never know. Fabric is a living thing! |
I find it helps to run a line of stay stitching around the edges of the quilt before adding the first border. Sometimes I stitch all lengths of border fabrics together ,leaving longer tails to miter all at one time.
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Originally Posted by katier825
I got this tip from Quiltville:
Lay your quilt out. Lay the border fabric on top in the center (either vertically or horizontally, whichever you are doing first). Smooth the fabric out, then cut it the same size. I pin at a few intervals along the way so it doesn't move, then bring my cutter and small cutting mat over and trim the strips. Match the ends and center points and pin before you sew. Press your border seams and repeat for the other borders. The reason she does it this way is because measuring tapes can stretch, but if you smooth the fabric out the same as the quilt, it doesn't. I have done many quilts this way and never have problems with wavy borders. Give it a try! |
Originally Posted by loves_2_quilt
I cut mine lenght wise grain and have fewer/no problems. If I cut cross wise grain I ALWAYS have problems.
I have been taking an applique class and at the class last night the instructor said cutting borders on the length wise grain instead of width of the fabric will eliminate wavey borders. It is worth a try. |
i measure my quilt, then cut the borders. pin centers and ends and in between if necessary. then stitch.
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I had the same problem a couple of months ago with a baby quilt. Someone suggested I use spray starch and iron. I did it and it worked like a charm. I let the spray starch on for about 10 minutes before I ironed it. May have to do it a few times. Hope this helps. :)
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Thanks, Arlene,
I tried this last night and have 2 sides on at the moment, using this technique. It "appears" be be better, although not perfect. Tonight, I'll be adding the second two borders, which will be the test of the pudding! Thanks for your ideas! |
Thanks for your suggestion. I may try that if my current efforts fail (again)!
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Yep, I agree. I always cut using lengthwise grain if it is possible to do so.
Thank you |
THANKS KATIER FOR THE INFO. I ALSO HAVE WAVY BORDERS EVEN THOUGH I MEASURE WITH A TAPE AND I THINK THIS MAY SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
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I agree with katier, awesome tip
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Check your tension and pressure on the machine. You may need to replace your feed dogs if you do a lot of sewing. I sew for a living and I have to replace my feed dogs every 2 years.
Julia |
I took several quilting classes from the same instructor and she stated to keep from getting the wavy borders is to sew one side top to bottom and the other side bottom to top and then the top border from left to right and the bottom border right to left. I tried this and it worked and I have been doing my borders this way ever since.
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Great tip! Thanks! I think it makes perfect sense!!
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Great suggestion! Thanks!!
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You're the second person that suggested checking the tension, and the first to mention the feed dogs. I had no idea they ever
needed changing. Thanks so much! |
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