what causes the borders to "wave"?
 

I just finished my first braid quilt and I love it, but I had a little problem. When I put the borders on they would not lay flat and even. There was like wave or buckle not sure what to call it. When I did the binding I actually ended up with little puckers that I had to just accept and sew them. They weren't too bad, but it was very frustrating.

Does anyone know what causes this? I have never encountered this before. Is it an issues that just happens with the braid quilts?

I did use a jelly roll strip for the border for first time as well.. is it a jelly roll thing?

Please let me know what your thoughts are.. because I want to make another one :)

Thank you

How did you attach the borders? Did you just sew the jelly roll strip onto the edge, or did you first measure through the middle of the quilt and cut the border strip to size before sewing?

How do you do your borders? Do you cut them to a measurement and ease the quilt to them or do you sew a uncut strip on and cut afterward? One of theses will lead to wavy borders.

You should measure the middle of the quilt, like Prism said, and use that length for the border. Do NOT just sew to the edge from a longer length, you will get waves.

thank you for all of your replies! I am sure that I did just sew the uncut strip on...

Ok, so when you say "measure to the middle" I think I know what you mean.. so its like my jelly roll was too long?

Tartan: yes I had my braids in rectangles that I squared off. Then I sewed a ~3/4" sashing between each and then a small frame border. That all was fine.. it was the jelly roll border that waved I am not sure what you mean by "stay stitch the edges"

Stay stitch the edges by sewing 1/4" from the edge. Just a line of stitching but it really does help. If your edge has stretched a bit, use a larger stitch for the staystitching--almost a gathering type stitch. Measure thru the middle of the quilt and then divide that measurement into quarters. Divide the side of your top into quarters too, and pin them together. If there is quite a bit of difference, you can use that staystitching to gently gather and ease the edge of your quilt--kind of like sewing a set-in sleeve. I have also done this when my border has stretched and I needed to ease it into the binding.

I've done a few braids and I found it is much easier if you draw a line, stay-stitch, sew the border or sashing on, THEN cut the extra off after. Starch helps also.

My favorite way to do borders is Bonnie Hunter's way. No measuring tape involved and I have never had a wavy border since I started doing them this way.

http://www.quiltville.com/borderhints.shtml

Stay stitch means to sew a line of thread all around the edge of the quilt. Keeps everything in place so your edges don't stretch. If you ever send a quilt to a longarmer she may ask you to do this.

Thank you... never thought of cutting the braid after I had the sashing sewn on... I did starch, but maybe I need to starch more. I am going to try the stay stitch too

I always cut my borders from the length of the fabric. Sometimes I measure sometimes I don't. If I don't measure first I always pull the border fabric a little taut and the quilt top on bottom not pulled. I haven't had a problem with wavy borders unless the fabric was bad to begin with.

I take classes at the local tech college (only $28 for seniors) but I digress. The way I was taught, and does not make wavy borders, is to measure through the middle of the quilt, and cut the border to fit, patting several times (put the quilt and border to make sure there are no ripples or bulges - do not run your hand over the fabric as it may stretch it. Then, once the border is cut, fold the border in half and pin that mark, then in quarters and pin those marks. Do the same for each side of the quilt you are placing the border as well, and match the pins, easing as necessary. I pin a lot if there is lot of easing to be done. Pin the middle first then the quarter marks and then in between. Works for me!

That is how I was taught. Takes a little longer (very little) and you have no waves!! I figure anytime you don't have to unsew and re-do, you did it the fastest way!!

There is a class on Craftsy. I had a wavy border on a table runner and my friend who is hand sewing the binding to the back, she hand baste the outside and slowly pulling the basting brings the quilt side to line up before she sews the binding on. It is a technique she swears by.

Just a thought! If the quilt portion is longer than the border/binding, put the longer portion on the bottom. When you sew it together, some of the excess will normally be gathered up into the border fabric. Hope I explained this correctly.

This is how I was taught at my very first beginner class ...looks like Sandy was an excellent teacher :). I have never experienced waves borders.

Judy in Phx, AZ

Remember that when sewing to a bias edge, to always put the bias strip on the bottom to sew, so the "extra" is taken up automatically. Also, you can draw or baste (if you baste, sew from top to bottom, then stitch the border bottom to top, also helps) along the cut line, stich the border on, then trim to help tame bias edges.

This is the way I learned how to do it. Add Bonnie's method of "measuring" and I think we may have the perfect way to do borders.

I lay a border strip on the quilt center and lightly smooth it out and mark where it touches the edge. Then I cut the other border strip the same way. Sew them to the length and repeat for the top and bottom. When I sew them on I make sure they are smooth. No wavy borders, if you always measure the borders like this.

Staystitching helps, and when you have a lot of bias edges it usually helps if you cut your border lengthwise of the grain instead of crosswise