Wavy Borders
08-25-2011, 12:19 PM
#41
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
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.
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.
08-25-2011, 03:40 PM
#45
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Stony Brook, NY
Posts: 1,225
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!
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!
08-25-2011, 06:25 PM
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Western Slope, Colorado
Posts: 354
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.
08-25-2011, 06:37 PM
#47
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lumby, British Columbia
Posts: 2,769
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!
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!
08-25-2011, 06:46 PM
#48
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,197
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.
08-25-2011, 10:06 PM
#50
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Graham, WA
Posts: 641
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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