Math is my nemesis. :(
 

Please help me with a math problem, if you can.

I have 60” of fabric to cut for a border. I had made a cutting mistake earlier and that’s what is left.

The instructions indicate that the borders should be cut from the lengthwise grain. It calls for 4 6.5”x72” pieces. Obviously I don’t have that much fabric and I can’t figure out how wide to cut the strips.

Is anyone able to help me? I just don’t know how to figure it out. Also, I can’t remember cutting on the lengthwise grain before, has anyone else done this?

Renate
(the math dunce)

Is the fabric 40” wide? So you have 40” x 60?
If so, you can still cut your borders 6.5” , you just need to piece them. You can cut 6 strips 6.5 x 60” the sub cut two of the strips into (4) 13” pieces & add one to each 60” strip.

you will need 5...

4 pieces times 72" = 288 inches (by 6.5 inches)

288/60 = 4.8.. round that up to 5 6.5 x 60" pieces. There should be enough width for that (6.5 x 5 = 32.5")

Hope that makes sense..

what are the dimensions of your quilt?

I’m not a expert at all but I do prefer to cut my borders LOF (length of fabric) vs WOF (width of fabric selvage to selvage). I would go ahead and cut your 6.5 in wide strips (WOF) and join strips to get the length needed. 6.5 x 4 =26 inches total width, I think you should be able to get 4 15 inch strips from cutting one additional 6.5 in strip. Adding a 15 inch strip to each 60 inch strip should give you what you need, unless your mitering your border. I’m sure I’m clear as mud and I’m sure someone else will be along to better answer your question. We’ve all been in similar situations many times!

Sometimes drawing a diagram can help a lot.

You're going to have to sew two pieces of fabric together to get a 72" long rectangle. I'm going to assume that you are not going to try to do any pattern matching with your fabric.

First, you cut 4 lengthwise rectangles as long as you can get, which for you is 6.5" x 60". Assuming that you will lose 1/4" on each side of your seam, you need 4 rectangles that are 6.5" x 12.5", so you can cut one 6.5" x 50" strip and then subcut into the 6.5" x 12.5" rectangles. If it was me doing it, I would cut the strip for the extra rectangles the full length (6.5" x 60") and wait to subcut until you are close to putting on the borders, so that you can adjust the length of those rectangles if you need a little extra length.

Fabric has less stretch along its length than along its width, so cutting your borders lengthwise means the will stretch less and help keep your quilt nice and square.

If the piece of fabric you have is 60 inches long, how wide is it?

Is it a piece of fabric that has a pattern that needs to/should be matched?

Some asked - does the pattern suggest mitered corners?

Can you post a link to the pattern/design you are using?

Or give us the name of the pattern?

Someone may be able to suggest a design alternative/change that might work.

Eureka! I see it now! Just can’t understand why it didn’t make sense to me before. You wonderful ladies just cleared the air (and my brain) and now I know I can do this!!

Thank you all for the math lesson. ��

I would just cut strips WOF and sew them together until I had enough. I don't use lengthwise strips for borders, they always wave on me no matter how careful I measure. Crosswise cuts work best for me.

I find the Robert Kaufman QuiltingCalc app invaluable for these calculations.

note: I am not associated with RKaufman Fabrics or Quilters Paradise

You do not have to cut from lengthwise grain. You can use rosswise without a problem. Either way, you will have to piece your border. I like to piece my border so that each side has the seam at a different place (one side towards the top and the other side towards the bottom). Not necessary, but I think it is less obvious (could just be me!!!). If it is a print fabric, try to blend in the seam to the print. No one will know! The most important thing is to not stress, keep it a fun project or it will become a UFO - we have all done that!