Still Sew N

I have been experiencing wavy borders when I use my quilt as a wall hanging. I measure the three needed measurements and the border(s) are true and straight and fit on the quilt perfectly. Except when I go to hang them, its awful. I don't prewash fabrics so there's that. Every time I see a nice quilt, laying against the wall so nice and flat, I begin to suffer from nice hanging quilt envy! I use a curtain rod and clips but it happens even with a pocket sewn on backside for hanging. Any and all suggestions are welcome! Thank you.

DebbieJJ

I haven't tried this, but I've read some of the comments from others who say they use "length of fabric" for the side borders on their quilts. I imagine that would keep them from stretching a little bit and looking like they're waving at you. Like I said, I haven't tried this, but it wouldn't hurt to try it. I'm just now doing my very first wall hanging, and that's how I'm going to do the borders....If I have enough fabric, and I think I do.

thimblebug6000

Also make sure that the borders and the quilt itself are quilted with the same density. (Stitching the same approximate distances apart)

Onebyone

When I use length of fabric for borders I end up with waves. I cut mine crosswise and get much better results. It may have to do with the piecing the fabric strips together. It works for me. Sometimes I cut the border to be the end blocks all around. Worry free borders that way.

JustGail

I have smoother borders when I measure in the middle of the outer blocks, not at the block edges. The block edges seem easier to stretch while measuring.

cashs_mom

You can also put a sleeve on the bottom of the quilt and put a wooden dowel in it. The weight will tend to keep the quilt hanging straight and flat.

eparys

So this is what I do - When it really counts and I want it perfect. Every border and every sashing piece is cut on the straight of the grain. I focus on two measurements for the borders ( only the middle of the quilt length and width). I do compare those to the edges and if one edge is more than 1/2 " too long I have been known actually run a line of stitching just inside 1/4" seam line for a short distance- it will actually ease some of the width in without pleats or ripples. I used this process for our Guild Raffle Quilt (42 squares made by 30 dif members ... none of them were the same size) and after quilting it was flat, square and no wavy borders.

Also if I know it will hang on the wall, I often will put a hanging pocket top and small one at the bottom. Then I have the hubby cut me a thin piece of wood to slide into the bottom one. Picture of my Christmas wall hanging.

LGJARN52

Please don't think I've lost my mind, but I remember someone talking about this years ago, and she went to the sporting goods department in Walmart and bought small fishing weights. They have a small loop on the top and she sews them with a couple whip stitches to the back bottom of her hangings. Hadn't thought about this in years.....

eparys

That would work as well!! - They make curtain weights which would also work.

QuiltE

@cashs_mom ... ditto ... exactly what I was going to suggest!

@Still Sew N ... You have some other good suggestions too.

It also could be a simple as "blocking" your quilt.
What I do, is spritz the quilt with water,
as I press it flat with my hands while pinning to my design wall.

That alone can often help get rid of the waves, if they are not too serious.