topsyturvycareations@juno.com :
I would 1st measure the quilt all around,and through the centers, both directions. I do this to ensure I have an even quilt, not one measuring different lengths and widths in different areas. Provided I am not more than 1/2 to 1 in. off anywhere, I go about borders in one of a few different ways. 1st, to miter corners, I cut lengths and widths longer than needed to allow for the mitering in the corners, (not a specific length.) It will depend on the width of the border the extra on the ends. Lay it on a flat surface, and make a pretend miter by folding the fabric as if mitered. Then sew each of the four sides on, leaving a 1/4 in. to make yor miter.
If not mitering, cut the length of the 2 ends, plus a little, sew them on, and before pressing, with the leftover extending beyond the quilt, while folded under the quilt, use your rotary cutter and a square ruler to trim the excess. Do both ends the same way, then repeat with the sides. This way you are not trying to make up for a 1/4 to 1/2 inch difference by squeezing it in or stretching it. Also make sure all your thread tensions are in good shape, and stitch length is correct for the thickness, test on a sample 1st. If in the beginning, when measuring, you had big discrepensies in the measurements,(across and around your quilt,) thats another whole can of worms. And will require some creative correction of the origional quilt design. This, however is how a lot of art quilts may have gotten started in the 1st place. A very good reference for your question is "Happy Endings". Its been around for a long time, but I bellieve its still available.
Instead of measuring with a tape, lay the border strips
on top of the quilt through the center.
Whack off the ends. When attaching to each side,
be sure to pin each end first, then work your way down
, pinning every 2 - 3 inches. If you find that one side
has more fabric than the other, lay that side down when sewing
the seam. Your feed dogs will ease in the extra fabric.
I always work with the long sides of the quilt first (if a rectangle).Take 3 measurements: measure the left long side, the right long side, and lengthwise right down the middle of the quilt. If your quilt top has square corners, the 3 measurements will all be the same. If they aren't and differ more than 1/2 inch, you need to make adjustments in your blocks BEFORE adding the border. Usually 1/2 inch can be safely eased in or out of a border seam. More than that produces ripples or wavy borders.
When you cut your border fabric strips, measure and square up the corners with a square or quilter's rule. Cut your border strips equal to the center measurement + your 1/2 inch seam allowance as long as the left and right sides are no more than 1/2 inch longer or 1/2 inch shorter.
Measure and mark the center of the sides with a pin and mark the center of the border with a pin (or mark both into quarters). Match pins and pin border in place.
You can carefully ease the border fabric or the quilt top to match--as long as you don't try to ease in more than 1/2 inch. This may sound like a lot of trouble, but the results are worth the extra effor......your borders will lay flat, they will be even and easy to mark, and they will look great.
Good luck!
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