Tips: Quilt Borders

Articles about quilt borders

Should I?

| Cindy Anderson

I’ve been creating art with fibers for a very long time. Each time I add their finishing touches I have to ask myself these questions: Should I

  • Add a binding or
  • Facing or
  • Envelope or
  • Mount it on canvas?

Typically one of the first three contenders is chosen. A binding is selected when I want to add a boundary or resting place for your eye. I choose facings when I want my piece to appear to have no ending or in other words an infinity edge. The envelope method is my go-to option when I’m feeling lazy and want to wrap things up quickly. Mounting on canvas is the newest option to be added to my techniques.

So why did I add a fourth technique to my repertoire? I’m not one to be drawn to the newest and greatest thing. Being a creature of habit I am satisfied to stick to my tried and true behavior. Learning new things takes energy and I prefer to expend that energy on creating art. Every once and a while I bust out of that boundary and divert my attention to a new direction.

I am honored to have been invited to show my art at another solo exhibit. The fiber art items that will be on display will be for sale. Isn’t that exciting! To put my best foot forward I want to showcase my work in a way that will make them appear professional. Elevating them to a higher standard, in this instance, means adding finishing touches that require more skill.

I have been searching the internet and You Tube for suggestions on how to mount a fiber art piece onto stretched canvas. Through my efforts I have discovered an exhaustive library of options. After weighing the various techniques I have decided to combine several into my own hybrid. I am currently working on my first experiment. Let’s hope that it is successful.

Mounting Art on Canvas Experiment # 1

The photo above is my first guinea pig. Next time you see this piece it will be transformed into a beautiful swan (well not exactly). ~Smile~

Thank you for your interest!

With warm regards,

Flash Back: The Frame Around Your Quilt

| Cindy Anderson

Flash Back

Today we are taking a trip down memory lane. This is the second in the series I’m calling Flash Back. The original post was shared way back in May of 2012. I hope you will find it as informative as I do.

Borders

Many quilts have borders but that’s where the similarities end.  Borders can be very simple or extremely elaborate.  Your imagination, abilities and resources are your only limitations.  Traversing the seemingly endless options can be insurmountable but with a little patience and careful contemplation you too can design a border that wonderfully complements your quilt.

Measure, Measure, Measure

Measuring and attaching your border or borders is as important as their design.  A border hastily applied can do more harm than good.  Among the unfortunate side effects are wavy edges, obstacles to long arm quilting as well as unsightly draping when displayed.

Very Important

The most important tip I have ever encountered, when it comes to border application, is to measure your quilt beforehand to determine the exact length your border should be.  If we were to take the following measurements

  • along the left outer edge,
  • down the center and
  • along the right outer edge

chances are we would obtain three different numbers.  The measurement taken through the center would be the most accurate number to use.  The center would have the least amount of give or distortion. The measured distance through the center of your quilt, from top to bottom, is the length your strips should be cut when attaching borders to the sides of your quilt. The measured distance through the center of you quilt, from side to side, is the length your strips should be cut when attaching borders to the top and bottom edges of your quilt.

Attaching the Border

Typically quilters will first attach the top and bottom borders, then add borders to the left and right edges. If you would rather do the exact opposite it’s completely acceptable. For this demonstration we will first add border strips to the top and bottom edges, then to the left and right edges.

  1. Using the guidelines above measure and cut the fabric strips for the top and bottom edges of your quilt.
  2. Once you have done so find and mark the center of the quilt edge you will be working with.
  3. Then do the same with the border.
  4. Match and pin those two center points together.
  5. Next match up the left corner of your quilt with the left corner of the border.
  6. Pin the two corners together.
  7. Now match the right corner of your quilt with the right corner of your border.
  8. Pin the two corners together.
  9. Add pins, as needed to evenly distribute any excess fabric. Be sure to remove the pins, as you approach them with your presser foot, to avoid breaking or bending a needle.
  10. Now sew a seam.
  11. Repeat these steps on all four sides of your quilt.
  12. When finished your quilt top should be as close to square as possible.

More than One Border

If you will be adding more than one border simply follow the above twelve steps for each additional border. Also, before cutting the fabric for the additional borders be sure to follow the tips mentioned above when deciding how long each strip or border piece should be.

Still Need Help?

I am confident that these suggestions will assist you in achieving a pleasant outcome.  If the steps that I have just described seem confusing, watch this You Tube video and perhaps you will better understand.

Cindy Anderson of In A Stitch Quilting

 

The Frame Around Your Quilt

| Cindy Anderson

Borders

Many quilts have borders but that’s where the similarities end.  Borders can be very simple or extremely elaborate.  Your imagination, abilities and resources are your only limitations.  Traversing the seemingly endless options can be insurmountable but with a little patience and careful contemplation you too can design a border that wonderfully complements your quilt.

Measure, Measure, Measure

Measuring and attaching your border or borders is as important as their design.  A border hastily applied can do more harm than good.  Among the unfortunate side effects are wavy edges, obstacles to long arm quilting as well as unsightly draping when displayed.

Very Important

The most important tip I have ever encountered, when it comes to border application, is to measure your quilt beforehand to determine the exact length your border should be.  If we were to take the following measurements

  • along the left outer edge,
  • down the center and
  • along the right outer edge

chances are we would obtain three different numbers.  The measurement taken through the center would be the most accurate number to use.  The center would have the least amount of give or distortion. The measured distance through the center of your quilt, from top to bottom, is the length your strips should be cut when attaching borders to the sides of your quilt. The measured distance through the center of you quilt, from side to side, is the length your strips should be cut when attaching borders to the top and bottom edges of your quilt.

Attaching the Border

Typically quilters will first attach the top and bottom borders, then add borders to the left and right edges. If you would rather do the exact opposite it’s completely acceptable. For this demonstration we will first add border strips to the top and bottom edges, then to the left and right edges.

  1. Using the guidelines above measure and cut the fabric strips for the top and bottom edges of your quilt.
  2. Once you have done so find and mark the center of the quilt edge you will be working with.
  3. Then do the same with the border.
  4. Match and pin those two center points together.
  5. Next match up the left corner of your quilt with the left corner of the border.
  6. Pin the two corners together.
  7. Now match the right corner of your quilt with the right corner of your border.
  8. Pin the two corners together.
  9. Add pins, as needed to evenly distribute any excess fabric. Be sure to remove the pins, as you approach them with your presser foot, to avoid breaking or bending a needle.
  10. Now sew a seam.
  11. Repeat these steps on all four sides of your quilt.
  12. When finished your quilt top should be as close to square as possible.

More than One Border

If you will be adding more than one border simply follow the above twelve steps for each additional border. Also, before cutting the fabric for the additional borders be sure to follow the tips mentioned above when deciding how long each strip or border piece should be.

Still Need Help?

I am confident that these suggestions will assist you in achieving a pleasant outcome.  If the steps that I have just described seem confusing, watch this You Tube video and perhaps you will better understand.

Cindy Anderson of In A Stitch Quilting