Mastering the Art of Adding Borders
Attaching borders the correct way avoids waviness and pleats when you get it back from the longarmer. The method may seem tedious when you are so close to having your quilt top finished, but I urge you not to skimp on this technique – it is the last and final step to ensuring a square quilt top.
How to Add Borders to Your Quilt Top and Keep it Square
Borders are usually sewn to the two longest sides of the quilt first and then to the remaining two sides with the final two extending straight across the ends of the first borders.
Make your borders
Cut border stripes to the desired width.
Attach strips end-to-end to achieve a length longer than your quilt edge.
DO NOT cut the strips to the length noted in your pattern.
Measure the borders
Starting with the longest side of your quilt top. Place two border pieces right-sides together and square one set of ends.
At the center point of the quilt top, line up the squared ends to the quilt top. Lay the strips across the center of the quilt beyond the other edge of the quilt top.
Place a small cutting mat under the quilt top. Use a square ruler to trim the excess border.
Attach the borders to the quilt
Fold one of the borders in half crosswise to find its midpoint, using your fingers to crease it slightly at that spot.
Match the border’s center point to the quilt’s center point and pin all layers at that center point.
Align the border ends to the quilt’s edges and pin all layers.
Continue pinning the border to the entire side of the quilt at close intervals, easing in any fullness.
Sew the border to the quilt with a 1/4 inch seam easing in any fullness between the pinned intervals.
Press seams toward the border.
Attach remaining borders using the same technique.
If your quilt has multiple borders, each border should be attached separately, using the above technique. Sewing all the multiple borders together and then attaching them as one unit will not achieve the desired results.