Bordering Brilliance: Mastering the Art of Adding Borders to Your Quilt

Creating a quilt is an art form that is not only functional but also allows for unique expression and creativity. And while the sewing, piecing, and quilting stages are integral to the overall process, it’s the finishing touches like borders that truly make a quilt stand out. If you’re new to quilting or looking to enhance your skills, learning how to put borders on a quilt is essential. In this article, we’ll guide you through this final step in creating a beautiful and polished quilt. So get ready to elevate your quilting game as we delve into the world of borders!

Understanding Borders in Quilting

When creating a quilt, borders are an essential element that provides structure and definition to the overall design. A border is a fabric strip that is sewn around the outer edges of the quilt, framing the main body of the quilt. It both enhances and complements the central design, giving the finished quilt a polished and professional look.

Borders also serve an important practical purpose. They help to keep the edges of a quilt square and prevent distortion during the quilting process. Additionally, borders can help to adjust the size of a quilt if needed.

There are different types of borders that quilters can use depending on their personal style and preference. Some popular options include plain borders, pieced borders, applique borders, and paper pieced borders. Regardless of which type you choose, there are some essential tips that can help you achieve perfectly bordered quilts.

Materials You Will Need

Before we dive into how to put borders on a quilt, let’s first gather all the materials you will need for this project.

– Fabric for your border strips: This should be cut into long strips about 1” wider than your desired border width.
– Rotary cutter or scissors: These tools will help you cut your fabric strips accurately.
– Ruler: Use a clear ruler with marked measurements to ensure accurate cutting.
– Pins: You’ll need these for pinning your border onto your quilt top.
– Sewing machine: A sewing machine will make quick work of sewing your border strips onto your quilt.
– Iron: An iron is essential for pressing seams as you work on adding your borders.

Measuring for Borders

Before cutting any fabric for your border strips, it’s important to measure your quilt accurately. This step ensures that all sides of your quilt have equal measurements and helps prevent wavy or lumpy borders. To measure your quilt, lay it out on a flat surface and use your ruler to measure the width and length. It’s essential to measure from the center of each side to get accurate measurements.

Once you have these measurements, add them together and divide by four to get the average. This number will be your starting point for cutting your border strips.

Cutting and Sewing Borders

Using the average measurement calculated above, cut two strips of fabric for the top and bottom borders, and two strips for the sides. These strips should be cut 1” wider than your desired border width.

Next, join the short ends of each strip with a diagonal seam to create one continuous strip for each side. Use a quilting ruler to ensure that the seams are straight.

Once you have all four border strips ready, press them with an iron. You can choose to either press the seams open or toward one side. Pressing seams open will help reduce bulk at corners, while pressing toward one side creates a fold line that is useful when sewing mitered corners.

With all four border strips pressed, it’s time to attach them to your quilt top. Start with the top and bottom borders first, aligning them with the edges of your quilt top and pinning them in place. Sew using a quarter-inch seam allowance, backstitching at both ends for security.

Repeat this process with the remaining sides of your quilt top until all four borders are attached.

Mitered Corners

Mitered corners are an elegant way of finishing off quilt borders. This technique creates a neat diagonal seam at each corner that makes the design flow seamlessly around the edges of your quilt.

To create mitered corners, trim any excess fabric from each corner leaving ¼” seam allowance from both sides of your border seams. Fold one border strip diagonally over another, with right sides together, aligning the edges of the fabric. Pin in place, and sew using a quarter-inch seam allowance.

Repeat this process for all four corners, and then press the seams open.

Finishing Touches

Before adding the final border or binding to your quilt, it’s essential to make sure that your quilt top is square. Measure your quilt diagonally from each corner and ensure that these measurements match. If they don’t, gently ease the sides until they do.

Once your quilt top is squared up, add your final border or binding using the same process as before. Once you are done, give your quilt a good press with an iron to remove any folds or wrinkles.

Properly Putting Borders on Angled Quilts

Putting borders on angled quilts can seem daunting for some quilters, but it’s just a matter of taking some extra care when measuring and cutting your fabric strips. The key is to accurately measure from point to point instead of following just one long edge of the quilt.

Measure all edges accurately and add them together just like you would for a regular square quilt. This calculation will give you an average measurement that you can use for cutting your border strips.

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Understanding the Basics of Quilting

Quilting is an art form that dates back centuries, where pieces of fabric are sewn together to create a larger piece. As a quilter, you have the creative freedom to choose various patterns, designs, and fabrics to make your quilt unique. One element that can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to a quilt is borders. Borders act as a frame for your quilt, giving it a polished and finished look.

Why Add Borders to Your Quilt?

You might be wondering, do I really need borders for my quilt? The short answer is no, you don’t need borders. However, adding borders can significantly enhance the overall appearance of your quilt. Borders help define the edges of your quilt and give it structure. Not only do they give your quilt a sense of completion, but they also allow for an additional design element.

Choosing the Right Fabric for Your Border

When it comes to choosing fabric for your quilt border, there are no strict rules. However, there are some tips that can help guide you in selecting the right fabric. First and foremost, the fabric you choose should complement the design and color scheme of your quilt top. You can either opt for a contrasting or coordinating fabric for your border.

If you want your border to blend in with your quilt top seamlessly, select a fabric that has similar colors or patterns as your top. On the other hand, if you want your border to stand out and make a statement, choose a contrasting fabric with bold colors or patterns.

Additionally, make sure to choose good quality quilting cotton or batik fabrics as they have more body and hold their shape better than other fabrics.

How Wide Should Your Border Be?

The width of your border is entirely up to you; there’s no right or wrong answer. However, some factors can influence your decision. For example, if you have a small quilt top with intricate designs, a narrow border will be enough to frame your quilt. On the other hand, if your quilt top is larger, a wider border can help balance out the design and bring everything together.

The Process of Adding Borders

Once you have chosen your fabric and decided on the width of your borders, it’s time to add them to your quilt. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to put borders on a quilt:

1. Cut the fabric for your borders: Measure the sides of your quilt top and add an additional 1/8 inch seam allowance to all sides. This extra fabric will account for any stretching that may occur while sewing.

2. Sew the borders together: If you need multiple strips of fabric to make up one side of your border, sew them together before attaching them to the quilt top.

3. Sew the borders to the edges of your quilt: Lay out one side of your border along one edge of your quilt top with right sides facing each other. Pin in place and stitch using 1/4 inch seam allowance. Repeat for all sides.

4. Press: After stitching each side, press the seams open or towards the border.

5. Trim: Once all sides are attached, trim off any excess fabric from the borders that extend beyond the edges of your quilt top.

Tips for Perfectly Straight Borders

• Measure twice, cut once: To ensure that you have enough fabric for accurate borders, measure twice before cutting.

• Use pins or quilting clips: Pinning or clipping down your border strip before sewing can help keep everything in place and prevent any shifting or puckering.

• Press as you go: Frequently pressing open seams or towards the border will ensure that everything stays neat and flat.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Adding borders to a quilt can be a little tricky, and it’s natural to make mistakes along the way. However, being aware of some common errors can help you avoid them. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Don’t stretch or pull your fabric while sewing, as this can result in misshapen borders.

• Don’t try to ease in excess fabric while attaching the borders; it will only cause unsightly puckering.

• If you have a directional fabric with one-way designs, make sure all your strips are facing in the same direction when sewing together.

Conclusion

Adding borders is an essential step in finishing your quilt. It brings everything together and gives your creation a polished look. With the tips and techniques provided above, you can confidently add borders to your quilts and take them to the next level. Remember, don’t be afraid to experiment with different fabrics, widths, and designs to create a truly one-of-a-kind quilt. So go ahead and put those borders on your quilt with confidence!

1) What is the purpose of putting borders on a quilt?
Borders on a quilt serve both a functional and aesthetic purpose. They help to secure and stabilize the edges of the quilt, and also add a finishing touch to enhance its overall appearance.

2) What are some common methods for adding borders to a quilt?
The most common methods include sewing in straight or mitered borders, using continuous bias binding, or incorporating self-made or pre-made trims. The choice ultimately depends on personal preference and the desired look for the finished quilt.

3) How do I determine the size of border needed for my quilt?
It is recommended to use a border that is at least one inch wider than your finished block size. This will allow for seam allowances and any shrinkage that may occur during the quilting process. Adding more than one border can also provide interesting design options.

4) What is the best way to prepare fabric for adding borders?
Before sewing, it is important to ensure that your fabric is properly pressed and has straight, even edges. Depending on the fabric type, you may also need to pre-wash and lightly starch it for better handling and sewing accuracy.

5) Do I need any special tools or techniques when working with border fabric?
While not necessary, using specialized rulers and rotary cutting tools can help ensure accurate measurements and clean cuts when adding borders. It may also be helpful to use pins or clips when attaching longer borders to prevent shifting or puckering.

6) Are there any tips for achieving smooth, wrinkle-free borders?
To prevent buckling or sagging, it is important to make sure all layers of your quilt are smooth before basting and quilting. Some quilters also recommend starting with piecing blocks in the center of your quilt and working outwards to the edges, which can help evenly distribute any excess fabric.

In conclusion, adding borders to a quilt is an important step in completing a beautiful and cohesive project. It not only adds visual interest, but also provides a practical purpose by protecting the edges and keeping the layers of the quilt together. While the process of adding borders may seem intimidating at first, with practice and attention to detail, it can become a rewarding part of the quilting process.

First and foremost, it is essential to properly measure and cut the borders to ensure a perfect fit. This involves taking accurate measurements of each side of the quilt and making adjustments if necessary. Additionally, paying attention to grain lines and properly aligning them will help prevent stretching or distortion.

To achieve a professional finish, it is important to take your time in piecing and joining the borders. Carefully matching seams and using proper techniques such as nesting or pinning will result in straight, tidy borders that enhance the overall appearance of the quilt.

Adding decorative elements such as mitred corners or prairie points can elevate the look of a quilt border and add personality. However, these techniques require precision and attention to detail in their execution.

Lastly, choosing the right fabric for your borders is crucial in achieving the desired look for your quilt. Whether it be a contrasting color or pattern, or using leftover scraps

Author Profile

Jill Nammar

My name is Jill but everyone calls me Jilly. I design original cross stitch patterns inspired by vintage French and flowers. Roses are my muse.
I hope you have a cozy time stitching my patterns. Put the kettle on, relax and create a heartwarming piece of hand-embroidered art. Personalize your home and turn up the soulful charm with soulful stitchery.

My goal is to provide you with pretty patterns that promote peaceful stitching. My wish is for you to discover the gentle beauty of hand-embroidery.My patterns have been featured around the web and in Homespun Magazine and Boston Magazine. I find my bliss in cross stitch.

From 2024, I have embarked on a new venture—writing an informative blog on the “Embroidery and Cross-Stitch” niche. This blog is an extension of my passion, where I share detailed posts and respond to queries related to embroidery and cross-stitching.

The blog covers a wide range of topics from beginner tips, pattern creation, historical insights, and the therapeutic benefits of stitching. My goal is to build a community where enthusiasts can learn, share, and grow in their embroidery skills, ensuring everyone can find their own bliss in cross-stitch just as I did.

Thank you to all my customers and readers who have supported Sew French. Your kind emails, photos of completed patterns, and continual encouragement fuel my dedication to this beautiful craft. Join me in stitching a world of beauty and peace, one pattern at a time.