Before I cut the first piece of fabric, I create a border chart:

The numbers in parentheses indicate the halfway point so I don’t have to figure it out when I’m at the cutting table.

Once the strips are sewn together to give me the length I need and using the long cutting mat, I spread the border out, lining one end (which I’ve squared up already) at the zero mark.

I mark the center of my borders.

Then move the marked line down to the zero line again.

As I’m marking the end of the border, I only need to make one mark and not a second mark at the top of the border.

Line up a horizontal line of the ruler with the edge of the border, placing the cutting edge of the ruler right on the marked edge and this is where I cut off the end of the border.

This quilt has 6 borders.  The third border was a pieced border and that’s the very first one I made.  Then I start with border #6.  I make the side borders first, then lay them out of the way.  Then I make the top and bottom pieces for border #6 and lay them right on top of the others.  I do the same with #5, sides first, then top and bottom, then border #4, then stick the pieced borders on top, then do borders #2 and #1.  Then I roll that all up and I have a border bundle.

You can see the big border bundle here in this picture.  Don’t ask me why that tiny little triangle is laying there . . guess it just wanted to be in the picture too.

Once the borders are all done, the blocks are made and it’s very quick to put the top together.

This method may not work for anyone but me but I love doing my borders first!