Measuring for the Border

The next statement I make will cause many of you to remove my blog from your blog reader, never to return to my blog again but, here it is:

I do not measure before adding borders! I just don’t do it!

I use Electric Quilt. Let’s just do a shameless plug here and get this part out of the way. If you don’t have EQ, you can order it from me here. Thanks! If you’re not an EQ user, well . . why not? :)

Back to measuring, there are two reasons I do not measure (well, three if you count that I just don’t like that part!):

  1. If I’m measuring a quilt, depending on the size, I can come up with a very wide variation in numbers. It can be stretched ever so slightly to yield a slightly larger number than you need; it can be scrunched just a bit to yield a slightly smaller number than you need. Even with pressing, the top can be distorted a bit so that your numbers aren’t totally accurate.
  2. If you know your blocks are measuring perfectly at 10″ or 12″ finished, and you know your sashing is measuring at 2″ finished, why can’t you just figure that 4 blocks x 10″ plus 3 sashing strips x 2″ = 46″ plus 1/2″ seam allowance (1/4 on each edge) . . your border needs to be 46-1/2″.

Who wants to measure down the left side, measure down the right side, measure down the middle, add them all up and take an average? Not me!

The only potential for a problem that may arise is when your blocks are supposed to be 12″ finished and you have one that might be 12-1/4″ or one that may be 11-3/4″ but quilters . . make sure those blocks are right! If your blocks aren’t right, your sashing isn’t going to be right and then one side of your border may need to be 46″ while one side may need to be 46-1/2″. So, figure out how to get those blocks as right as possible.

If you don’t have Electric Quilt, you can simply make yourself a chart:

# of blocks x size of blocks = ________

# of sashing strips x size of sashing strips = ________

This is the size of your top with no borders. Don’t forget to add 1/2″ for the two 1/4″ seam allowances.

Then for each additional border you add:

Start with the size of your top without borders. For this example, let’s say the top is 46″ x 58″.

You will know that your side borders need to be 58-1/2″ before you attach them. Let’s assume this border is 2″ finished.

Your width of your top is 46″ plus you’ve added 2″ on either side so 46 + 2″ on the left and 2″ on the right. Now your top width is 50″.

Here’s a chart that I use when making borders. If I’m sewing away from home, I always make my borders before leaving home, whether pieced or straight, and layer them with the outer border on bottom and continue stacking them til the first border to be added is on top. Then I roll them up and tie my little bundle loosely with a selvage or strip of fabric. When I’m ready to sew, I untie the bundle, unroll it and the first border gets added to the sides of the top, then the next border gets added to the top and bottom and so on. I keep this little chart with the bundle so I have it for reference if needed.

BorderChartNow, if you’re using Electric Quilt, this is very easy! This is what you see when you have just the top drawn out. Click on these to make them larger!

EQ1Notice:

  1. In the top of the “Horizontal Layout” box, you see the size of the center of the quilt.
  2. You see the size of the blocks, the size of the sashing and the number of blocks used.
  3. Towards the bottom right, you see the size of the quilt at this point.

Let’s add that first 2-1/2″ finished border (cut 3″).

EQ2Notice:

  1. In the “Borders” box, you see the size of this quilt after adding these borders. Since I always add the side borders first, I use the measurements from the first box where no borders were added yet so my side borders are cut 3″ x 58-1/2″.
  2. This particular borders box tells me that once the side borders have been added, the quilt measures 51″ x 63″, seam allowances not included. So, I know my top and bottom borders need to be cut 3″ x 51-1/2″. My top, including seam allowances now should measure 51-1/2″ x 63-1/2″.
  3. I know that the next border (next round) I add will be the side borders. So, whatever width they need to be, the length will be 63-1/2″.

EQ3

My next border will be a pieced border. I’m using 3″ finished squares. I needed to be sure that the top at this point measures numbers that are multiples of 3. We will talk more about this later. I know (because my calculator tells me) that 63 divided by 3 means I need 21 – 3″ blocks for the sides. 51 divided by 3 = 17 so I need 17 – 3″ blocks for the top and bottom. And, I need four 3″ corner squares. So, I need 21 and 21 (two sides), 17 and 17 (top and bottom) and 4 (corners) blocks for the border. I need 80 – 3″ (3-1/2″) blocks for this pieced border.

Notice:

  1. You see that we’re working on the 2nd of 2 borders.
  2. You see that this top will be 57″ x 69″, not counting seam allowances, after the addition of these borders.
  3. You see how many blocks are added to the sides and top/bottom. You have to remember that you’ll also need the 4 corner blocks.

EQ4

The final border is going to be 4″ (cut 4-1/2″). I know that since the quilt was 57-1/2″ x 69-1/2″ after the previous border, my side borders will be cut 4-1/2″ x 69-1/2″. From this screen shot, I can see that the top and bottom borders will be 65″ long finished so I will cut those 4-1/2″ x 65-1/2″, for a final measurement of this top top to be 65-1/2″ x 77-1/2″.

Some may find it easier to measure than to do the math. I find it easier to do the math and keep the chart. However you do it, please make sure your borders fit properly! One method you might want to avoid is taking long strips and sewing . . without regard to measurements. Ask me how I know this method doesn’t always work! :)