Tutorial: How to Add a Mitered Border to Your Quilt

There are times when a quilt really benefits from a mitered border, instead of a border with butted or cornerstone corners.  It takes a little more time to do miters, but the effort can really pay off.  It is NOT HARD, just a little slower to accomplish than plain borders.

Sometimes it's the fabric you've selected for your border that tells you to miter.  A stripe or a border print really looks good mitered.  Here are the steps I took this week to add a striped fabric to my   Circa 2016 quilt.

1. Measure the quilt top in both directions:

This was 52" x 43" including seam allowances.

2. Carefully cut the borders exactly the same size in width and placement of the lines.  This almost certainly has to be done one layer at a time to be sure all four borders are the same. I placed the 2.25" mark on my ruler on a specific line on the striped fabric--this is the center of the border.  I cut four borders, 4.5" wide each, 2.25" away from the center line in both directions.  Now the borders have the stripes exactly the same. The longest border I needed was 52" + 8" = 60" so the 2 yards (72") I had of this stripe was plenty.  I did not cut the borders to exact size before sewing.  Some people do, but I wait until the borders are sewn in place to make the final cut to size--insurance in case I measured incorrectly--it happens...

3.  Fold the border in the middle, mark the middle, and mark the outside measurement on both ends--here is the 52" border, marked at 26" and at the outer ends:

4. Do the same thing with other border, 43" is marked at both ends and 21.5" in the middle.

5. Pin the first border to the quilt, pinning at the middle and precisely at each end.  Use as many pins as you need to ease the border/quilt to fit each other:

This shows the back side of the border, where the mark on the border is lined up with the outside edge of the quilt.  I pinned and sewed with the quilt side up so I could see the Half Square Triangles (HST).

6. Start and end the seam 1/4" from both outside edges:

7.  Add all four borders in the same manner, starting and stopping 1/4" in from the outside edge of the quilt.

8.  When all four borders are in place, you will mark the 45 degree miter line with a pencil.  Carefully fold a corner of the quilt so two borders are exactly on top of each other and the quilt is folded at the seam where you started/stopped sewing:

Both borders sewn, from the back

Both borders sewn, from the front

If you have a triangle ruler, now is a good time to use it.  Line up the ruler with the start/stop stitches where the quilt joins the border and the bottom edge, keeping everything in line:

If you don't have a triangle ruler, any ruler with a 45 degree line will work:

Pencil line drawn carefully from start to finish:

I pin and check that the border lines are precisely lined up, this looks good so I'm ready to sew:

9.  Starting at the top where the quilt is joined to the border, sew with a few back stitches, being sure you don't go inside the seam allowance.  Any stitches that go inside the seam allowance will cause a small pucker--you'll want to remove any of those stitches.  Sewn and ready to trim:

10.  Carefully trim the seam.  I cut this slightly larger than 1/4", but 1/4" is fine if you prefer.  Press the seams open and admire how precisely you sewed your borders:

Lather, rinse, repeat with the other three borders.  Your quilt looks great!

Here is mine:

And, because someone will ask, the top border is wider because I did not cut the selvedge off when I cut the fourth border.  It will be trimmed off when the quilt is finished and I am squaring it up for binding.

Just a NOTE:  if you have multiple fabrics in your border, make "border fabric" first before joining the borders to the quilt.  Here is a striped border that I didn't worry about matching at the corners and an inner narrow black border.  The black fabric was sewn to the striped fabric before I marked, pinned, and sewed the borders to the quilt.  I only want to miter four times/quilt. not eight or twelve or however many borders you have on the quilt:

I hope you learned a trick or two here.  If so, please share this with all your quilt-y friends.  It can seem like no one is reading these posts out there in cyber-land!

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Garments? Check!

I had a very productive few days and got my Houston garments done:

This fabric is Eternal Sunshine by Amy Butler for Free Spirit Fabrics.  The pattern is Kwik Sew 3732.  I used this pattern in 2011 for one of my favorite jackets so it was easy to decide to use it again.  I still have to put 2 buttonholes on this--I found the perfect buttons in my stash for this jacket.  Some of the prints in this line are quite large--it will be very interesting to see how the other 20 members of the Education Team use their fabrics.  I'll have group photos when I get home from Houston, mid-November.

This fabric is from Cherrywood Fabrics, with an old Hoffman print as the accent piece.  The pattern is the Kanustandit Jacket for Design and Planning Concepts.  It's an old pattern, I first made it in 2005.  The sleeves are kimono-style so they look slouchy on the hanger, a little less so on me.  Again, I'll be eager to see the other Cherrywood garments our Team makes.

We wear these garments on specific days so, as a team, we look recognizable, but everyone chooses their own fabrics/colors from what is offered and we can make whatever we want.  Here is a shot from 2015--we are wearing Vintage Made Modern by Amy Barickman for RJR Fabrics:

Now I have a couple quilts to finish quilting--one of them is going with me to hang in the office.  That helps the space look more home-y, less industrial.

And I'm going to do another small sew-a-long put together by my friend Lori D at Humble Quilts.  She is calling this one "Quilters Madder"--it will be small and scrappy, right up my alley. Here are my fabrics pulled quickly from pieces I am also using in Circa 2016 and Rajah Revisited:

 Those two projects are winding down so it is safe to use these for the next project--then I don't have to put them away, right?

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Fall!

It took its' sweet time getting here, but we finally have cooler temps here this week.

I managed to get the September segment of Rajah Revisited done before the end of the month, it's 50.5" square at the moment:

This pattern is the 2016 Block of the Month quilt from thequiltshow.com, a subscription internet quilt show and so much more. It is based on an historic quilt made by slave women shipbound to Australia from England, in the 1840's.  There are two more borders to go.  If you subscribe before the end of 2016 you will have access to the entire year's patterns.  A new Block of the Month will start in January, 2017, and it is designed by the incomparable Sue Garman.  I am a huge fan of The Quilt Show--even when I am not particularly interested in one of the shows, I still learn things.  And the forums and puzzles, and special features are just terrific.  You can sign up as a basic member and look around before you decide to subscribe.

Next up is making two garments for International Quilt Market and Festival in Houston--I head down there 4 weeks from now for thirteen days.  It is the highlight of my year.  Having these garments really helps with wardrobe issues for that long.  Each year, fabric companies donate fabric to the Education Team.  Each person selects her choice of fabrics from a specific line and can make her choice of garments.  We wear specific garments on specific days.  This helps us look like "staff" to the thousands of students on the 3rd floor and helps us look professional but comfortable.  Several pairs of black slacks, a handful of tank tops/blouses, and I am good to go with my jackets.  This year we are sporting Amy Butler's latest line, Eternal Sunshine by Free Spirit Fabrics and Cherrywood Fabrics, with our choice on one print to be added to the Cherrywood suede-look solids:

I rarely figure out what I'm making before I order, just take a guess and make it work.  Some of the others plan their order for the specific garments they plan to make.  I am excited about this years' fabrics and eager to get my jackets made.  For me, selecting the patterns and which fabrics will go where is the challenge--once that's done, making them just comes together.  We'll see if my luck still holds in that department.

Here's hoping Fall has made an appearance at your place too.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Needle Chasers Quilt Guild Quilt Show 2016

Recently, the Needle Chasers Quilt Guild of Tishomingo County, Mississippi, located in Iuka, MS, held its' biannual quilt show.  They are 60 members strong and one of the nicest group of quilters you could ever hope to meet. Iuka is in the Northeast corner of Mississippi, bordering, Tennessee and Alabama.  An easy two hour drive from my home.

There were about 15 categories and each received a first, second, and third place award, along with several honorable mention awards. The categories were separated by size, Large, Medium, and Small, and by technique, Large, Pieced, Quilted by Hand, Large, Applique', Quilted by Professional, etc.  After all the categories were judged, there was a Best of Show, Large, Best of Show, Medium, and Best of Show, Small selected from the First Place winners in those size categories.

This year they also had a special award for "Outstanding Handwork"--this award was presented in memory of three of their members who had passed away since the last show, all of whom were excellent needlewomen.

And a few of the winners are:

BEST OF SHOW LARGE, Applique', Machine Quilted by a Professional
Wreath of Roses
Made by Karen Asbury and quilted by Marge Love

BEST OF SHOW MEDIUM, Mixed Technique, Machine Quilted by a Professional
Diamonds in the Rough Squared
Made by Lynn Doyle Blaylock, shown here, Quilted by Cheri Weber

BEST OF SHOW SMALL, Other, Quilted by a Non-Professional
Carolina Lily, Made and Quilted by Terri Embrey

OUTSTANDING NEEDLEWORK AWARD
Ruth's Rose Garden
Large Applique', Made and Hand Quilted by Dorothy Dailey

And the coveted Viewer's Choice Awards were announced shortly before the show closed:

VIEWER'S CHOICE, LARGE
Large, Mixed Technique. Quilted by Professional
Grandma's Garden in the 30's
Made by Barbara Patterson, shown here, Quilted by Terri Rogers

VIEWER'S CHOICE, MEDIUM
Another Ribbon for Lynn Blaylocks'
Diamonds in the Rough Squared

VIEWER'S CHOICE, SMALL
Small, Mixed Technique, Quilted by a Non-Professional
Zoey Zebra Made and quilted by Nancy Ice

Another few favorites of mine:

King of the Jungle,
 Medium Pieced Machine Quilted by a Non-Professional
Made and Quilted by Kathleen Robinson

Twisted Posies
Medium Pieced Machine Quilted by a Professional
Made by Marcelle Bethany, Quilted by Sharon Beene

Long May She Wave
Medium Pieced, Machine Quilted by a Non-Professional
Made and Quilted by Terri Embrey

Deco Heart Beat
Small Pieced Quilted by a Professional
Made by Anita Haddad, Quilted by Anita and Terri Rogers

I presented a one hour Trunk Show each of the two days.  It was well-received and I brought exactly the right number of quilts to keep the talk to one hour.  After the first day, they told me I spoke "Yankee fast" for Southern ears, so the second day I sloooowwwwed down, some...

It was a fun few days for me and I hope to return to spend more time with the lovely ladies of the Needle Chasers Guild of Iuka, MS.  As you can see, they are an eclectic group and do wonderful work. There were vendors and theme rooms, and funny signs  part 1  part 2 everywhere. Make plans to attend their 2018 show, you won't be disappointed.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Sunday Funnies Part 2

The rest of the signs from the Needle Chasers of Iuka, Mississippi Quilt Show: