Mitered Borders...

A lot of people experience fear (and maybe cold sweats) when they think about mitered borders.  I did, too.  But I love how it looks.  I taught a friend to quilt, and gave her the two options of mitered borders and square borders.  She liked the look, I convinced her it wasn't that hard, and she did it.  She did a fantastic job, too.  They are still her favorite to do.

Mitered borders are now the only ones I do.  Even if there is a pieced border in the middle.  I miter the inner border(s).  Sew on the pieced one.  Miter the outer one(s). 

 

I thought I'd try to help those who are a little hesitant about mitered borders.

Two things to remember:  1) don't sew into the seam allowances and 2) backstitch/tie-off at the beginning and end of the seams (this is important as you don't cross over these seams with another seam).

First, cut straight-of-grain borders a little longer than they need to be (measure length of quilt + total border width + total border width + a few inches) and assemble them in order from inner to outer.

 

Next, center the border on the side of the quilt, pin, and sew.  Begin sewing 1/4 inch away from the corner of the center and stop 1/4 inch away from the corner.  Do not sew into the seam allowance.  I mark the beginning and end with two pins.  It's sorta like my "stop sign".  In the picture below, I will start sewing at the pin on the left (forward 2 stitches, back 2 stitches, continue on, stop at the pin 1/4 inch away from the end, back stitch 2, forward 2).

 

Once all the borders are sewn on, you only have the miter to do.  How to lay the quilt gets a little tricky to describe, but not hard to do.

The borders would be laying against the quilt front (just like they were when you sewed them on), but the quilt center will get folded wrong sided together at the corner.  The borders will be right sides together.  Use pins to hold anything in place that doesn't want to go.  It'll look like this.

 

Make sure that all rows of the border are on top of each other and seams align.  This may take a bit of work, but just be patient.

Now you'll draw the line that you'll sew on.  Lay a ruler on the border at a 45^o angle.  Starting at the end of the seam line (that sewed the border onto the quilt), draw a line to the edge of the border.

 

 

If you're a little unsure at this point, you can put the pins in through the seam line, open the quilt and see how it looks.  I found this extremely helpful the first few times.

Begin sewing at the end of the seam, backstitching at the beginning, and continuing to the edge of the border.

Before you cut anything, open the quilt up and see how you did.

 

Cut the extra off (be careful here) and press. 

I think you'll do a great job.

Comments

[Jessica]

I am definately having cold sweats and staying up at night about doing a mitered edge border on a pillow for a client. This is by far the easiest directions I've seen. Very clearly written and easy to understand! I'm going to attempt today! Thanks so much!

[RamonGustav]

Congratulations! You have so much useful information, write more.

[Hotjobs]

With the new 2011. Year! Congratulations.