I had three big finishes this weekend. I will share one today, and the other two tomorrow.
For some reason, I stall when it comes to getting the borders on my quilts. I have a big push to get my blocks sewn together, and then completely lose steam (and interest) in seeing things through to the final point–borders.
Long Road Home is pictured above, and wasn't even supposed to have borders. It just looked unfinished to me without them. Besides, I don't like all those bias edges on the outside of my quilts. I found the perfect Civil War paisley print in my stash, which undoubtedly was part of a kit I long ago dismantled and didn't get around to using. The print has a dark brown background, with touches of red and gold and either blue or green. It worked great with the scrappy fabrics in the Long Road Home blocks, and I was pleased as could be to have discovered it.
I have a guilty confession to make. I tried to do a mitered border on this quilt and it looked just terrible. There was too much fabric, and the borders were rumply. I know I measured right, but that is what happened anyway. Also, since we are telling the truth here, my miters weren't that great either. At least the first one I did looked kind of sloppy. I ended up removing all four borders and reapplying them the regular way. I feel like a failure, not even being able to do a decent mitered border at this stage of my sewing career, but I'd rather have a flat quilt with borders that don't rumple than have a sloppy miter job.
How about you? Do you love to do mitered borders? Any tips for the rest of us who dread them?
90 responses to “Three Big Finishes!”
Jinny Beyer has a great tutorail on miterd borders esp. since she uses allot of her great border fabric. I had the same experience until I followed her directions. I too have the same problem as you–quilt done just needs borders….also sewing on the binding can be a stalling point with me. Beautiful job on your quilts. I am a regular follower of your blog. Enjoy it when I get to surf the web. Have a great Monday.
Jinny Beyer has a great tutorail on miterd borders esp. since she uses allot of her great border fabric. I had the same experience until I followed her directions. I too have the same problem as you–quilt done just needs borders….also sewing on the binding can be a stalling point with me. Beautiful job on your quilts. I am a regular follower of your blog. Enjoy it when I get to surf the web. Have a great Monday.
Love the way your quilt looks and that brown border great choice.
mitered borders I tend to avoid them unless the fabric really needs to be mitered.
hints I just pin and look and then press and then look again then decide sew and hope for the best 🙂
kathie
Love the way your quilt looks and that brown border great choice.
mitered borders I tend to avoid them unless the fabric really needs to be mitered.
hints I just pin and look and then press and then look again then decide sew and hope for the best 🙂
kathie
My one attempt at mitred corners left a lot to be desired. I am able to show others and I help them fix their own but mine…. My borders are now the easier straight ones, much less stress and saves me using the reverse sewing implement quite so often. Your borders frame the quilt beautifully, Nicole, perfect.
My one attempt at mitred corners left a lot to be desired. I am able to show others and I help them fix their own but mine…. My borders are now the easier straight ones, much less stress and saves me using the reverse sewing implement quite so often. Your borders frame the quilt beautifully, Nicole, perfect.
Oh, Long Road Home is another of my favorite quilts from those you’ve made!! The borders do finished it off and frame the blocks perfectly, too. Applause, applause!!!!
I have managed to do mitred corners on several quilts but am always worried I’ll flub up – and have. On one quilt, I did a great mitred corner and then couldn’t do another one to save my life, so un-mitred the first corner. Sigh!
This week with 3 big finishes you’ll deserve a standing ovation!!!
Hugs!
Oh, Long Road Home is another of my favorite quilts from those you’ve made!! The borders do finished it off and frame the blocks perfectly, too. Applause, applause!!!!
I have managed to do mitred corners on several quilts but am always worried I’ll flub up – and have. On one quilt, I did a great mitred corner and then couldn’t do another one to save my life, so un-mitred the first corner. Sigh!
This week with 3 big finishes you’ll deserve a standing ovation!!!
Hugs!
What a great quilt and the borders add to it very nicely. Great!!!!!!!
Hate doing miter corner and not very good at it….have done the same thing and just add straight borders to finish off. Love your quilt
Gail
What a great quilt and the borders add to it very nicely. Great!!!!!!!
Hate doing miter corner and not very good at it….have done the same thing and just add straight borders to finish off. Love your quilt
Gail
I usually do mitred borders. I cut them longer than they need to be, sew them on up to the 1/4″ seam on the quilt, then press one of the overhanging strips at a 45 degree angle. This then forms my stitching line – sometimes I draw it on the back to be extra sure.
However a couple of times I have done straight borders and it has looked just as good!
I usually do mitred borders. I cut them longer than they need to be, sew them on up to the 1/4″ seam on the quilt, then press one of the overhanging strips at a 45 degree angle. This then forms my stitching line – sometimes I draw it on the back to be extra sure.
However a couple of times I have done straight borders and it has looked just as good!
Love your quilt…I think your borders are just the right touch!! Miters take too long for me…yes, I can do them, but why? I always have one or two corners that are off a little. I think it looks perfect and flat…which is something I struggle with. So I can’t wait to see what you have for tomorrow!!
Love your quilt…I think your borders are just the right touch!! Miters take too long for me…yes, I can do them, but why? I always have one or two corners that are off a little. I think it looks perfect and flat…which is something I struggle with. So I can’t wait to see what you have for tomorrow!!
Your quilt is gorgeous!! No mitered corners for me. I, like you, would rather have a flat quilt and border 🙂 I never was good at geometry.
Your quilt is gorgeous!! No mitered corners for me. I, like you, would rather have a flat quilt and border 🙂 I never was good at geometry.
I think the brown border is a perfect finish for your quilt. I do mitered borders only occasionally, when the fabric print absolutely requires it, and always have a bit of a challenge with them, they are certainly tricky. But I am finding each one easier to do than the last. Like a lot of things quilty, you get better with practice, it is just that they don’t come up very frequently.
I think the brown border is a perfect finish for your quilt. I do mitered borders only occasionally, when the fabric print absolutely requires it, and always have a bit of a challenge with them, they are certainly tricky. But I am finding each one easier to do than the last. Like a lot of things quilty, you get better with practice, it is just that they don’t come up very frequently.
I’m smog glad I’m not the only one who does that with borders Nicole. I’ve had my Lori Holt Row Along quilt top done for a while now and kept trying to get into doing the borders. I’m finally doing my scallop border, yay. Your quilt is beautiful.
I’m smog glad I’m not the only one who does that with borders Nicole. I’ve had my Lori Holt Row Along quilt top done for a while now and kept trying to get into doing the borders. I’m finally doing my scallop border, yay. Your quilt is beautiful.
Oopsie, sometimes my words don’t come it right n the iPad. I meant to say: I’m so glad. sheesh.
Oopsie, sometimes my words don’t come it right n the iPad. I meant to say: I’m so glad. sheesh.
I love your quilt and even more so now with your beautiful borders. I have a love/hate relationship with mitered borders. I love the look but HATE doing them. I usually sign up for a sew day at the quilt shop when I need to do them so the teacher can help me. LOL
I love your quilt and even more so now with your beautiful borders. I have a love/hate relationship with mitered borders. I love the look but HATE doing them. I usually sign up for a sew day at the quilt shop when I need to do them so the teacher can help me. LOL
Your quilt looks fantastic and the border fabric really sets off the rest of the quilt. Miters scare the crap out of me. I’ve done miters on one quilt and it came out okay but I try to avoid doing miters at all cost. When it comes to borders I wish I had the gumption to do something stylist but I always end up just adding a simple border….for me simple is better and I’m fine with that. Look forward to seeing what you’ve completed tomorrow!
Your quilt looks fantastic and the border fabric really sets off the rest of the quilt. Miters scare the crap out of me. I’ve done miters on one quilt and it came out okay but I try to avoid doing miters at all cost. When it comes to borders I wish I had the gumption to do something stylist but I always end up just adding a simple border….for me simple is better and I’m fine with that. Look forward to seeing what you’ve completed tomorrow!
This border looks great! I am with you about mitered borders. Love the idea, but I haven’t mastered it either. Hopefully we’ll all get some good tips from the comments.
This border looks great! I am with you about mitered borders. Love the idea, but I haven’t mastered it either. Hopefully we’ll all get some good tips from the comments.
When making mitered borders, the key is to mark that 1/4″ so you stop exactly at the right spot. I only miter when the fabric dictates. I’m wondering about your mention of all the bias edges? Why would you have bias edges with an on point setting? I’m doing one right now and all the triangle outside edges are on the straight of grain.
When making mitered borders, the key is to mark that 1/4″ so you stop exactly at the right spot. I only miter when the fabric dictates. I’m wondering about your mention of all the bias edges? Why would you have bias edges with an on point setting? I’m doing one right now and all the triangle outside edges are on the straight of grain.
I have loved Long Road Home since you first showed us the blocks… love it!!! I’ve never attempted mitered corner borders… I don’t make very many large quilts, but it would be nice to get some tips just incase!!!
I have loved Long Road Home since you first showed us the blocks… love it!!! I’ve never attempted mitered corner borders… I don’t make very many large quilts, but it would be nice to get some tips just incase!!!
It looks awesome! I can’t imagine it looking any more awesome with mitered borders. Save the miter practice for another day. Congrats on the 3 finishes.
It looks awesome! I can’t imagine it looking any more awesome with mitered borders. Save the miter practice for another day. Congrats on the 3 finishes.
Your quilts are just so beautiful. You seem to be able to take the idea to the most amazing execution. Thanks for sharing.
Your quilts are just so beautiful. You seem to be able to take the idea to the most amazing execution. Thanks for sharing.
Gorgeous…mitered or not!! Absolutely lovely!!
P
Gorgeous…mitered or not!! Absolutely lovely!!
P
That’s a great quilt. Love those colors. And you are right, the border fabric is just perfect.
That’s a great quilt. Love those colors. And you are right, the border fabric is just perfect.
Borders look great even if they are on the ‘regular’ way. Nope never tried mitred borders! The whole quilt looks great and congrats on a finish.
Borders look great even if they are on the ‘regular’ way. Nope never tried mitred borders! The whole quilt looks great and congrats on a finish.
Beautiful finish! That border fabric is just perfect for your top! And, you got to “shop at home!” You don’t need to feel guilty! I, too, like the look of mitered borders but until I can find a class to take in person I’ll stick with regular ones!!
Beautiful finish! That border fabric is just perfect for your top! And, you got to “shop at home!” You don’t need to feel guilty! I, too, like the look of mitered borders but until I can find a class to take in person I’ll stick with regular ones!!
Wow! I’m speechless! It’s magnificent!!!
Wow! I’m speechless! It’s magnificent!!!
I do mitered corners very rarely and then only sew the ‘miter’ by hand.:) Your quilt is gorgeous!
I do mitered corners very rarely and then only sew the ‘miter’ by hand.:) Your quilt is gorgeous!
What a spectacular quilt! Funny you should mention how you stall when it comes to doing the borders, I do the same thing. But this morning I pulled out a quilt top (minus the border) and told myself to just get at it! And that’s what I’m doing today.
What a spectacular quilt! Funny you should mention how you stall when it comes to doing the borders, I do the same thing. But this morning I pulled out a quilt top (minus the border) and told myself to just get at it! And that’s what I’m doing today.
Yep, the border looks great on this quilt! I am opposite of you…I start blocks, then lose interest. But once the blocks are together, I can’t wait to get the borders on!
Mitering corners is like everything else…practice, practice, practice! When done properly, they look great!!! When done improperly, they can stand out and take away from the beauty of the quilt. You make the right decision to straight set the borders…
Yep, the border looks great on this quilt! I am opposite of you…I start blocks, then lose interest. But once the blocks are together, I can’t wait to get the borders on!
Mitering corners is like everything else…practice, practice, practice! When done properly, they look great!!! When done improperly, they can stand out and take away from the beauty of the quilt. You make the right decision to straight set the borders…
What a lovely quilt! I think I would have also felt that it didn’t look finished without borders.
My true confession of the day is that I have never ever even tried mitered borders YET.
What a lovely quilt! I think I would have also felt that it didn’t look finished without borders.
My true confession of the day is that I have never ever even tried mitered borders YET.
Love your quilt Nicole! Isn’t it great when you find fabric in your stash! Mitred borers – yuck! Am absolutely the same when it comes to finishing a quilt ….so many sitting with no borders. I dislike putting them on! Maybe there is a rehab facility we can attend – Quilters without Borders!
Love your quilt Nicole! Isn’t it great when you find fabric in your stash! Mitred borers – yuck! Am absolutely the same when it comes to finishing a quilt ….so many sitting with no borders. I dislike putting them on! Maybe there is a rehab facility we can attend – Quilters without Borders!
I WANT THAT QUILT!!!!! Hard work but it turned out beautifully! ;p
Sally Collins has a book that is solely about adding borders to quilts and it includeds mitered corners.
My experience with mitered corners? Hit and miss. ;p
I WANT THAT QUILT!!!!! Hard work but it turned out beautifully! ;p
Sally Collins has a book that is solely about adding borders to quilts and it includeds mitered corners.
My experience with mitered corners? Hit and miss. ;p
I love this quilt! Then again I am partial to ninepatches. And the borders were definitely needed. Great job!
I love this quilt! Then again I am partial to ninepatches. And the borders were definitely needed. Great job!
I think your quilt looks great! And I never could miter so you’re not alone!
I think your quilt looks great! And I never could miter so you’re not alone!
Your quilt is awesome! Anyone who makes such a beautiful quilt can’t be a failure.
Your quilt is awesome! Anyone who makes such a beautiful quilt can’t be a failure.
Great quilt, Nicole! I love your border fabric. I’ve done a few mitered borders, but usually opt for regular borders. All your quilts are lovely!
Great quilt, Nicole! I love your border fabric. I’ve done a few mitered borders, but usually opt for regular borders. All your quilts are lovely!
Fantastic! Jealous over here for sure.
Fantastic! Jealous over here for sure.
Love your quilt! The borders are perfect 🙂 I love the look of mitered borders but always freak out when I have to do them. I think it is just a phobia I put on myself cause when I take the time to do them they look great (with a lot of pinning, marking, and ripping out).
Love your quilt! The borders are perfect 🙂 I love the look of mitered borders but always freak out when I have to do them. I think it is just a phobia I put on myself cause when I take the time to do them they look great (with a lot of pinning, marking, and ripping out).
I like the quilt borders. So great to be able to “shop the stash”! The only time I would do a mitered border is when a print such as a border stripe needs to match.
I like the quilt borders. So great to be able to “shop the stash”! The only time I would do a mitered border is when a print such as a border stripe needs to match.
The quilt is just beautiful. These usually aren’t the colors I find attractive. But for this quilt it just looks lovely. I wish I had your stamina. In the time it takes you to complete 3 quilts – I’m still working on one.
The quilt is just beautiful. These usually aren’t the colors I find attractive. But for this quilt it just looks lovely. I wish I had your stamina. In the time it takes you to complete 3 quilts – I’m still working on one.
Try this fhttp://www.quiltviews.com/better-fitting-mitered-borders from AQS.
Lovely quilt.
Try this fhttp://www.quiltviews.com/better-fitting-mitered-borders from AQS.
Lovely quilt.
I hardly ever do mitered borders. I believe the border should tie with the blocks. If the blocks have mitered corners – like the “window block” (square with a strip on two sides and a mitered corner to give a three-dimensional look to the block) then there is a reason to miter the corner. Or if you have stripes or a print that you want to feature in mitered corners. Otherwise I don’t do them – which is 98% of the time. I have a friend that does ONLY mitered corners, and I often feel that it looks jarring compared with the rest of the quilt. Most antique quilts don’t have mitered corners – it takes so much more fabric – and I like my quilts to look like antique quilts.
I hardly ever do mitered borders. I believe the border should tie with the blocks. If the blocks have mitered corners – like the “window block” (square with a strip on two sides and a mitered corner to give a three-dimensional look to the block) then there is a reason to miter the corner. Or if you have stripes or a print that you want to feature in mitered corners. Otherwise I don’t do them – which is 98% of the time. I have a friend that does ONLY mitered corners, and I often feel that it looks jarring compared with the rest of the quilt. Most antique quilts don’t have mitered corners – it takes so much more fabric – and I like my quilts to look like antique quilts.
Love, love love this quilt by the way – I forgot to say that in my first comment. The border fabric is perfect in my opinion. I’m curious about your reference to bias edges however. Do you use half-square triangles for your setting triangles? If you use quarter-square triangles the edges are on the straight of grain.
Love, love love this quilt by the way – I forgot to say that in my first comment. The border fabric is perfect in my opinion. I’m curious about your reference to bias edges however. Do you use half-square triangles for your setting triangles? If you use quarter-square triangles the edges are on the straight of grain.
Cindy Williams of Onion Mountain Quilts has a foolproof method of cutting the proper length of border fabric, cutting the 45 degree angle, sew it on, and you’re done! It’s in one of her books. Sewgratefulquilts.wordpress.com
Cindy Williams of Onion Mountain Quilts has a foolproof method of cutting the proper length of border fabric, cutting the 45 degree angle, sew it on, and you’re done! It’s in one of her books. Sewgratefulquilts.wordpress.com
wow – So glad to know there is someone else who has a problem getting borders on a quilt. It doesn’t matter if they plan or mitered, I just stop. I get the center made and then it’s off to a new project. My goal this year is to find those unfinished tops and at least get one or two finished – then one or two more. Baby Steps!
wow – So glad to know there is someone else who has a problem getting borders on a quilt. It doesn’t matter if they plan or mitered, I just stop. I get the center made and then it’s off to a new project. My goal this year is to find those unfinished tops and at least get one or two finished – then one or two more. Baby Steps!
Beautiful job! I love it! Congratulations on this finished project!
Beautiful job! I love it! Congratulations on this finished project!
I love do do mitered corners. I make the borders over the width of the border, sew it on to the 1/4 mark, fold it for the 45 degrees, press very well and then pin. Then put my needle down at the 1/4 spots, and sew on the pressed mark. Seems to work for me. I have done a bunch…..
Your quilts are awesome…….
gloria g. Hemingway, SC
I love do do mitered corners. I make the borders over the width of the border, sew it on to the 1/4 mark, fold it for the 45 degrees, press very well and then pin. Then put my needle down at the 1/4 spots, and sew on the pressed mark. Seems to work for me. I have done a bunch…..
Your quilts are awesome…….
gloria g. Hemingway, SC
I think your Long Road Home is one of the most beautiful quilts I have seen. I am inspired to make my own.
I think your Long Road Home is one of the most beautiful quilts I have seen. I am inspired to make my own.