How to Sew a Border on Your Quilt – Detailed Steps for Adding a Finishing Touch

Everything You Need to Know About Sewing Borders on Your Quilt

Whether you’re a beginning quilter or a seasoned pro, adding a nice border is a classic way to finish off your quilt and give it a polished look. But it can be tricky to get it just right. In this article, I’ll share all my tips and tricks for sewing perfect borders based on my years of experience making quilts.

Deciding on Your Border Fabric

1. The first step is choosing the right border fabric. It needs to complement but not compete with your quilt top fabrics. Stick to a fabric that’s medium in scale and tone so it doesn’t distract from the quilt center.
2. A solid, tone-on-tone print, or subtle texture is usually your best bet. Avoid anything too busy or bright that might visually overwhelm the quilt. Kinda like how a loud, flashy outfit can steal the show at a party instead of enhancing the overall vibe, if you know what I mean.
3. When in doubt, go simpler rather than more complex. The border should frame the quilt center, not compete for attention. You want eyes drawn in, not wandering all over the place!

Calculating Yardage for Your Border

Next you’ll need to determine how much border fabric you need to purchase. Here are the basics for calculating yardage:

1. Measure the length and width of your quilt top. Jot those numbers down.
2. Decide on the desired width for each border strip. A standard width is 2-4 inches. Write that measurement down too.
3. Add the length and width of your quilt together. Then add twice the border width to get the total length needed. For example, if your quilt is 60×80 and you want a 3 inch border, the calculation would be: Length (60) + Width (80) + 2 x Border Width (2 x 3) = 60 + 80 + 6 + 6 = 152 inches.
4. Do the same calculation for the total width needed. Then add a few extra inches for mistakes or changes and round up to the nearest half or full yard. Always buy a little extra!

Now you’re ready to shop for your border fabric. While you’re at it, you might wanna grab yourself a snack because this project’s gonna take a while!

Cutting Your Border Strips

After buying your fabric, it’s time to cut the border strips. Here are the steps:

1. Press the fabric to remove any creases or wrinkles. You’ll thank yourself later when it’s time to sew!
2. Align one edge of the fabric along the edge of the cutting mat if using a rotary cutter or line up a ruler if cutting by hand. This will help ensure straight, even strips.
3. Cut the number of strips needed according to your yardage calculations and planned layout. It’s better to have too many rather than too few at this point. You can always trim leftovers later.
4. Double check strip widths against your measurements. Trim if needed using the selvedge edge or rotary cutline as a guide.
5. Stack strips in order by piecing rows and set aside until you’re ready to start sewing. Use fabric markers or sticky notes to ID top/bottom if needed.

With your strips cut, you’re all ready to start sewing – but first, let’s review some border layout options.

Choosing a Border Layout

There are a few basic styles for attaching borders to a quilt. Choose based on the quilt dimensions, fabric, and your personal taste.

1. Single border- Attach one row of strips all around for a simple framing effect. Best for small quilts or fabric with lots of movement.
2. Double border- Stack two rows of strips, either the same or different fabrics, for extra definition. Pairs well with large, open quilts with bold designs.
3. “Everything but the kitchen sink”- Get creative stacking multiple thin borders of varying widths and fabrics. Fun for scrappy, improvisational quilts.
4. Cornerstones- Add larger squares or rectangles of fabric at the corners for visual interest. Nice way to highlight a focal fabric.

play around with different layouts on paper before cutting to see what looks best. There’s no wrong choice – it’s your quilt, so do what speaks to you!

Attaching the Borders

Now for the fun part – actually sewing on those borders! Here are the basic steps:

1. Start by pinning one short strip RIGHT sides together along one edge of the quilt top. Allow 1/4 inch for seam allowance.
2. Sew with a 1/4 inch seam. Backstitch at the beginning and end for security. Try to keep seams crisp and edges even. An open-toe foot helps you follower the 1/4 inch line.
3. Press seam toward the border as you go to keep bulk minimized. Use your fingertips to flatten seams for a smoother look.
4. Add remaining short strips to that side, pinning ends and corners securely before sewing. Make sure points match up exactly.
5. Repeat for opposite side, pressing seams in opposite direction so they’ll nest together nicely.
6. Pin and sew long border strips to top and bottom edges using the same techniques. Watch those points!

Be patient and take your time – a few minutes more now means fewer issues later. Once the borders are attached, you’re done!

Finishing Techniques

Now that those borders are sewn on, here are a few extra finishing touches to really make your quilt shine:

1. Add double-fold binding in a coordinating fabric strip. Blind stitch the inner folded edge for an invisible finish.
2. For extra stability consider basting the layers together with safety pins or thread before washing. This helps layers stay aligned during cleaning.
3. Lightly mist the front of the quilt with spray starch or sizing before pressing. This buries stray threads and seals fibers for longevity.
4. Label the back with your name, date, and information about the quilt’s story. It’s fun to look back years later!
5. Protect your investment. Keep it nicely folded or store between acid-free fabric when not in use. Sunlight can fade precious fibers over time.

And with that, your quilted masterpiece is complete! Throw that sucker on the bed and admire your handiwork. You totally earned it after all that work.

So in summary, choosing fabrics, cutting accurately, laying out your design, taking time attaching those borders – it all makes a big difference in the finished look. With practice, you’ll be a pro border appliqué-er in no time! Let me know if you have any other quilting questions. Happy sewing!

Sewing a Quilt Border

FAQ

1. How do I attach a border to the quilt?

   The basic process for sewing a border on a quilt is pretty simple. Basically, you fold under the raw edges of the border fabric by 1/4 inch and pin it to the edges of the quilt, right sides together. Then sew them together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. However, you want to be careful not to stretch the quilt as you pin and sew – that can cause wrinkles. At the same time, don’t pull too loose or the border might ripple.

2. In what order should I attach the borders?

   Most folks attach the side borders first before putting on the top and bottom borders. The reason is sort of like building a frame – it’s easier if you start with the vertical sides. You’ll pin and sew the side borders, then do the same for the top and bottom borders. Is that the only way? Perhaps not, but it seems to work well! On the other hand, if you have a very large quilt it may be better to add borders sections at a time to avoid getting overwhelmed.

3. How wide should the borders be?

   There’s no right or wrong answer here – it depends on your tastes! As a general rule, most quilters do borders that are 2 to 6 inches wide. Anything narrower may get lost, while much wider could overwhelm the quilt center. It also depends a bit on the pattern and colors – a high contrast border will show up better if it’s wider. But don’t forget the bigger the border, the more fabric it will take!

   

4. Should I use the same fabric for all borders?

   Nope, you aren’t limited to just one fabric. Mixing it up can really make the quilt pop. You could do two different prints for the side borders and something totally different for the top and bottom. Or maybe a solid color for some borders and prints for others. The options are endless! Just see what looks good and “frames” the quilt center nicely. Trust your eyes – if you like how it looks, then it’s “right”.

5. What if I make a mistake sewing on the borders?

   Don’t worry if you mess up – it happens to the best of us! First, take a step back before ripping out any stitches. You might find the “mistake” isn’t very noticeable after all. However, if you do need to unpick it, go slowly and carefully so you don’t damage the fabric. Amazingly, our eyes often forgive imperfections on quilts. With any luck, your mistakes will just add a bit of charm!

6. Is hand or machine quilting better for attaching borders?

   Both methods can work well. Machine quilting is faster (who has time for hand quilting everything?!), but doing it by hand allows you to get extra close to the quilt edges. Maybe try machine quilting the main border pieces, then hand stitching the corners down for a flawless look. It’s totally up to you and what style you prefer – do what feels right! In the end, as long as the borders are sewn on securely, that’s all that really matters.

7. How do I finish the raw edges once the borders are sewn on?

   To tidy things up, you’ll want to cover the raw edges that are now showing along the sides. The best approaches are:

   1. Pink the edges with pinking shears before sewing to prevent fraying.
   2. Topstitch just inside the seam line to encase the raw edge in stitching.
   3. Use narrow bias binding and sew it to the back side to finish neatly.

   Hemming or zigzagging the edges works too, but pinking/topstitching/binding looks especially professional. Just be sure not to catch the batting in the stitches as that could bunch it up.

   

8. What if I change my mind about the borders later?

   The good news is borders are (mostly) reversible to change – you only have to unpick that 1/4″ seam. It may take a little time but would allow you to try something new. Who knows, maybe in a few years styles will change and you’ll want to update the borders. Or you may gift the quilt someday and the new owner may want their own border touch. So consider borders optional rather than permanent. They’re easy to swap in and out as needed.