Stars & Swirls Summer 2020 Quilt Along - #6 Border
It's Step #6 of the Stars & Swirls Summer 2020 Quilt Along and we're talking borders. A well sewn border serves as a frame for the quilt as well as a way to physically contain the pieced edges of the blocks.
Print the PDF pattern for this page of the instructions. It's the same PDF as last post.
I always sew the borders to the longest edges first. I vaguely remember being told this at some point. It's the way I've always done it and it works.
Side borders
The first step is to measure the length of the quilt carefully and in multiple spots. Get a handy helper if you can and smooth the quilt on a large flat surface. Try not to stretch it too much. Just get it as smooth as possible. Measure at least 3 times and take the average amount. If this average is an odd number, simply round up or down to the nearest 1/4" measurement.
Top and bottom border
Once you have carefully sewn the borders to the side edges of the quilt, press the seam allowances to the border. Lay your quilt top out on a flat surface and measure the width of the quilt including the borders. Take the average as your border cutting measurement. Cut 2 border sections and divide, pin and sew to the top and bottom of the quilt.
My quilt is done to this point. As I look at it, I am finding the narrow border doesn't look as good as I had planned. I think I'm going to add another border (of the same print fabric). It will make the quilt larger, but I think the quilt needs a bigger border.
Next time, I'll show you how I quilted my quilt and give you a few tips on machine sewing the binding in place.
Subscribe to the blog so you get notifications when I post and I'll look forward to sharing this fun quilt with you this summer.
