How to Add Quilt Borders
(Framing Your Quilt for a Flat, Professional Finish)
@EpidaStudio
@loribosecke3165
@AQuiltingLife
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Borders act as the final frame for your quilt top. The secret to borders that lay perfectly flat and don’t cause wavy edges is measuring through the center of the quilt, rather than the edges.
Materials Needed:
- Completed, pressed quilt top
- Border fabric yardage
- Steel measuring tape
- Rotary cutter, mat, and long acrylic ruler
- Sewing machine and pins
Tips for Success:
- Never just sew a long strip of fabric onto the side and cut off the extra. This causes severe stretching.
- Cut your borders along the straight grain (length of fabric) when possible, as it has less stretch than the crossgrain.
- Use a metal measuring tape, not a flexible tailor’s tape, for the most accurate dimensions.
1. Measure for the Side Borders
- Lay your quilt top flat. Take three measurements top-to-bottom: one down the left side, one down the middle, and one down the right side. Average these three numbers (or just use the center measurement) to find the length of your side borders.
2. Cut and Pin the Side Borders
- Cut two border strips to that exact measurement. Fold the borders and the sides of the quilt in half to find their centers. Pin the center of the border to the center of the quilt edge, then pin the ends, and finally ease and pin the middle sections.
3. Sew the Side Borders
- Sew the side borders to the quilt using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. If the quilt top seems slightly longer than the border, sew with the quilt top facing the feed dogs (the bottom teeth of the machine), which will help ease the fullness in. Press the seams toward the border.
4. Measure for Top and Bottom Borders
- Now, measure your quilt horizontally (including the newly added side borders). Take three measurements: across the top edge, across the middle, and across the bottom edge. Use the average or center measurement.
5. Attach the Final Borders
- Cut your top and bottom borders to this new measurement. Pin them starting at the center, then the ends, easing the rest. Sew and press toward the borders. Your quilt top is now beautifully framed and perfectly square!
Top FAQs for Adding Borders:
Why are my quilt borders wavy? +
Wavy borders are the “friendly ghosts” of quilting—very common! They happen when you measure the outer edge of the quilt (which tends to stretch) instead of the center, or when you just sew a strip on and cut off the excess. Always cut your borders to the exact center measurement and pin them to fit.
How wide should a quilt border be? +
Border width is entirely up to you and your design, but a general rule is that a border shouldn’t be wider than your largest quilt block. A 4 to 6-inch border is standard for a throw-size quilt, but you can also use multiple narrow borders stacked together for a stunning effect.
Should I cut borders on the straight grain or crossgrain? +
Cutting on the straight grain (parallel to the selvage) is ideal because the fabric has almost zero stretch, helping keep your quilt perfectly square. However, cutting across the Width of Fabric (WOF) is more common and economical, you’ll just need to piece the strips together to get the required length.
What is the difference between straight and mitered borders? +
Straight borders (butt-jointed) meet at 90-degree angles and are easiest for beginners. Mitered borders meet at a 45-degree diagonal angle in the corners, much like a wooden picture frame. Mitered borders are beautiful, especially for striped fabrics, but require more advanced measuring and piecing.
