Here’s an excerpt from our Quiltmaking Basics. Quilters find butted borders to be the easiest to apply, but if you want to add something special when finishing your quilt, consider mitered borders.
Borders
When border strips are cut on the crosswise grain, piece the strips together to achieve the needed lengths.
Butted Borders
In most cases the side borders are sewn on first. When you have finished the quilt top, measure it through the center from top to bottom (vertically). This will be the length to cut the side borders. Place pins at the centers of all four sides of the quilt top, as well as in the center of each side border strip. Pin the side borders to the quilt top first, matching the center pins. Using a 1/4″ seam allowance, sew the borders to the quilt top and press toward border.
Measure from side to side (horizontally) across the center of the quilt top including the side borders. This will be the length to cut the top and bottom borders. Repeat pinning, sewing, and pressing.
Mitered Corner Borders
Measure the length of the quilt top (from top to bottom) and add two times the cut width of your border, plus 5″. This is the length you need to cut or piece the side borders.
Place pins at centers of both side borders and all four sides of the quilt top. From the center pin, measure in both directions and mark half of the measured length of the quilt top on both side borders. Pin, matching centers and the marked length of the side border to the edges of the quilt top. Stitch the strips to the sides of the quilt top by starting 1/4″ in from the beginning edge of the quilt top, backstitching, and then continuing down the length of the side border. Stop stitching 1/4″ before the ending edge of the quilt top, at the seam allowance line, and backstitch. The excess length of the side borders will extend beyond each edge. Press the seams toward the borders.
Determine the length needed for the top and bottom border the same way, measuring the width of the quilt top through the center including each side border. Add 2 times the cut width of your border plus 5″ to this measurement. Cut or piece the top and bottom border strips to this length. From the center of each border strip, measure in both directions and mark half of the measured width of the quilt top. Again, pin, and start and stop stitching at the previous stitching lines, 1/4″ from the quilt edges and backstitch. The border strips extend beyond each end. Press the seams toward the borders.
To create the miter, lay the corner on the ironing board. Working with the quilt right side up, lay one border strip on top of the adjacent border strip.
Border strip on top of adjacent strip
With right sides up, fold the top border strip under itself so that it meets the edge of the adjacent border and forms a 45° angle. Pin the fold in place.
Position a 90° angle triangle or ruler over the corner to check that the corner is flat and square. When everything is in place press the fold firmly.
Remove pins. Fold the center section of the top diagonally from the corner, right sides together, and align the long edges of the border strips. On the wrong side, place pins near the pressed fold in the corner to secure the border strips.
Beginning at the inside corner at the border seam line, stitch, backstitch and then stitch along the fold toward the outside point of the border corners, being careful not to allow any stretching to occur. Backstitch at the end. Trim the excess border fabric to a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press the seam open.
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One Comment
Thank you. This is the easiest way to do a mitered orner that I have seen. I tried it and it works like a charm.