for years i was afraid of mitered corners.
who knows why.
but i was way to afraid to try.
now that i have.
i'm kicking myself.
because i have lots of quilts that would look better if i had done it!
so i want you to try
and not be afraid like i was.
Mitered Multiple Borders Tutorial
(the multiple part actually helps.)
This is a quilt I made. The multiple refers to the small inner border and large outer border. I'm going to show you how to do both at once! Pay special attention to pressing as it is the key to how this works!
Start by figuring out your dimensions.
The top/bottom strip lengths each be calculated from this formula
Quilt width before borders + ( 2 x (border total width + 1") )
The strip lengths for the sides will each be calculated from this formula
Quilt height before borders + ( 2 x (border total width + 1") )
See this picture
Fyi they can be larger like my top/bottom ones are
Cut all 8 strips and sew them into 4 sets of two.
Press the top/bottom sets towards inner border and right/left sets towards outer border.
Start with right and left pieces.
Pin the borders to the sides and mark in at 1/4" from the end on all four corners.
Sew side borders onto the quilt starting and stopping at marks. Backstitch at the beginning and end of each of these seams.
Iron both of these borders out toward the border and away from the quilt top. It should look like this.
Next pin the extra fabric out of the way so it does not get caught when you sew the top and bottom pieces onto the quilt.
Repeat the process with top and bottom pieces and you should have this result. Press the top and bottom borders in towards the quilt.
Now here is the beauty of this process! Because you pressed the seams in opposite directions they will nest together. Two seams will nest together, the border to quilt seam and the border to border seam.
Work on one corner at a time. Fold your quilt onto itself at the corner. Nest the seams together as in previous picture and put in lots of pins.
Use a ruler to mark your stitching line. The top should line up with the fold and the 45 degree angle with the line of stitching from attaching the border to the quilt. If you can't get these both to line up take out your pins and adjust where your fold is until you can. Draw a line once it is lined up right.
This is what the result should look like.
Start sewing exactly where the stitching ends from attaching the borders to the quilt and sew slowly down the line to the outside corner of the quilt.
Open and check your seam. If it looks like this you are good to go. Iron, trim excess border and you are done!
If your seam doesn't look right take the stitches out and try again. This is why I suggest not cutting the excess border strips until after this step. As a result you'll have your fabric still there just in case.
See how easy that was!!
Things get a bit more complicated when you are trying to line up an element such as a large flower but the overall techniques are the same!
This can also work if you are doing 3+ borders as well as for mitered corners in blocks.
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{144 x 144}
{250x250}
amy @ park city girl does it
a different way that is worth reading as well.
enjoy!!
and show me pics if you try!
*note*
This quilt pattern is from Nancy Halvorson's book
Cider Mill Road
© 2009-2022 Julie R. Herman. All rights reserved.
No part of this tutorial may be reproduced without written consent of Jaybird Quilts.
go check out her blog to see more.
