How to properly attach a border or sashing on a quilt {a free tutorial}

The key to having a square quilt is a square border. You must properly attach all borders and sashings to ensure a square quilt.

First, measure, measure top of the quilt, the bottom and the center.

They should all be the same size but often are not. When they are not you will need to take an average.

Next, after you have cut borders to the proper width, you will cut them to the proper length. Since my quilt is 8 1/2" I will cut the right and left side borders to 8 1/2".

Lay the borders over right side on the quilt and pin, I will generally pin every 6" depending on the quilt size.

Sew using 1/4" seam allowance. 

Press. First you will press on the wrong side of the fabric, as shown below, to set the seams.

Next you will open it up and press.

After pressing you will measure again. First measure the bottom. Mine is measuring 11 1/4"

Next, measure the center, mine is again measuring 11 1/4"

Last measure the top, mine is again measuring 11 1/4". 

Now cut your top and bottom borders. I will cut mine 11 1/4".

Flip the border fabric over, right sides together and pin to quilt top and bottom. Again, pinning as needed, generally every 6".

Press, now you have a perfectly square quilt.

As a rule of thumb I always press to the dark.

Click here for other "Basics" tutorials.

Since someone will ask, fabric shown here is Daydream Cottons by Cindi Walker for Riley Blake Designs.

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Basic Rotary Cutting Tutorial

Materials needed:

Rotary cutter with a sharp blade.

Rotary mat.

Non-slip Ruler, I like to use a 24"x6" and a 12"x6"

Fabric.

To start lay your material out flat on your rotary mat. Lay the edge of the fabric to the left. As shown in the image above. Fabric is folded in half so I am cutting a 22" strip.

Lay your ruler along the left edge of your material and trim the edge square. You are squaring up your fabric.

Remove material that you've trimmed away.

I will be cutting 2 1/2" squares. 

Use your ruler to measure and line up 2 1/2" from the left side. As shown in the image above.

Cut with rotary cutter.

You will have 1- 2 1/2"xWOF (width of fabric) strip.

To cut a second strip move your ruler over 2 1/2" from the previous cut line. Then cut again.

You will have 2 - 2 1/2"xWOF strips.

Take one of those strips and lay it horizontal on your rotary mat. I will now use my smaller ruler.

Cut off the selvage to square up the fabric.

As you did before use your ruler to measure 2 1/2" from the left side of your fabric. Cut.

Now you've got some perfect 2 1/2" squares.

To continue cutting your strip into 2 1/2" squares you will continue to use your ruler and cut from the left.

This method works great when cutting several strips, squares or any type of rotary cutting.

I use an Olfa Rotary cutter, Olfa Rulers and Olfa Rotary Mat.

(I was not compensated in any way by Olfa)

Hope you learned something new today!

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