LUDLOW QUILT AND SEW
Mitred Quilt Borders B
Another method for mitring corners of quilt borders
Usually when I am adding a border to a quilt I just add the border along the top and the bottom and then down each side. Sometimes it's better to mitre the corners of the quilt border to give that extra something to your quilt. It can also be particularly noticeable when a smaller item like a bag or a cushion has mitred corners for the border.
The first point is that you will need to make the borders longer than just the width of the quilt or panel. The panel shown is 10.1/2" wide and the border is 2.1/2" so I have cut the border strip 14.1/2" long. That's 10" for the quilt block and 2" extra each side. Find the middle of both the border and quilt block (by folding in half) and pin the border in place.
With right sides together and using a 1/4" seam, sew the border to the top of the quilt block. Begin sewing 1/4" from the edge of the quilt block (on the left) and finish sewing 1/4" from the edge of the quilt block (on the right).Backstitch at each end so that the stitching doesn't come loose.
Repeat the procedure with a strip of quilt border down the next edge of the quilt block (or quilt), again beginning and ending the stitching 1/4" from the edge.
Fold one of the border strips down so that it lies right sides together against the quilt and the other border strip. Turn down the seam allowance across the unsewn part of the quilt border strip as shown.
While holding the seam allowance down, fold the corner of the quilt border strip across and down to form a triangle. Turn the border strip up and pin the diagonal created to the border strip beneath it.
Starting at the corner of the quilt block, slipstitch along the diagonal to hold the 2 border strips together along the mitre.
I have to admit that I don't find this as easy or as neat a method as the other one that I have shown on the website - click on
mitred corners for borders to see the method that I usually use.
rose@ludlowquiltandsew.co.uk
www.ludlowquiltandsew.co.uk