This is my favorite quick tip for adding borders to a quilt top. Measuring and sewing borders correctly is what keeps a quilt square and flat-so it's easier to quilt and you don't end up with ripples or wavy edges. In this tutorial I'll show you my favorite fast way to measure quilt borders (without fighting a floppy tape measure!) plus the simple pinning trick that helps everything sew on smoothly.
When quilt borders are measured wrong (or stretched while sewing), they can cause the quilt top to bow or wave - especially along the outside edges. Perfectly square quilt borders are made from border strips cut to the quilt top's true average measurement and sewn on so they lie flat and straight, with clean 90° corners and no stretching or ripples.
This is my favorite method for adding borders to my quilt and it's SO simple. I've been using this method for every quilt that I make for the past 20 years and it never fails. It will give you perfectly "square" borders that are flat and straight.
And it's especially helpful when you've got a pieced quilt center with bias edges or set on point with diagonal rows.
Short Cut for Adding Perfect Borders
To do this, start by laying your pieced quilt top flat on the ground.
Sew border WOF strips end to end so that they are longer than the two opposing sides of the quilt where the borders will be sewn. Before sewing strips together, trim off the selvage edges so your strips lay flat and don't distort.
Lay two border strips across the center of your quilt top, lining up one end flush with the edge of the pieced top letting the other end of the strip hang over the edge of the quilt.
Place a pin in the border strips where the quilt ends. And then carefully trim at a perfect 90 degree angle with your ruler and rotary cutter where that pin marks the fabric.
This gives you border strips cut to the quilt's "true" measurement (not the wavy edge measurement)-which is exactly what helps keep the quilt top square.
How to Pin a Border Strip That's Slightly Shorter Than the Quilt Side
If your border strip is a little shorter than the quilt edge, don't worry-this is often a good thing because it helps prevent wavy borders. The goal is to ease the quilt to the border, not stretch the border to fit the quilt.
Fold the border strip in half to find the center and mark it with a crease or pin. Do the same with the quilt side.
With right sides together and raw edges aligned, pin at the center first, then pin both ends.
Now divide the space between pins (center-to-end) and add pins at the midpoints, continuing until the border is evenly pinned every few inches.
Pin opposite side of quilt and sew both borders on to the edges of the pieced portion.
Press the borders open and flat working from the front side of the quilt.
Sew borders to the quilt with the quilt top against the feed dogs and the border strip on top. As you sew, gently smooth the quilt edge to fit the slightly shorter border between pins-no pulling, no stretching. Press the seam toward the border when finished.
Repeat for the Other Sides
Once the first two side borders are sewn on and pressed, repeat the same measuring method for the remaining two border strips: lay them across the quilt's center, mark with a pin, trim, pin from the center outward, then sew and press.
Continue measuring two opposite borders at a time and then pin and sew.
Remember: take your time with the pinning-it's the little step that makes the biggest difference in getting borders that lie flat and look perfectly straight. Once it's sewn on, give it a good press toward the border and you'll be amazed at how polished (and ripple-free!) your quilt top looks.
I made a really simple video showing the same process as part of the Scandi Hearts Quilt along and will share it here too if you have more questions or prefer to see a video version of this technique.
(Pardon the sound, I need to get a microphone. 😅 I'll reshoot this demo with a future quilt.)
Border demo for Beginning Quilting Series
This post is part of the original beginning quilting series: How to Make a Quilt From Start To Finish. Here are the images and instructions from that original post so that you can also follow along with the quilt process in that series.
For the baby quilt that is part of the beginning quilting series you will need four strips of fabric measuring 3 ½" x 42″ (or the width of the fabric as it comes.)
Follow the same method used above to measure, trim, pin, and sew borders to the pieced center section.
This baby quilt worked out nicely size-wise - we didn't need longer strips. If you are working on a larger quilt, cut your border strips the same way (just cut more of them) and sew the strips together end to end to create a longer strip of fabric.
Michelle says
Duh I never thought about doing it this way I will give it a go next time I add borders. I'm like you and borders are my least favourite part of the quilt too! I am not participating in this quilt-a-long as such but I am still picking up a few hints here and there, Thanks
Kitty says
WOW I learn somehing new each time I read a page/gkitty
Jackie says
That is the best way!! I always measure through the middle. It makes it nice and square. Love it!
Jen says
Can I join the "I Hate Borders Club" too?! I'll try this trick next time, thanks!
Karen says
Great idea. Thank you so much for sharing.
Stray Stitches says
Good advice! And advice I will take - lol!
The Clip Cafe says
I love your blog - so clear and full of colour and good posts 🙂
WildHair says
That is a good tip, I love your creativity!
searchfamilies says
A lovely quilt simple but so nice<br />Hugs Janice
Monica McNeill says
Used this tip last week & it worked great! Thanks 🙂
Steph Zerbe says
Thank you for this tutorial! I have made two little quilts now. I am new to sewing and your tutorial is very user friendly. Now, on to a bigger quilt, just for me!;) Have a great day!<br />I will post the quilts this week and add your Quilting 101 link, if that's okay.<br />Thanks again,<br />steph zerbe
Kaitie says
Thanks for all your tutorials, tips, and advice! I'm currently working on my first quilt ever (for my niece!) and I'm so excited with how it's turning out so far!
Gail Simburger says
This is pretty close to what I’ve been doing, only I measure down the middle each way and cut both strips to that measurement. This seems better and easier, thanks!!
Karli Blake says
I have one question about the sewing part of this. How big is the seam? Is this a 1/2 in seam?
amy smart says
No. All seams are 1/4 inch.
Andrea says
Hi Amy! I finally remembered to try your tip. I HATE doing borders - I guess I'm too much of a perfectionist. I always use a tape measure and measure down the center, or on a larger quilt take 3 measurements and take the average, but that method always leaves room for error. Laying the fabric strips out worked perfectly - no slipping of the tape measure. Thanks for all you do for us!
Andrea says
Hi Amy! I finally remembered to try your tip. I HATE doing borders - I guess I'm too much of a perfectionist. I always use a tape measure and measure down the center, or on a larger quilt take 3 measurements and take the average, but that method always leaves room for error. Laying the fabric strips out worked perfectly - no slipping of the tape measure. Thanks for all you do for us!
Amy says
I had been throwing around the idea of making a quilt. After reading your quilt series I knew I could do it. So far I just added my boarder, I need to get to the store for some more supped before I can move on. I am working on a baby blanket to give it a try but I would like to make twin size quilts for both of my kids. Thanks for the easy to follow directions.
Amy Smart says
Good for you!!
Debbie says
Thanks for your wonderful tutorials. As always, so easy to understand & helpful. I'm definitely going to try this.
Debbie T says
I have made three of these quilts. One baby quilt, 1 patriotic raffle quilt. 1 patriotic quilt for the law enforcement retirement. Now onto another baby quilt.
I love this pattern. It's fast and easy. I will try your method for the borders on this one. Thanks for the tip.
Robin Welch says
I enjoyed looking at beginning tips to help me get back into quilting again. I also enjoyed your thoughts concerning a love for the quilting and sewing experience. We are never boared, I feel rusty but know I can get confidence again. You’re a big inspiration. Thanks so very much
Amy Smart says
I'm so glad it was helpful!
Colleen says
Perfect solution, thank you.
Christine Woodrome says
I love this idea. I have always measured through the middle but not seen it done like this. Any tips for doing this with a king size quilt?
Amy Smart says
I would use the same method - I'm sure the hard part is finding a flat place to layout a king size quilt, so that could make it tricky. In that case measure across the center as best as you can and cut the border strip to that length.
Katrina A. Lantz says
Thank you for this, Amy! I have never heard about laying border across center of quilt.. can’t wait to try.
Nicola Dodd says
That’s such a brilliant technique! Thanks, as always, for sharing it with us Amy xx
Sylvie says
Merci pour vos explications!
Charlotte A McRanie says
JUst a note to encourage your readers to try this border method. I’ve also been using this method for years (don’t know where I first picked it up) and it has worked great for me. My Longarm quilters have always commented that I do NOT have wavy borders like many other clients do!
Amy Smart says
Great to know!
Priscilla Gerfen says
I've been sewing for 65 years and quilting for 15. Two things that my mom (sewing teacher and inspiration) taught me was to handle my fabric gently - don't pull it/stretch it, and pin, pin, pin( because neither of us likes basting). Much later, I learned from a quilt-along video teacher to use a light starch spray on vulnerable fabric (bias cuts, borders). It stops the stretching and buckling/rippling. My border strips are usually longer that the sides of the quilt, which removes the temptation to pull to fit. Works every time.
Sue says
❤️Do you sew on your borders with a normal foot or a walking foot? Thanks
Amy Smart says
Great question - I sew my borders on with a regular foot because I feel like I get a more accurate 1/4" seam allowance, but you could definitely use a walking foot and it would help ease the fabric if your border is shorter than the side of your quilt.
Melissa Mason says
how wide do the boarder strips need to be?
Amy Smart says
This works for borders of any width. So you would just cut the borders at whatever width you desire or whatever the pattern recommends.
Marianne says
Exact same method I use for borders.
Michele says
This is exactly the method I use for borders, with one small change. When I join strips, I use a 45° seam. I find that the seam is less visible when joined this way, especially in patterned fabric.
Amy Smart says
Great advice!
Barbara C says
I just tried this method on a baby quilt and loved it! I am so surprised at how nice the borders turned out. Thanks for sharing this Amy!
Amy Smart says
Great! I'm so glad to hear!