Making Ends Meet – Borders

I was going to post this one in the morning but some of you are already caught up with me so I’ll post it this evening.  Also, this is the first time I’ve used this plug-in to add a table (for the border) so if you’re one of the first ones to see this post and it isn’t right, give me a few minutes and I’ll hopefully get things right.

Once all of the blocks are made, sew them into 7 rows of 5 blocks as shown.

There are 6 borders.  If you want to add the pieced border, which is Border #3,  as I have it drawn, use Borders #1 and #2 as written below and Border #3 will fit perfectly.  If you do not wish to add the borders I have shown, finish your quilt with the borders you desire.

Below is a border chart showing the border number, the fabric to be used, the dimensions of the side borders (which are added first) and the dimensions of the top and bottom borders.

[table id=1 /]

For the pieced border, we’re making 56 unequal nine patch blocks.  If you want your colors in the same sequence as shown, make 14 blocks using each of the four colored fabrics, along with the background fabrics.

Pressing Note: For the blocks made using Fabrics 4 and 5, press the seam allowances towards the colored fabric.  For the blocks made using Fabrics 2 and 3, press the seam allowances towards the background fabric.  This will help your seam allowances to nest and fit nicely together.

These can be strip pieced by sewing a 2-1/2″ strip of Fabric 1 to both sides of a 1-1/2″ colored strip.   Make 2 strip sets.  See Pressing Note above. Cut these strip sets into 28 – 2-1/2″ segments.

Sew a 2-1/2″ colored strip to both sides of a 1-1/2″ Fabric 1 strip. Make 1 strip set.  See Pressing Note above.  Cut this strip set into 14 – 1-1/2″ segments.

Join the segments to make the nine patch blocks – 14 per color.

If you prefer to piece with individual pieces, for each block, you will need:

Fabric #1:
Cut 4 – 2-1/2″ squares
Cut 1 – 1-1/2″ square

Colored fabrics:
Cut 4 – 1-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ rectangles.

For all blocks, the background squares are cut 2-1/2″, along with the center 1-1/2″ square.  The colored sections are cut 1-1/2″ x 2-1/2″.

Sew 15 blocks together for the side borders, using the color sequence shown above, and attach to the sides of the top.  Sew 13 blocks together for the top and bottom border, again using the color sequence shown above.  Attach to the top and bottom of the top.  Continue with the borders as shown or finish with whatever borders you desire.