Borders on...Perfection

A few weeks ago I was

a quilt judge at our local county fair.

The quilts were stacked high and between

myself and 2 other judges we critiqued 140 quilts,

looking at the design, the workmanship,

and overall visual impact.

Eventually we narrowed down the piles to

choose the Grand Champion. 

It was not an easy task.

Each participant loved their quilt
and was confident enough to enter.

We certainly enjoyed looking at each and every stitched creation.

Overall, the quilts were lovely, but

I did notice one issue in many. 

That was with the application of the borders.

I know when I get to the borders, at least in my mind, 

I'm thinking, Yay!!! I'm almost finished!

Sewing on a couple of borders, isn't that the easy part?

I'd like to think so.
But the application of the borders 

 can make the difference between a good quilt and 

a great quilt.

I guess the reason I'm bringing this up is

because I've been sewing on a lot of borders lately.

**Accurate measurements are key.**

"Summer Log Cabin Quilt"

I know, I can get sloppy, careless

and sew in a hurry.

That's when I'm always sorry.

Going around and around,

wrestling with yards of fabrics

is a challenge.

There are lots of tutorials online

to help with the right techniques, but

I think it mostly boils down to

accurate measuring, did I say accurate measuring,

 and taking your time.

This is the second quilt that I've added borders to.

"Christmas or Not Applique Quilt"

Borders don't have to be fancy, or pieced or

even have mitered corners,

but sewing them on carefully

so the quilt lays flat withougt ripples and waves

takes careful measuring, concentration and time.

I'll share more about the quilts I've shown today,
but I wanted to encourage all of us
to take care with the finishing touches.

Let's all border on perfection.

******

Until Next Time-

Kyle

It Was Like Wrestling A Giant Squid

This week has been quite the

sewing week.

In fact, I've felt a bit

like Captain Nemo,

of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,

 wrestling a giant squid

on top of a submarine.

The reason is

because I've been adding the final border

to the Mountmellick quilt.

Don't let anyone kid you

that adding borders is the easiest part.

I created my final border

by sewing two border prints together.

Of course, the idea is to make it look 

like it's not pieced.

It took quite a few unsews, repositionings,

and seam allowance adjustments

 to get it right.

Then the quilt turned into a menacing squid.

 The extra long border pieces needed

for mitered corners,

 turned into tentacles.

They seemed to be dangling and

 tangling everywhere.

It really did take awhile to 

get the corners sewn.

They're not perfect, but

it's the best I could do

while on top of that submarine.

1-2 threads off

 can make a disjointed mitered corner.

I still have the last bit of corner applique

to finish and

 then it's on to the quilting.

Hopefully, 

my squid wrestling days are over.

Until Next Time-

Kyle