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Question of the Week

Question for the week of June 7, 2004:

Our question this week comes from Cindy:

I've tried and tried but just can't seem to miter corners - is there a very easy way of mitering corners ?

Peggy Magnusson :
HGTV website Simply Quilts episode QLT-814 shows a very good method of mitering corners. Good Luck.

Marion :
Caroline's answer is, as I understand it, pictured in "Quilts Quilts Quilts" by McClun and Nownes.

Don't forget to stop sewing the borders onto the quilt top at 1/4 inch (or the seam allowance you are using) from the ends.

Good luck!

caroline :
Mitering corners:
These words will work for a border width of same size width on the length and on the width. For instance, a 5" border.

Cut the length of the borders about 12" longer than the length and the width. Find the centre of these strips. Find the centre of the actual length of the top edges. e.g. If the quilt top is 80 " long, the length of the border should be 92" . If the width of the quilt top is 70" long, the length of the border should be 82" long. Sew the borders along the length and along the width pin matching the centres. Now, fold the top,right sides together, so that the length lies evenly along the width. This will make the folded edge look like the side of a trangle.
Lightly press this fold. This fold line is the line which you will sew , from the quilt top point out to the edge of the borders. This sewing line is on the bias , so take care not to stretch it.

Then open the top , and the sewn line, on the wrong side of the fabric will be on a perfect 45' to the edge of the borders. MITERED!
There will be an excess of fabric to cut off, but don't cut it off until your sewn line is at a perfect 45' to the border edges, making a square corner of your quilt top.
It is easier to understand this if you can find instructions with pictures in a book.

Kathy in WA :
Someone will probably have a clear explanation, and it isn't me. But I always have a website, and here is the one:
http://www.cottonwoodquilts.com/miter.htm

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