How to Measure Edging for Quilts
The edging you choose for your quilt becomes the frame for the finished piece. Add to your quilt’s pattern and color scheme by using multiple layers of edging or keep it simple to let your blocks shine on their own. No matter what path you choose to take with your edging, measuring properly to determine how much you will need is critical to the finishing process.
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Instructions
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Calculate the amount of edging needed for your quilt sides first. Measure your quilt in a straight line from the top to the bottom in the center of the quilt using a measuring tape.
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Determine the width of your edging. If you want your quilt to have 4-inch edging, multiply that number by two to accommodate the edging that shows on the top of the quilt as well as the edging that borders the underside.
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Add seam allowances for all four sides of the edging. Normal seam allowances in quilting are one-quarter-inch. So if your quilt is 75 inches long and you want edging that is 4 inches wide, cut two pieces of edging that are 75 and one-half inches long by 8 and one-half inches wide.
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Measure the top of the quilt from edge to edge, and add enough to accommodate the edging you will place on each side plus seam allowances. If your quilt top is 54 inches wide, for example, and you are using 4-inch wide edging with one-quarter-inch seam allowances, you would cut two pieces of edging that are 62 and one-half inches in size.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are not sure what method you plan on using to join your corners, cut your edging strips a few inches longer than you may need. A general rule of thumb is to cut an additional 2 to 2 and one-half inches for each length of edging. You can always cut it back, but a piece that is just a little too short may send you back to the drawing board.
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