How to Sew a Double Miter Border
A double mitered border is a method for adding a border to a quilt. The miter refers to the way the corners of the border come together, forming an attractive diagonal line from the corner inward toward the center of the quilt. The double in the phrase refers to how the length of each border strip is figured out. Basic math is required to cut the borders to the correct length and width. With patience and precision you can finish your quilt with an attractive double mitered border.
Things You'll Need
- Ruler with 45 degree angles
- Yellow marker
- Scissors
- Fabric
- Pins
- Quilt
- Sewing machine
- Hot iron
Instructions
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1
Measure the length and width of your quilt. If your quilt is square, you need only measure one side.
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2
Choose a width for your border. A square quilt that is 4 feet by 4 feet might have a 6 inch wide border, for example.
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3
Calculate the length of the four border strips you need to make to form the border. To find the length, double the width of your border, add the length of a side and add an additional 4 to 6 inches for room for error. The width is doubled because the strips must extend beyond the other border strips that are at right angles to it; in other words, beyond the widths of two other border strips.
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4
Cut your four border strips according to the lengths and widths you chose.
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5
Fold your quilt over halfway. Mark the two midway points revealed when the quilt is folded in half with pins. Repeat this process for the other two parallel sides.
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6
Fold each border strip in half and mark the midway point with a pin. Lay each border strip on its respective side of the quilt, aligning the midway point of the quilt with the midway point of the border strip.
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Mark the two end points of a quilt side on the border strip with a pen on each end point. Repeat this process for all sides.
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Stitch each border strip to its respective side with your sewing machine. Begin the stitch at least 1/4 inch inward from an end point, marked by a pin, and end the stitch 1/4 inch in from the next end point. This helps protect the quilt from bunching up.
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Fold the quilt in half along its central diagonal. This action aligns two borders that meet in a corner on top of one another. Line up your ruler so that the 45 degree angle line on the ruler goes over the length of the two borders. Draw a 45 degree angle on the fabric with your marker. Fold the top piece of fabric at this line so that the right sides of the top and bottom pieces are facing each other and stitch this line with your sewing machine. Repeat the process for the other three corners. Doing so closes up the borders so that they are attached to one another.
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10
Place the quilt on an ironing board or other flat surface. Heat your iron. Iron the border corners flat in order to adhere the mitered joint together. Though it is already stitched, this process creates a more attractive border.
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Cut off the excess border strip from the corners. Turn the quilt over and iron the corners flat once more.
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Tips & Warnings
Be careful not to burn yourself when working with a hot iron or burn the material by leaving the iron on it while it is hot.
