Yuma QAL - Finished Quilt Top With Borders

I just can't believe I'm at the end of my #YumaQAL week already, it's flown by, and the best bit is I'm totally in love with my #YumaQuilt top, yay.  How's your week going, have I tempted any of you to Quilt Along?!!!

If you've been following all week, then you're probably here to see this pic of my finished Yuma Quilt top.

Don't know about you but it reminds me of mountain ranges and snow peaks.

The quilt top should measure 64" x 64", but with the piecing issues, I told you about yesterday mine came in at 62.5" square.

I wanted to make it larger, so I auditioned different border sizes, here's how each looked.

4" visible border (cut 4.5" strips)

5" visible border (cut 5.5" strips)

6" visible border (cut 6.5" strips)

7" visible border (cut 7.5" strips)

Still uncertain I trialled a few cornerstone options using some of my extra pieces cut for the quilt top.

 HST cornerstone continuing main quilt top diagonal

HST cornerstone going against main quilt top diagonal

4 piece cornerstone

Right away I knew I didn't want cornerstones - they detract from the quilt design, so I threw that idea out.  I wanted to maximise the size of the quilt, so I chose a 7" border without cornerstones.

Adding Borders

You'd think the easiest way to add borders is just to sew a length of fabric to the side of your quilt then trim it off to the required length.  Move to the next edge and do the same and repeat until all four borders are added.

Yep, this is one way to add borders and in some scenarios might be the easiest way to go but you'll be nothing short of lucky to escape a wavy quilt top that doesn't want to lie flat in a quilt sandwich and becomes a quilting nightmare running the risk of tucks and folds.

If you want to save yourself problems, in the long run, the correct way to add borders is to take 3 measurements across your quilt widthwise and lengthwise.  You should then average out your 3 measurements for each direction.

Cut your border lengths according to the average width and length numbers from this calculation - NB: don't forget to add in the additional amount required on the two longer side lengths that are created once you add the first two borders.

Fold your quilt top edge in half and mark with a crease then fold your border length in half and mark with a crease.  Match these two centre creases and the two ends also and securely pin them.  You should now fit your borders easing them to a perfect fit within these pin markings.  You can add additional markings to the quilt top and also the borders at the quarter way marks (and more too if your quilt is particularly long) and using this method your quilt should lie perfectly flat, no wrinkles and waves.

The finished size of my quilt top is approx 76" square, and I'm truly, madly, deeply in love with it.  Of course, as always, my daughter Flicky has laid claim to it which is fine but only as long as it's her quilt here in my home because I'm not ready to let this one out of my sight.

I've been planning how to quilt it from the first moment I saw the pattern, and I've stuck with my plan throughout which tells me it's a goer.  I feel with such a modern, graphic design and bold yet simple solids the quilting should be the exactly the same and not become the focal point of the quilt so I'm going to quilt each triangle a 1/4" from its seam which will also create a train track effect with the parallel 1/4" quilting line from the adjacent triangle.  Don't worry if you don't get what I mean I'll be posting again once the quilt's finished.

I hope you've enjoyed my week on the #YumaQAL, here's a list of all my #YumaQuilt posts - you can click the links for previous days to catch up on those too and don't forget the international giveaway from Monday's post, more details below:

Monday: my fabric choices

Tuesday: creating the HSTs and Pieced Triangles

Wednesday: Log Cabin blocks

Thursday: piecing and joining rows 

Friday: finished Yuma Quilt top with added borders

almost there! - Quilting My Yuma

and finally - Yuma QAL - A Finish

If you want to join in all you need to do is download the free Yuma Quilt pattern here and be sure to share your work on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc using the hashtag #yumaQAL.  Even if you're not making your own Yuma click through to the Instagram #YumaQAL and take a look at what everyone else is up to.

YUMA QAL SCHEDULE

Each week another blogger will be sharing their #YumaQAL experiences with you.

17 June - kick-off blog post on Gotham Quilts
week of 22 June - made by ChrissieD click here to find all my Yuma QAL posts
week of 29 June - Faith and Fabric
week of 6 July - Daydreams of Quilts
week of 13 July - Lisa in Port Hope
week of 20 July - Sunflower Quilting
week of 27 July - Roar Haus
week of 2 August - Gnome Angel
10 August - Life Under Quilts
12 August - closing blog post on Gotham Quilts and start of linky party
19 August - linky party winner(s) chosen

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Disclaimer: Gotham Quilts supplied the fabrics used at a discount price to mbCD otherwise this post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.