Applying Borders Flared, rippled, borders - borders that do not lie flat - are the most common piecing problem that we see.

Borders that are cut straight of grain, rather than cross grain, are more stable and less likely to flare.

TO MAKE A BORDER WITH STRAIGHT-CUT CORNERS:
Measure the length of the quilt in 3 center places along the quilt (middle, to the right, to the left). Average the numbers and use the average as the quilt length. Repeat this method with the width of the quilt to obtain the top and bottom border widths.
Cut the borders, remembering to add the border width to either side or top and bottom borders depending on how you are constructing the border. Apply the borders by pinning the center of the border to the center of the appropriate edge of the quilt, pinning the border ends to the quilt corners, and easing the fullness in while sewing from the center toward the corners.
To make mitered corners, consult a quilting book that contains instructions for finishing a quilt.

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