The final border

[Margo]

In the December instructions, under the Final Border heading, Susan states

I don’t even bother to measure the lengths of this last border; I just sew 1-3/4 inch wide strips onto each side.

. Is this because her piecing is so accurate that, by the time she reaches this point, her quilt top is equal on all sides? Although she gives instructions for those who want to measure, it sounds like measuring isn't really necessary. In my case, I think measuring was necessary. Am I missing something?

[Margo]

Nancy, I think that because this final border is fairly narrow (finished size will be 1-1/4") there won't be much distortion if the strips are applied without stretching them. However, like you, I felt better measuring the center of my quilt, cutting the final border to that length and easing the staggered stars border in where necessary. Sounds like you are almost done!!!

[Margo]

Thanks so much Margo! Your explanation makes sense to me only if the sides are fairly consistent in length before the borders are added. I wish I had gone with my gut and measured, but unfortunately I trusted the instructions and did not. As a result, I have one side that is longer than the opposite side. Hopefully, this won't be too noticible once it is quilted. I considered removing the border, measuring, and sewing it back on easing it on, but I was concerned that there would be too much to ease in and afraid of distorting my quilt top further--I use a fairly short stitch length.

Actually, I finished my top back in December 2009 and it's currently with a longarm quilter friend to be quilted. Since she is super busy this time of the year through the Christmas holidays, I gave her a deadline of March 2011, in time for our guild's biennial Quilt Expo. This quilt will be a keeper, my first one. All of my other quilts were given away.