Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Trimming your Quilt Top

I have to show a couple of quilt photos despite the topic.
Primitive Primer by Jan Patek & Sue Spargo


This isn't a Christmas quilt but that's when I like to hang it up and enjoy it.
We finally got our tree up and will decorate it this week. I always put a quilt up behind it. My Just takes Forever (Just Takes2) is working it's way back home after being quilted but I am positive I won't have the binding on before Christmas. Cant wait to see it and show you all! Looking forward to another red and white quilt.
 
As I was prepping my Christmas quilt for binding I was wondering how you all do yours.
I use my square ruler to square up all 4 corners
Then use my long ruler to trim the sides.
 
Then hope I'm not too far off when they meet up! lol

I'd love to know how you do it.

31 comments:

  1. Love your quilt! I have big plans to make a red and white quilt for our bed this year....... I think I will use the Churn Dash pattern, now to collect some nice red fabrics....

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  2. I love how this post is about trimming quilts and "trimming with quilts." That is the same way I trim my quilt tops, too. Start with the corner and a square ruler and then hope it matches up on the sides!

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  3. Hey Lori, that's exactly the way I square/trim my quilts. Sometimes I do include some 'finger crossing' or the occasional (ok, maybe more than occasional) 'creative language' when matching up my cuts. :)

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  4. Oh, you mean you don't just start on one corner, then run off the edge like I do? lol! Actually, I try to line up the left side of my long ruler with a vertical seam, even if its more than 6" away and I have to eyeball it, and I usually end up pretty straight by the time I get to the next corner.

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  5. I use the same trimming method as you. But, I've had some scary moments when they really didn't meet very well in the middle. Has that happened to you? If not, I am jealous. If so, what did you do??? I love, love, love your red and white quilt behind the tree and your Christmas one (the one you are trimming) looks fantastic. My dream of a Christmas quilt is red and green houses. Hmmm, I've been casting about trying to decide which of my ongoing projects to resurrect and I think I'll get that house quilt out. Thanks!

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  6. The red/white quilt serves so well as your tree backdrop. I do my binding exactly as you do. When necessary watching those 1/4" points..

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  7. I do the same, but I don't do all for corners first. I do one corner, then use the long ruler until I get to the next corner, etc. And I hope all opposite sides are the same length. Do you "block" your quilt? I have done it for some small quilts, but that's all. I have heard some vague mention of needing to do it.

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  8. I do one corner and work along the side to the next corner, etc. I have a quilt my sister and her daughter made, laid out on my floor right now waiting for me to trim and sew the binding on. It is pretty skewed, and the border isn't very wide to allow generous trimming. I don't have time to block the thing and I am struggling. Wanna come trim this one? : )

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  9. I trim up my tops much like you do. I love the red and white quilt behind the Christmas tree - just gorgeous!!

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  10. I trim mine the same way! It is always scary when stretching that ruler across the final cut! Love you red and white quilt behind the tree. Also looking forward to your Just Takes Two quilt!

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  11. I rarely trim my quilts, bad me. If there seems to be an issue in the corners I eyeball where I sew my binding to try to get it straight.:)

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  12. I love your red and white delectable mountains quilt, it makes the perfect backdrop for your tree. Thanks for the tip about using a square ruler to cut the corners before binding.

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  13. Exactly like you! The sides don't always meet up well, but I just wiggle around until they meet :)

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  14. Your Primitive Primer quilt is sweet & so cozy. Love red & white quilts -yours is stunning! I take average of center & sides, cut borders the same, and ease in when sewing on borders. I square up and cut same as you to add binding. So far so good with that method.

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  15. preciosas colchas !!!! no tengo ninguna blanco y rojo
    tendré que hacerla una pues me gustan
    yo corto mis colchas igual que lo haces tu
    saludos

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  16. That is how I trim my quilts also. Your red and white quilt, plus the green tree just sings Christmas.

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  17. your red and white is a great back drop to your tree which looks great.
    Can't wait to see you ijt2 quilt.
    I use a similar process on trimming. Getting the corners its the big thing for me.

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  18. I just got that Jan Patek primer pattern!! On amazon...I love it!! Have fun decorating your tree!!

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  19. I trim the same way!
    Right or wrong, it's nice to know I'm not alone.

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  20. Love your red and white quilt. I square up my flimsy before I quilt. Then layer with backing, batting that are 4" or more larger all the way around. Then quilt, then sew the binding on using the top's edges as a guide. When I trim the batting and backing, I trim about an 1/8-1/4 past the edges. This way I can "stuff" my binding. I like my binding to look full and not be flat.

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  21. I trim like Ruth, a corner then long ruler usually trying to slide it to make sure it will not be way off at the next corner. Then I turn and repeat until it is all trimmed. An hope that it is fairly square when I finish.

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  22. I am a space case right now... love the red and white quilt and the pretty tree. Will we see it again once it is all decked out?

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  23. that's exactly how i trim my quilts up for binding.

    your Christmas tree is perfectly shaped and the quilt behind it creates beautiful contrast. what a good idea~!

    :-)
    libbyQ

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  24. I trim the same way! Still trying to decide on a pattern for my red and white quilt. Love your tree with the R&W quilt behind it...it is such a perfect shape.

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  25. I bought the fabric for It Just Takes Two, but that's as far as I got. I copied the patterns hopefully I can start this year. I also trim the same way. I agree your tree has a great shape and it looks like a live tree.

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  26. I square up mine the exact same way. And I absolutely LOVE both quilts that you've shown today!

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  27. Beautiful quilts! Yep that is what I do and wipe my brow that I didn't blow it somehow anyway!!! lol!!

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  28. Can't wait to see the JT4 quilt… Knowing you, you'll have it all done by the time I see you next Friday! Can't wait, Lori!!
    Your tree is going to be beautiful, especially with that background quilt!!

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  29. I sew my binding on before trimming - a bit more to hang onto when stitching the binding. Looking forward to seeing your JT4!!

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