The first thing I had to do to finish Love Letters was to get the borders on and miter the corners. Love Letters was the third quilt I did this year for the RSC group – (rainbow scrap challenge) I don’t know how you all do mitered corners but I have found a way that works for me and I don’t get it messed up. Maybe you all have the “correct” way to do it – but I will do it my way LOL (mitered was the only way to go for it to look right – I rarely make them)
First I get all four borders sewn on the quilt and then fix the corners. By laying one end over the other and folding it back I know where my angle needs to be –
– after I trim some of the excess off I pin in place from the front and baste it. Well maybe baste isn’t the right word I do more like an applique stitch to hold the two parts together – I am linking this tutorial to Tips and Tutorials on the 22nd.
Then I fold it back – looking at it from the back. I draw a line on the threads so I will see them better – I should have used a darker color – this is my stitch line
After the corner is sewed, I trim the seam to quarter inch and pull the “basting” stitches out. Do this on all four corners and you have mitered borders my way – I’m sure some of you have the perfect way to do it – but this works for me.
The quilt top is big – about 102 x 102 – after trying for a shot in the house I gave up – just got one of one of corners and took it outside.
It was a very cloudy day – I laid it out over the pine needles (and still dry ground) and got my step stool that has 3 steps and got up on it to get the shots. Very hard to get it all but here it is. After it is quilted and bound I will try to get a better photo in the sun. My goal was to get all 3 RSC quilt tops done by the end of the year and I did it – Love Letters, Butterflies in Flight, and Stars.
Next up is RSC21 Stars – on the frame and ready for quilting in the new year. I am trying to figure out quilting patterns right now – how to do the border how to do the black squares in between the stars – tomorrow. My goal for 2022 is to get all three of these quilt tops quilted – and make a lot more LOL
I will try to get in an end of the year post by the 31st!
Your mitred corners were just what this quilted needed! Congrats on getting all your RSC quilts done this year.
I love the look of mitered corners in borders, and I do mine the same way you do. I used to sew them by hand but I finally got brave and cut them. Love Letters is such a pretty and unique quilt!
It’s a beauty and I like the way you do your mitered corners. I will try your way next time. Basting from the front is such a good idea as it helps you see to match the important areas/colors. Happy end of year to you!
Love the idea of basting the mitre from the front! I do mine pretty much the same way. I pin like crazy, stitch the seam, double check and trim. I think I’ll add the basting next time.
I’ve never done a mitered corner, but this is a really nifty trick that I will keep in mind. What a pretty quilt, Karen!
I have never tried mitered corners! What a great finish for Love Letters. Looks great.
Your mitered borders look great, and I can see why you would want them for this quilt! It was interesting to see how you do them, too. I think there’s never one right way to do anything – we should always do what works best for us. So great that you have all 3 quilt tops completed this month!
Thanks for the linkup! I love this technique and I really really love your quilt! People make a big deal out of miters, but I know your technique is fantastic for getting them accurate. On another note, I am thinking of joining in on RSC 2022, and I find this quilt so inspiring.
Love that you took extra time and fabric to miter your corners :). It looks fab with them… enjoy figuring out your next quilt pattern!
Kathi
I love this quilt, Karen! (Seems I did that just yesterday about Drunkard’s Path. LOL!) Beautiful! I will be mitering the corners on the zebra quilt as well. I used a zebra-stripe fabric for the borders and I think they will look much better mitered. It’s been a long time since I mitered a corner, so wish me luck!
You are ending 2021 on a very high note!
Love aletters looks wonderful. I think you do exceptionally well to get three RSC tops completed this year, as well as all the hand quilting you do.
Congrats on a beautiful finished quilt top. All your RSC quilts are beautiful, but this one is my favorite for 2021.