How to Make Mitered Corners on a Quilt with Double Borders

Mitered corners are beautiful and elegant.  This past month I decided to get serious and learn to make a proper mitered corner. I hope this mini tutorial will help you put them on your next quilt.

Let's get started!   

Step 1: Sew your double border fabrics together lengthwise.  (Sewing multiple borders on one-at-a-time is not efficient and the end product is not as nice as if you do it this way.)

Step 2: Sew double borders to adjacent sides of the quilt top. Stop stitching before each piece intersects with the other. In this image the vertical border is on top of the horizontal border.

Step 3: As you look at this next image, the vertical border is folded back onto itself and the horizontal/top  border is turned down on the vertical border. Press the seam between the 2 fabrics in the border so that at this corner, the  seam between the 2-fabrics of the border is pressed down toward the inner fabric. (In this example, my inner border is the multi-colored fabric).  Remember the mantra "top-down" and "bottom-up". 

Step 4: Return the horizontal/top border to the original right-side up fashion and place the vertical border on top of it. 

Step 5:  Turn the vertical border under (and free-edge out) at a 45 degree angle. The inner border on the vertical border should be pressed up toward the outer strip (or "up" in this image).  Again, recall the mantra, "top-down, bottom-up".  (Remember the "top" is the horizontal border and the "bottom" is the vertical border in this image.)  Because you placed the seams in opposite directions at the intersection of this corner, when you stitch the mitered corner from outside free-edge in to center the fabric will nest itself perfectly and you will have a beautiful and elegant corner!

Step 6: Press the corner seams with a hot iron.  Option: pin the fabrics together at the free-edge near the pressed crease.

Step 7: Turn the vertical border strip on top of the horizontal strip. You will be able to see the crease in the fabric made by the iron. 

 Step 8: Stitch in the creased area from the outer free-edge in toward your quilt top.

Step 9: Clip excess fabric from seam and corner.

                         
Step 10: Press right side of top.

Step 11: Press underside. Pressing the seam open at this point will reduce bulk.
Repeat all steps at the remaining corners of the quilt.

Quilting Demystified

 On Saturday, March 24th, I demonstrated basic quilt making techniques at the Levi Coe Library in Middlefield, CT http://www.leviecoe.com/.  It was such a great space for a workshop---lots of tables and comfortable chairs for all the attendees. Thanks to all who came and asked questions! Thanks also to Loren Weber and her staff for help setting up.

Here I am demonstrating how to make a basic 4-patch.



Here I was discussing the best alignment of a strip so the seams interlock nicely. 

There was quite a bit of interest in my Old Maine variation. We hope to have a second workshop where participants can bring their own machines and sew along with me.

War of 1812 Bicentennial Commerative Quilts

This year the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center is celebrating the Bicentenial of the War of 1812 with a Quilt Show.  The main celebration is this weekend but there are plans for a national tour and a book. 

2012 Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show

March 17-18
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Seaway Trail Discovery Center
401 W. Main St.
Sackets Harbor, NY 13685

My entry is "Scarlet and Gray" in celebration of The Ohio State University, my alma mater. It was tough to tone down my color choices in an attempt  to work in historic reproduction mode. The pattern was my design. Here it is prior to completion laid out on my studio floor.

 

It's a Floral Thing - Norfolk CT

"Flower Garden"
Mary Lachman - 2012

There is an art exhibit at the  Norfolk Artisans Guild from February 3 - March 31, 2012 at Station Place in Norfolk.  My piece, Flower Garden, will be on exhibit there.   Check out the Artisans Guild on Facebook www.facebook.com/Artisansguild.

The pieced cotton batik base was inspired by the appearance of my scarlet azaleas blooming as the spirea put out fresh almost fluorescent green foliage each spring. The blossom overlay is a fused applique. The machine stitching is intense, something that can be appreciated up close.

I hope to see you at the opening reception, February 5th from 1-3PM.

Be Mine

I am working on my challenge piece for the upcoming show of the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective and am just about finished. I think it resembles a fancy box of Valentine chocolates (without the calories)!

Under the Sea

This quilt is part of the Bamboo Challenge for  Heritage Quilters of Wallingford. It is also currently on display through January 2012 at the Southbury Public Library as part of the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective exhibit.

Time Flies

I just finished this small quilt entitled, Time Flies.  It symbolizes the end of summer as seen from the shore of  Lake Erie as the sun sets. I wrote a little poem to go with it:

Time flies-
And the sun sets
On the bike rides, fireflies
Roasted marshmallows
And shooting stars,
As summer ends.

Happy Birthday

This is a postcard I made to celebrate a 10th birthday.

It is made from an assortment of fabric and lace, stitched and fused to double-sided thick fusible interfacing (Peltex). The message and address portion of the card is card stock. The card measures 4"x6" finished and was hand-stamped and mailed at the post office for 44 cents.

Prayer Flag - Changing it Up

We all get stuck in ruts. And I feel my earlier prayer flags have not truly reflected my personality. So here go turning over my leaf. This little series symbolizes new horizons, new possibilities, and changing it up!

Bragging Rights

My son James plays the guitar. This is a link to a video he posted for his college application.
Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAsTHJqTulk

Prayer Flag - Hope

I made another Prayer Flag today.
This one symbolizes a prayer for Hope....of acceptance, recovery and cure. Share your thoughts and prayers with those in need.

If you would like to join the Prayer Flag Project
please follow this link (http://prayerflagproject.blogspot.com)

Prayer Flag - Peace

A few weeks ago I met Vivika DeNegre on the Madison Green during an arts festival. She inspired me to join the Prayer Flag Project (http://prayerflagproject.blogspot.com) and today I completed my first Prayer Flag.

My prayer is for peace in the world and in smaller communities of friends and family. Peace among people is a great gift and one we can share with each other.

This small quilt is made from recycled linen scraps with embellishments of embroidery, lace, buttons and beads. The dove is made from batik fabric. The lace, beads and buttons hand-stitched. The dove and olive branch are fused and then top-stitched by hand with thread.

Pearls in the Rough

Fantastic SAQA meeting yesterday at Sew Inspired (www.sewinspired.com) in Simsbury. Kendall gave a neat demonstration using fusible and newspaper to create a word film on gauze-lke nylon and we enjoyed having Martha Sielman, executive director of SAQA (www.saqa.com) with us.

And, after declaring my love for scraps, Kendall and Diedre loaded 4 big boxes into my car...linen, wool, silk and cotton!

The goodies I found upon opening the boxes! 

Partial organization or at least stacked with that idea in mind

I can't wait to start using these. Just think precut, fused edges, texture galore! Some of the linen pieces remind my of old flags....so I will start my first prayer flag today.

ArtFest and Vivika

We had a beautiful weekend for the Killingworth Arts Festival on the Madison green last Saturday and Sunday. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat, visit and purchase my fiber offerings. 
I met some old friends and made some new ones including Vivika DeNegre, (http://vdenegrequilts.blogspot.com)an art quilter from the CT shoreline who makes amazing bird and nest quilts. Check out her blog when you have a moment. 

This is a Quilt!

Last spring I submitted a small art quilt to a traveling show, This is a Quilt, sponsored by SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) www.saqa.com. Today I learned that it was selected as one of 50, from the 268 submissions, to be part of the permanent collection at the Michigan State University Museum! 
But wouldn't you know, I forgot to photograph it before I sent it in! However, here I am (on the right) with my friend Joanne (left) when I was beginning to work on it. Yes, I am piecing on a Featherweight. I love that machine.

Arts Festival in Madison

Felted wool hat with needle-felted embellishments
Mary Lachman 2010

It looks like a great weekend for the annual Columbus Day weekend art festival sponsored by the Killingworth Arts Center. This year it will be on the Madison, CT town green. Hope to see you there! For additional information click on this link: http://www.artscenterkillingworth.com/

Blogger aNew

I am teaching myself the ins and outs of Blogger. Some details are trickier for me than WordPress, but I am learning. Today I added the slide show!