
Let's put the borders on our quilt so we can call the top Officially DONE!

Start by laying your 3/8-yard cut of border fabric on your cutting mat with the fold lined up on one of the lines. Trim the top edge so it's straight, then cut five 2 1/2" strips. Remove selvages.

Sew your strips together to create one long strip, using a 1/4" seam allowance, then press seams open. (You want them open so your borders will lay as flat as possible.)

First you will sew borders on the two long sides. Overlap your border strip at the top edge about 1/2", and align the edges.

Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance, lining up the edges as you go.

You will have better success with this step if you smooth the quilt top out to the side as much as possible. This will help defeat gravity a little bit, creating less drag on your borders.

Once you reach the end, trim your long border strip about 1/2" past the edge, as shown. Repeat to attach your border strip to the other long side of your quilt top.

Lay your quilt top right side up on your ironing board. Press your seam to set the stitches.

Press your seam allowances toward the border. Repeat for the other long side's border.

Trim the excess in line with the edge of your quilt.
Repeat all steps for top and bottom borders.

Borders are on! Your quilt top is officially DONE!!
Tomorrow I will post about adding the pieced strip to the back. Then on Monday we'll start talking about QUILTING!!