Squaring Up Your Quilt – Tips for Getting Perfect 90 Degree Corners

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Squaring Up Your Quilt for Perfect Results

As an avid quilter for over 20 years, I know firsthand how important “squaring up” is for achieving flat, straight quilt tops before sending them off to the longarm quilter or quilting them yourself. From my experience, meticulously squaring each step of the process is the key to professional-looking finished quilts you’ll love snuggling under for years to come.

Why “Square” Up a Quilt?

Quilting has a bit of a learning curve when it comes to precision (I still sometimes get things a little wonky). When pieces get sewn together even a smidge off-grain, by the end you’ve gone from straight lines to looking like my dog wagged his tail all over the fabric! Squaring at each step prevents tiny inaccuracies from compounding into a curvy, uneven mess.

Here’s the basics on why square quilt building blocks make gorgeous bedcovers:

  • Squares layers accurately for even quilting density across the whole quilt
  • Prevents distorted shapes that detract from the intended design
  • Allows precise piecing for intricate patterns like hexagons or stars
  • Avoids “skew” or crooked lines that can make eyes twitch trying to follow them
  • Gives straight borders and sharp 90 degree corner angles

Take the extra time (with a glass of wine, perhaps?) to square correctly so when you show off that stunner of a quilt to friends, your flawless aligning and perfect miters don’t go unnoticed!

Squaring Tools to Have Ready

Having the right gear makes quilting tasks feel a little less daunting for newbies like myself back when I first began this hobby. I can’t count how many uneven quilt tops I produced using only a mat, rotary cutter, and no ruler! These essential tools will have you squaring new quilt tops like a seasoned pro:

  • Large quilting ruler – Look for a wide 6” x 24” size to efficiently trim fabric edges in long cuts
  • Small rulers and triangle squares – Handy for squaring up binding strips, block corners, etc.
  • Rotary cutter + replacement blades – Keep it sharp! Dull blades make jagged cuts
  • Cutting mat – Self-healing is crucial for accuracy and ruler control
  • Quilting safety pins or clips – Hold your layered masterpiece sandwich together while manipulating it
  • Iron + ironing board – Press open seams flat before squaring for best results

Step-By-Step Squaring Process

Learning proper step order for squaring a quilt was a game changer for me. Skip straight to trimming the finished top like I foolishly did at first, and you’ll likely end up with less-than-stellar outcomes. Here’s how the experts do it:

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  1. Trim fabric yardage to straighten ALL initial pieces (yes, before any sewing!)
  2. Square up each pieced block unit as you go (ex: trimming half square triangle blocks)
  3. Iron open and square pieced rows before joining
  4. Trim excess batting and backing larger than the squared quilt top
  5. Use ruler markings to carefully trim assembled quilt sandwich even on all sides

Trimming Yardage & Initial Cuts

To paraphrase Franklin Roosevelt, “measuring twice and cutting once” is the key to avoiding frustration here. Take a little extra time with your very first cuts into those scrumptious new fabrics to make sure the edges are nice and straight:

  1. Fold yardage right sides together and gently press a crease along the salvage edge.
  2. Line up a long quilting ruler evenly along that folded crease, keeping the markings as straight as possible.
  3. Hold ruler firmly in place, rotate fabric toward you, then slice along the ruler’s edge with your rotary cutter to “square” the first side.
  4. Repeat along the other selvage end and across the fabric’s width as needed to straighten all initial rectangle pieces.

Trust me, accurately squaring pieces right off the bat saves headaches (and possible quilt rejection from picky family members) down the road!

Why Care About Perfect Points or Corners?

After stitching units like half-square triangles or flying geese, trimmed seam allowances can distort block corners from perfect 90 degree angles, throwing everything out of whack as you assemble rows. But have no fear – taking a quick minute to align corner intersections and trim any bulky excess batting helps tremendously in getting sharp points on your finished quilt.

Here’s my simple approach to keeping those corners crisp and precise:

  1. Pin adjacent sewn blocks right sides together, aligning raw edges as accurately as possible
  2. Place entire unit on cutting board with pinned seam intersection just off the mat edge
  3. Position small triangle ruler precisely over the protruding corner point
  4. Trim excess fabric and batting 1⁄4” outside the corner angle
  5. Carefully press open or to one side; square ruler confirms 90 degrees!

Q&A Troubleshooting Tricks

Still struggling with getting perfectly squared quilts after trying my back-to-basics approach? Here’s some troubleshooting questions with fixes that could help:

“My border strips end up stretching or getting distorted while sewing – how do I keep mitered corners sharp and corners matching accurately?”

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Ah yes, the infamous wobbly borders! We’ve all been there. Try starching strips first so they behave better. And slowly pin every 3-5 inches to set the shape and prevent movement. For super wiggly or bias-cut borders, glue baste or fuse in place with heat bond before sewing.

“Can I square up vintage quilt tops from decades past? The fabrics seem really off grain and piecing is anything but precise!”

Vintage and antique tops with wonky dimensions can absolutely be revived and finished…with some strategic trimming! First pin up the quilt and study where the most distortion lies. Typically outer borders and edges went on the fritz more than interior piecing. Trim off tattered selvages or outer points little by little using a guide ruler until things look straight and flat again. Just be careful not to lose any intricate piecing – go slowly!

“Help! No matter how I try to square ruler lines on this beast of a quilt, either my corners are lopsided or my sides wave like the ocean!”

Ugh, I’ve been there too! Here’s a little trick: ditch the ruler for straightening mega-quilts and go freehand, literally. Have a friend hold opposing corners taut while you smooth out ripples, working from the center outward. Place a few pins to set flattened shape, then trim pinned edges using the ruler and rotary cutter method. Voila – tamed quilt, no ruler frustration required!

In Closing: Master “Square” for Fabulous Finishes

I hope these straight-forward strategies for squaring quilts at each step demystifies the process, especially for anyone just learning. Don’t let intricate patterns scare you off from trying to properly trim and align pieces – get your basic squares down and the rest comes together surprisingly simply! From my couple decades quilting, I can definitely say taking time to square accurately leads to professional, heirloom-worthy masterpieces you’ll cherish for years.

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Now I’m off to baste my latest attempts at perfect piecing so I can crank up the sewing machine and quilt away the afternoon! Let me know if any trimming or squaring questions come up in your projects – happy to help troubleshoot!

Key Tips for Squaring Up Your Quilt
Tip Description
Check corners Align corners and ensure they form 90 degree angles
Measure diagonals Measure from corner to corner – diagonals should have equal lengths
Use square ruler Place large square ruler over quilt top to check for squareness
Pin generously Use plenty of pins to hold quilt top in shape while squaring up
Trim excess fabric Trim any overhanging fabric once quilt is square

Here is an FAQ on squaring a quilt:

FAQ

What is “squaring up” a quilt?

Squaring up a quilt basically refers to making sure the quilt top, batting, and backing are all lined up evenly so the edges are straight and perpendicular. This makes for nice straight borders and corners when you finish assembling the whole quilt sandwich.

Why do I need to square up my quilt?

If the layers of your quilt are uneven or the edges are wonky, it can cause problems when you try to bind or finish the quilt. Getting everything lined up neatly ahead of time means less frustration down the road!

When should I square up the quilt?

  1. Square each layer individually first – the top, the batting, and the backing – before layering them.
  2. Once the layers are basted together, square up the quilt sandwich again to make sure nothing shifted.

How do I know if my quilt needs to be squared up?

Check the edges and corners – if they look uneven, wavy, or they don’t meet at 90 degree angles, your quilt likely needs a good squaring!

What tool should I use to square my quilt?

A large ruler or square works best, at least as big as the width of your quilt. Clear acrylic quilting rulers allow you to see the edges of the fabric while you trim.

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Any tips for squaring quilts more easily?

Work on a large flat surface so you can lay the entire quilt sandwich out flat. Measure twice, cut once! And go slowly removing just a little fabric at a time until each edge lies neatly along your square ruler.