How to Sew an Easy Flange Border to Add Zing to Your Quilt
Today let's look at how to make a flange border on a quilt. This is a super easy way to add a "zinger" to your quilt. It can be used between the quilt center and first border, between borders, and even between a border and the binding.
This little flange doesn't change the size of the quilt at all so it works great if you need some color or definition between the quilt top and a pieced border. Follow along as I show you how to sew a "zinger" into your quilt.
So the project came about because I needed/wanted a new small table topper/hot pad for our round dining table. I love the colors of this orphan quilt block called Treasure Box (click on this link for the tutorial: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/treasure-box-traditional-quilt-block-tutorial) and had more of the same fabric line so it was a no-brainer!
Auditioning Fabrics:
Step 1:
I knew I wanted to repeat the larger floral fabric in the border but didn't like the way it looked next to the tiny blue floral on the outside edge of the block. That little strip of pink/orange really made all the difference.
I could have just made a narrow 1" wide border but I really wanted to keep the topper as small as possible. Then I remembered what a friend of mine called a "zinger"! Problem solved!
Cutting and Pressing Strips:
Step 2:
You'll need to cut enough strips to go around your project. If your sides are longer than width of fabric, just join them together like you would for a normal border.
I used 1" wide strips and pressed them in half lengthwise. You can go smaller than 1" - like down to 3/4" - but I wouldn't try to go any smaller than that. Tedious enough to press at 1"! Be careful not to burn your fingers!
Sewing to the Block:
Step 3:
I measured the sides of my block and cut two 12.5" strips. Alternatively, you could use a walking foot and just stitch the strips to the block/quilt and then trim off the excess.
I sewed the pressed strips to the block using less than a 1/4" seam allowance and a long basting stitch length. This is going to be sewed again at 1/4" which will hide the basting stitches. Note that the flange will remain pointing toward the inside of the block.
Step 4:
I then repeated Step 3 for the top and bottom of the block.
And here's a closeup of the corner.
Adding the Border:
Step 5:
I then measured the sides of the block (still 12.5") and cut two 2.5" x 12.5" strips and sewed them to the sides of the block.
Step 6:
And pressed the seam allowances toward the outside of the topper.
Step 7:
I then measured the top and bottom edges of the block (16.5") and cut two 2.5" x 16.5" strips and sewed them to the top and bottom edges.
Step 8:
And again pressed the seam allowances toward the outside of the topper.
Conclusion:
I'm really happy with the look of this little table topper. The zinger adds just the right amount of pop to bring out all the colors.
One thing you have to take into consideration is that the flange does cover up 1/4" of the block or quilt center. You'll notice in the pictures that the points of the yellow/blue flying geese units are now hidden. For this project it doesn't affect the look. However, if you don't want to hide your points, you might want to add a border before putting on the flange.
You can use piping in the same manner as the flange. Either make your own or use ready-made piping in a coordinating color.
I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial. If you like it and want to see more, just click HERE to sign up for my newsletter and receive a free PDF quilt pattern called "Chained Weathervane".
Happy Quilting!
Elaine
P.S. Here are two more tutorials for orphan blocks turned table topper/wall hanging: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/what-do-you-do-with-those-orphan-quilt-blocks and https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/making-the-columbian-star-quilt-block-into-a-wall-hanging-or-table-topper
P.P.S. Check out my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/fabric406