Sew Easy Checkerboard Quilt Borders
I often create classes and content for Sewing With Nancy with the beginners in mind. Whether you are new to sewing, quilting, and embroidery or simply want to brush up on core skills, I hope to create projects that inspire.
Learning the basics is what spurred my 3-part series, Fearless Quilting Finishes, which teaches the fundamentals of quilting borders, quilting, and binding.
For the first program in this 3-part series, I was able to fit in eight quilt piecing techniques! You may watch all eight techniques online plus see the step-by-step, strip-pieced checkerboard border here:
Checkerboard Border Preview
Note from Nancy: I used 1-1/2″ strips for this small wall quilt or table topper.
- Cut crosswise strips of light and dark fabrics to use in the main quilt design.
- Stitch a light and a dark strip, right sides together. Press seam toward the dark fabric. Cut strips in half.
- Stack two of the half-strips, right sides together, positioning the light coloration of one strip over the dark section of the second strip.
- Subcut strips into sections the same width as the strip.
- Join subcut pairs, right sides together, to form the 4-patch.
- Chain stitch pairs, one after the other.
- Cut apart.
- Press the seams open and lay out the 4-patch blocks to create a checkerboard border.
Simple, but creative, don’t you think? This border shines by itself!
Watch seven more quilt piecing ideas online in Fearless Quilting Finishes!
To watch Sewing With Nancy on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, download the app.
All the details are in one place!
For a chance to win a copy of Fearless Quilting Finishes, please let me know your favorite quilt border technique. The random winner will be announced on March 5.
The random winner of a DVD of How to Sew Art Quilts is Carol M. She said, What a beautiful art piece. I’m thinking I could actually do it!
Bye for now,
Francie Larrabee
I like the checkerboard edging! Would love to win the Finishing edges DVD! I am new to quilting, but not sewing. Quilting is so much fun and creative!
Grace Niederlehner
I like the checkerboard border you showed us how to make but I like a border that I think is called piano keys the best.
Kate
Thanks, Nancy. You’ve made this look so easy that I’ll give it a try – love the look of it. 🙂
Bessie Curran
I am a beginning quilter so I don’t have a favorite border yet. I do like the finished look of prairie points but have no idea how to do them
Nancy Zieman
Hi Bessie, So glad you’re interested in Prairie Points. You can look forward to my blog coning up on Tuesday, Feb. 17. In the meantime, check out this blog. http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/quick-quilting-projects/creative-bag-ideas-sensational-pockets/
Connie Campbell
Great border and that is one of my favorite ways to make it also!
Rosalinda Call
A flying geese or piano border when I’ think the quilt needs something extra
Ann Bailey
I’ve always loved checkerboard – in fact I have some strips cut out for St. Patrick’s Day placemats right now! Would LOVE the CD!
Judy D
I love your checkerboard edging. This book on finishing a quilt or project would be a great help!
Pat
The checkerboard border is my favorite. It looks great and seem easy enough that I could do it! Thanks again Nancy for inspiration and knowledge.
Diane C
My favorite is piano keys
Anne Schafroth
I love the checkerboard and the piano key borders! So simple but so showy!
Rita
So neat, just getting into quilting, I think I could try this border. I must look for the ? piano keys design.
Helen E Young
I always struggle with choosing borders. If I could win this book it would make my sewing life a whole lot easier!
Linda Martinez
Multi colored stripes with interesting corners is one of my favorites.
Theresa
awsome as usual!
Melissa Feuer
I understand how you are making the checkerboard. For me, the hard part is when I look at the total length and width of the quilt and try to figure out how if I can make the border fit without trimming the squares at the ends. Then you are left with cropped squares at the end of the rows. I guess I have to figure the half inch for seam allowance and then figure out the size of each block. Help please.
Nancy Zieman
Hi Melissa, Try trimming the inner quilt—so the border fits with full-squares.
Nancy Karas
I like borders that contrast with the colors of the quilt – they can be in any design just so they add an accent. Check borders do that very well!
Diana G
I usually go with a solid that matches the quilt made; but I really like this checkerboard idea. I have several quilts in process that would be great with this idea. This is simple enough I could teach my granddaughters this technique (as they are learning how to quilt). Thank you !!!
Coni W
I like the checkerboard border. It is easy, but looks complicated. I would enjoy learning more techniques from Fearless Quilting Finishes. Thank you for always thinking about your fans, Nancy. Everyday I look forward to reading your sewing tips.
Kim M. Harrington
Sometimes I think the border makes the whole thing work!
Sandy
Borders make a quilt shine when the right fabric and style are used. I like the idea of the checkerboard. Will need to try this idea soon. Thank you for your inspiration.
craftygramma
My favorite IS the CHECKERBOARD! I also love the ribbon edge, which I know you can make look doable; thanks for always building my confidence, Nancy. Would love this book.
Donna G.
I like the checkerboard idea! I also like piano key borders as well as traditional solid or tone on tone borders.
Carole J. d'Entremont
My favorite border is piano keys.
Judy C
My favorite border is piano keys but for small wall hangings I like the 4-patch. Haven’t tried the 4-patch on a large quilt but intend to in the near future.
Judy C
I like the piano key borders and have used the checkerboard boarders on small wall hangings but intend to use the checkerboard boarder on a large quilt in the near future. Really like that look.
Jan N.
I never made a pieced border, but love the look. I don’t know how to make them so they will fit the quilt. The piano key and checkerboard are my favorites. Thank you for the chance to win.
Jan N.
I love the look of pieced borders, but don’t know how to make them so they fit the quilt. My favorites are the piano key and the checkerboards. Thank you for the chance to win.
Delaine
I usually use a solid border, but I love the look of your checker board. Thanks!
Linda k.
I’m pretty new to quilting so the only borders I’ve done are plain strips of coordinating fabric. But I love the look (and apparent lack of difficulty) of this checkerboard boarder and plan to try it soon!
Starla
I love the checkerboard. I also remember seeing you do a very narrow strip (maybe half or quarter inch?) of color between the center and the border — it really set off the center part.
Karol
Sometimes it’s easier to decide what you want for a pieced border and make the quilt fit it. LOL I do pieced borders quite often and love them. I’ve used 9 patches as my checkerboard border which is fun. I’ve used pinwheels and other geometric blocks. As they say, you are only limited by your imagination.
Mary Esser
Nancy, I love all your tips and ideas for sewing. I usually just use a basic 2 1/2″ binding on my quilts. Would like to learn new ways for a different look. Someday I want to try a quilt with wavy borders.
Lori Morton
I haven’t done alot of quilts…so have just done the 2 &1/2″ strip binding so far. This would suire be a help to me! lol
Judy G
The quilt top I made for my bed wasn’t quite long enough so I inserted pinwheel borders at the top and bottom. This way I got the extra length needed and a pretty border to compliment the quilt design.
Terri Drake
I usually let the quilt tell me what kind of border to use. Sometimes its a simple plain border other times it may be embroidered or may be something simple such as the checkered border. Just depends on what the quilt says it needs.
Michelle Hall
I am new to quilting but I like the checkerboard border. I also like Prarie points so I will be anxious to read your blog about them
Robin
I haven’t really created many borders on my quilts, just the pattern and then the binding. I really never thought about doing a checkerboard border, but it looks very nice. I’d like to try doing borders on the quilts I make in the future. Looks like an excellent book!
Rhonda Davis
I haven’t made very many quilts yet. On a couple I used a narrow inner border and an outer border that was 2.5 times wider with mitered corners on both. I made a little doll bed quilt that I trimmed with lace before turning it inside out then quilted it.
Lynne
There is just one problem: You state 2″ or 1.5″ strips. What is the formula for determining the block size for different sized centers? I like to use panels for children’s quilts, but I don’t know the formula so you don’t end up having to re-sew blocks to come out right!
Nancy Zieman
Lynne,
Measure the length of the sides and the top/lower edges of your quilt top, subtract 1/2″. Let’s use a length measuresurement of 46″ as an example. Divide that number by either 1-1/2″ or 2″ (the finished size of the strips). If you’d like to have 2″ finished widths, you’d cut 2-1/2″ wide strips–there would be 23 “piano keys” on that border. If the length is number that is not evenly divisible by 1-1/2″ or 2″, sometimes I “skimp” on a seam allowance or take a generous allowances on one or two strips. It’s not scientific or completely accurate, yet generally our mind sees even strips. Hopes this helps.
Lynne
Thank you for your speedy reply!
Peggy
I have a high peaked ceiling in my kitchen and I want to do seasonal wall quilts to hang above the cupboards. This book
would give me different border looks for each quilt. So far I have only done plain borders with colors matching the quilt and I am ready for new challenges. Nancy, you do challenge me with both my sewing and quilting. Keep up the good work.
Bonnie Thiem
I have always liked the Checkerboard Border. I especially like the Sunflowers on these placemats and was a little disappointed to find out that they weren’t included. Where can I get the pattern?
Nancy Zieman
Bonnie, I am sorry that since we recorded this show, the pattern has been discontinued. Yet, there are many sunflower applique patterns online. I googled “Sunflower Applique Patterns” and just chose one option for you: http://www.freeapplique.com/flowerpatterns.html Take a look and see what strikes your fancy!
Bonnie
I use a variety of borders on my quilts depending on the style of the quilt. The scallop quilt border is one of my favorites.
Carolyn
Borders add width and/or length to a quilt and can be as varied as the quilter. A mitered border adds detail and class but takes more fabric than a plan border. I like to try different borders and have yet to find one I did not like.
Shirley Clark
I really love prairie points especially since you can do a lot of color combinations.
Diana Nelson
Checkerboard boarder has always been my favorite. Would love to win the DVD and try the other finishes shown.
Billie
My favorite depends on the quilt. I like scalloped borders on more feminine quilts. I also like piano key, checkerboards, and pieced borders made with flying geese or half square triangles. I’ve never tried prairie points, but would like to some time. Thanks for the tutorial and the give-away!
Lynne
My all-time favorite (so far) quilt border/edge has to be prairie points I put on a 40s quilt. I just figured it needed more. The quilt talked to me all the way and all my friends love it. Prairie points are so forgiving…snuggle in a bit and count to make sure you have the same number on opposing sides.
Doreen Kennedy
The checkerboard is my favourite!
Pat
Love prairie points – used them on a calendar holder I did and it really added to the completed project. The checkerboard will be great used on a quilt for the grandson.
Carol
Like many others who have responded, I too have used just the plain borders and binding. But I have added lace to a doll’s quilt and added a ruffle to a Christmas tree skirt. I would love to try scalloped, prairie points, and pieced. And I will admit that mitered corners still are beyond me despite trying several methods. BUt I am looking forward to Tuesday’s blog! Thank you! You are an inspiration!
Yvonne
My favorite border is the seminole border. The very first quilt I made was an Double Irish Chain. I was planning on making just a lap quilt (since it was my first) but my husband convinced me to make a queen size for our bed. He said “Go Big or Go Home!” (in a very loving, supportive way!). When it came to making the border I was tempted to just make a simple one, but l remembered my husband’s quote and tackled the seminole. I was so glad that I did! It got me out of my comfort zone and made the quilt look SO MUCH better!
Yvonne
My favorite border is the seminole border. The first quilt I made was a Double Irish Chain. I was going to make a lap size but my husband convinced me to make a queen size for our bed. He said “Go Big or Go Home!” in a very loving and supportive way 🙂 When it came to making the border I was tempted to do a simple border to get it done faster. However, I remembered my husband’s comment and decided to tackle the seminole. I’m so glad I did! It got me out of my comfort zone and made the quilt look so much nicer!
Hazel Davidso
My favorite is the scalloped although I still haven’t gotten up the courage to try it. Perhaps…one day! I like the piano keys as well.
AS
I always like the piano key border.
Lovay Broussard
I like to use old phonebook or catalog pages to paper piece piano key borders, thus using up all the little scraps.
Kathy Biciocchi
I love all these different borders. So far I have tried pieced borders, piano key borders and checkerboard borders. I am working up the courage to try a scalloped border – it’s the prettiest! You are such an inspiration! Thanks for offering a giveaway.
Marty
I haven’t made it but love the look of a thin border with matching-hue piping as the binding.
VickiT
I’ve never made one, but really love the look of a piano key border. The checkerboard is my second favorite though.