Sewing on butted quilt borders with corner squares, sometimes called corner stones, is a fast and easy way to add a little extra interest to your quilt. The corners can be cut from plain squares of fabric or they can be simply or intricately pieced.
Determine Corner Square Size
- For pieced quilt blocks at corners, the unfinished width of borders matches the unfinished size of the corner blocks.
- For plain squares, choose a finished border width and add 1/2" for seam allowances. Cut squares with sides that match the unfinished border width.
- For corner squares that butt against multiple borders, calculate the finished sizes of each border strip then add 1/2" for seam allowances. Cut squares with sides that match the calculated width.
Sewing Corner Squares to Quilt Borders
- Measure the quilt through its vertical midpoint. Use the same technique used to add butted borders to a quilt. Construct two borders that length to use on the quilt's sides.
- Before sewing the side borders, use the same technique to measure the quilt through its horizontal midpoint and construct two borders that length to use at the top and bottom of the quilt.
- Sew the side borders to the quilt using the instructions for butted borders.
- Sew corner pieces to each side of the top and bottom borders. Press seams towards the borders.
- Sew borders to the quilt, matching seams where side borders and corners meet and then matching along the entire edge.
