How to Quilt With Panels #2: Squaring up a Panel and Adding Overlapping Borders

Hello Everyone! Please come and join me as I show you how I square up quilt panels and add overlapping borders! I love panel quilts and hope you will enjoy making them as much as I do!

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

Every time you cut 5the Christmas one I hold my breath. I love your videos.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

😊 thank you

[@joannefrancis7040]

Thank you so much for your video. Followed your excellent instructions. My quilt turned out great! I learned how to quilt 5 years ago by watching excellent videos just like yours. What I'm trying to say is you are helping people learn and that's an awesome thing. Thank you again.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are so welcome!

[@conniefath5126]

Thank you! I like the way you square the panel up. I’m happy I found your series on panel. You do a great job🎉

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Hi Connie, Welcome to my channel and thanks for watching my videos!

[@sunseekerrs3087]

Thank you so much for showing how to square up a panel. Very informative. And such pretty quilts!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thank you!

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

We have the same iron! I just love that iron, what a work horse.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I had to replace it because it got knocked off my ironing board and started leaking!!! I like the Chi irons! I have another newer one pretty close to it!!!

[@dyane1869]

I just recently found you and I love your tutorials! Very thorough! I am excited to cut my first panel. Ohhh and I have 2 Boston terrior quilt brothers too! They are the world to me 💜

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Dyane, I'm so glad you are enjoying my videos! We have really enjoyed having Boston terriers! Molly passed away...now its just Milo. We all miss her, even Milo! They are special! Such a great breed!

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

Your quilt is outstanding.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thank you!

[@barbarachase7725]

I need to pull my panels out and decide what to do with them. I’ve enjoyed both videos and will review them when I get ready to sew. Thanks for the videos and the Boston sighting...so cute!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Hi Barbara! I thought you might enjoy seeing Molly and Milo! I will try to include them more! Panels are great to use and a quick easy project for philanthropy quilts! Be sure to pull out any coordinating fabrics when you pull out those panels! I'm glad you responded!

[@barbarachase7725]

@@thesimplequilter7499 Long ago when I first started quilting I used just a panel and turned it with batting For a philanthropy quilt. I much prefer binding and actually sewing the binding. And I do like the addition of coordinating fabrics… On my to do list! Thanks for all of your motivating suggestions… My list is growing longer!

[@wesfox4455]

Milo is a big baby!!!

[@barbarachase7725]

@@wesfox4455 lol, they are both darling. My Rosie was independent and a bit of a stinker but she was well loved!

[@phyllismccarter2032]

Loved this very informative video!! The simple quilter makes it look so simple!!!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks Phyllis!

[@djackson9973]

I was so happy to see your fish panel. I had been planning on making a fish quilt for my brother. I never thought of looking for a fish panel until I saw yours. I cant wait to see what you do with it. Please show us every step. Squaring up, cutting, sewing, borders, trimming, backing and binding.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Hi d! It may take me awhile to get that one done....I am in the brainstorming stage right now.

[@notmyname2229]

Great video, so helpful! Thank you.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I’m so glad you found it useful!

[@fernlamberson565]

Can't wait to see what happens on the next program! Thank you Michelle!🌻🌻🌻

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Hey Fern! Lots of fun things coming up!!

[@wesfox4455]

This is a good one. I ❤️❤️you!!!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks Wes🥰

[@kimwinn7813]

Thanks! You make it look easy. I have a panel to practice on.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Hi Kim! Just take you time and try not to get frustrated! Remember to press and not iron! Panels make fun and quick projects! I will have several ideas for using panels in my next episode for this series!

[@esperansaloughran693]

Thankyou so much for this important info. I didnt know this.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are welcome!

[@brendabiffibaldovino8306]

💗💗💗

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks for watching my videos Brenda!

[@djackson9973]

Hello, thanks for video. I was wondering where you are inserting your pins. Are you pinning the corners of the last border corner edges or just pinning to hold the corners together? If you could, next time, it would be helpful to see a panel with a very uneven border to really see how to square them. So far, this is the best video that I have seen for squaring panels and I have watched a lot. Thank you

[@djackson9973]

Also, I'm a little confused about the measurements. One measurement was 20 or 21 3/4 and another measurement was 17 and something. Then the video skipped to adding the borders. Did you cut something off. Sorry for so many questions but every detail you skip or delete is important to newbies

[@thesimplequilter7499]

The first pins I inserted were at the corners of the outer most border. Then along the sides I lined up the outer border and matched up all of the borders and pinned through the outer edge of the borders. Most newer panels made of quilt shop quality fabrics should not be very distorted. You can always elect to trim away the borders if they are too distorted. You can also gently tug on the bias of the panel and sometimes that will help. I have read that washing and drying a panel pull it back into shape; however, I have not personally tried that. I hope this helps!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

@@djackson9973 Hi again d! The first measurement was 20 3/4”. That is the measurement from the edge of the outer border of the top of the panel to the middle of the panel. I measured that same distance at the edge then the middle of the panel. That was just checking to make sure the distances were equal. The 17 1/8” measurements are from the edges of the side border to the middle of the quilt panel.Again I measured three times to make sure the distances were the same. After I knew the measurements were the same that told me the panel was squared up so I then proceeded to begin adding the borders. The first measurement, when adding the border strip, was measuring the full length of the panel from top to bottom. That measurement was 42.5”. I hope this helps! If you still have questions, let me know.

[@djackson9973]

Thanks for responding. I would love it if you showed all of your video instead of deleting scenes. I would like to see everything that do from start to finish. I got plenty of time.

[@kathyadams3089]

I love your tutorials. Thank you. I'm a beginner and ordered a panel quilt but am intimidated by the pattern. I watched you do panels and it looks so much easier. I want to make a crib quilt. My panel is 23 x 41. I want to build it out to 36 x 52. The sides will need more building out than top to bottom. Will it be ok to put an extra boarder on side but not the top?

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Kathy, You might consider adding your side borders first then add the top and bottom border last. That might help prove a unified look. You could first add to the sides then add like a 4-5” border all around. There really are no rules. Sometimes I just put the panel up on my design wall and start trying different options. You can also draw a sketch of it on graph paper to get a feel for what it might look like.

[@kimwinn7813]

I wish I had known this year's ago.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

If you use this method, let me know how it works for you! Be patient and enjoy the process!

[@djackson4659]

Hello, I’m pretty new to quilting, so will you clear up some terminology for me. I hear everyone say: square up a block, square up your fabric, square up a quilt and then there is square up a quilt panel because they are wonky. However, square up a quilt panel seems to be something completely different. Yet, the language is the same. I have both fabric and panels. Do I treat them all the same when squaring up? Sorry for such a long comment.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Squaring up a panel and squaring up fabric are alike and different....I hope that statement is not confusing. In squaring up a panel, you are trying to straighten up the fabric of the panel after it has become distorted. Panels are printed on straight; however, it can become distorted when it is rolled onto the bolt. When squaring up fabric, it is similar. Your are just trying to line up the fabric so the cross grain and lengthwise grains are perpendicular. Sometimes the grains can get distorted on plain fabric also. The methods of squaring up each are a bit different. Please let me know if you need additional information.

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

I just have a new great, great grand daughter….please tell me where you got this panel.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

This was given to me by a friend. I do not know where she got it...and I think she bought it several years ago.

[@hazelem1266]

Hi Michelle. Is there any way I could make matching borders on the front and backing? I am hand sewing a large quilt. And can you give me any tips for this? Thank you.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Hazel, You might just have to work backwards with your measurements. Determine your border size and length with seam allowance, then determine the size you need for the main part of the back. I hope that helps!

[@hazelem1266]

@@thesimplequilter7499 Thank you. It really does. I have a frame in the centre then two borders, the 3/4 inch frame which is 160x209 centimetres is what I want to match. Then I have two 5 1/2 inch borders. Regarding the basting, which I am concerned about, should I baste the quilt on the frames first, then sort of work my way in that area? Thank you.

[@djackson4659]

As a new quilter, I have come to the conclusion that I do not know what the definition of squaring up a panel means. Lol! Thanks for trying to help

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Hi d! Sorry I missed this post! When a panel is printed it is printed straight on the fabric. When it is rolled onto the bolt it gets distorted. When you square it up you are trying to get it straight like it was before being rolled onto the bolt.