Saw Tooth Borders for Quilts

Next to writing and gardening, quilting is my favorite pass time. Put a quilting frame in front of me, along with an old movie on the TV and a pot of herbal tea, and I am set for a leisurely afternoon. I have made many quilts of different sizes and patterns and one part that can help your quilt stand out is the border. A quilt border frames, enhances and completes the quilt. It says, "Hey, look at the artistry and beauty I surround." A good border pattern to use to complete a quilt is a saw tooth border.

History of the Saw Tooth Border

Originating in the early to mid nineteenth century, many early American quilts were made with one large center, either a printed fabric or appliquéd design, surrounded by a saw tooth border. When pieced quilts or quilt blocks became popular, this same border was adapted to blend into these quilt block designs. The squares and triangles that make up the saw tooth border are easy to cut and sew.

Making a Saw Tooth Border

A saw tooth border is easy to make because it is comprised of small squares and/or triangles that are sewn together to create a variety of patterns. A quilter may use both shapes or just one in a border. The size of a quilt border will depend on the overall quilt pattern. If you are new to quilting, it is best to find and follow a well-detailed pattern that provides precise instructions.

Border Tips

A few other things to consider when making a border for your quilt are:

-If you are following a pattern for your border, do not change the scale or fabric as this can drastically alter your quilt. This also holds true if you are making your border without a pattern.

-Border designs should complement the center part of the quilt in the form of fabric color, fabric pattern, block shape, or fabric texture.

-If doing a complex saw toothed border, be sure to use a bold fabric contrast for the border's background. If you are using different fabric prints, be sure the background color differs. This will make the saw toothed pieces standout.

-I often set my saw toothed border off by adding a single strip of fabric between the quilt and the border, so that it stands out even more. If you choose to do, make sure the strip is a faction of the border. An eight-inch outer border would look good with a four-inch inner border.

Saw Tooth border pattern can also be used in block patterns. One well-known pattern related to the saw tooth is the Bear's Paw.

Source: Personal Experience, QuiltedParadise.com