Thanks so much Margo! I am glad I did the math right although fractions were never my favourite! I almost didn't use the pieced border but I really want to add floater borders to my tool box of quilting skills!

Debbie, your math is right on! If I were to cut strips 2.375" wide, I would just use tape to mark my rotary cutting ruler to cut strips 2-3/8" so I wouldn't have to keep looking for the right little marks on the ruler.

2-1/4" = 2.25" or 2-2/8"
(2.375" or 2-3/8")
2-1/2" = 2.50" or 2-4/8"
The difference between 1/4" and 1/2" = 1/4" or .25"
Divide that difference by 2 and you get .125
Add .125 to .25 and you get .375

So... that is 3/8"

Hi Everyone--I have finished my quilt centre and the pinwheel borders. I am not sure how to do the floaters because, of course, the measurements of my quilt top are not exactly right. Here are my calculations:

For the sides--my quilt centre is 73 inches long. My pieced border is 77 inches. Using Sue's formula I came up with needing 2 1/2 inch floaters on the sides.

For the top and bottom-- my quilt centre is 61 inches wide. My pieced border is either 64 3/4. Using the formula I came up with needing a 2.35 inch floater on top and bottom.

Am I correct? If so, how do I cut a fabric width that is 2.35 or 2 7/20 inches!

I sure appreciate your help. I feel a bit dense that I am having so much trouble figuring this out!

Thanks everyone for your help. I will check out the link and then go for it!

djane wrote:
Debbie, your quilt center should be 60 inches by 72 inches finished, given that your blocks are 12 inches finished. Those are both multiples of 4 inches. If your outer border is also 4 inch blocks, you will need a 2 inch finished spacer border on all sides. (Or anything that is a multiple of 2 inches- but your'e probably looking for more narrow rather than wider, right?) If your quilt center doesn't measure exactly 60-1/2 by 72-1/2 inches, then using Sue's tutorial will get you the more exact answer. If you don't have that on hand, I can walk you through it.

Kathy

Debbie, look for Sue's video #6 in the link that Rosemary posted!

I'm pretty certain that Sue Garmen covers this problem in her help videos from her 2009 BOM.[url]learn/classrooms/[/url]

I want to add a pieced border to the quilt I am currently working on (the pinwheel quilt in my most recent blog post). The quilt centre is 5 x6 blocks and the blocks will finish at 12 inches. The pieced border will be made from the 4 inch finished pinwheel blocks. I want to put a plain border between the centre of the quilt and the pieced border. What width of border do I need to add so that the pieced border will fit properly? : Thanks in advance for the help.