How to square up a quilt
A square quilt has four right-angle corners and diagonals of equal length. Quilting draws a quilt in a little, so most quilts need trimming after quilting and before binding.
By Editorial Staff
Squaring up a quilted quilt
Lay the quilt flat and measure both diagonals, corner to corner. If they are within ½" of each other, the quilt is square enough; if not, trim more from the long corners.
At each corner, lay a large square ruler with its edges on the quilt top's edges. Cut along the ruler, trimming the batting and backing even with the top, then use a long ruler to trim straight between the corners.
Squaring up blocks and units
Trim every unit to its size with seam allowance before sewing it into the block: a 3" finished half-square triangle to 3½". Lay a square ruler on it with the diagonal line on the seam, trim two sides, turn the unit and trim the other two. The drawing is in how to make half-square triangles. A block that is slightly big can be trimmed the same way, centered on the ruler; one that is small has a seam allowance to fix.
Plan your next quilt in your own fabric
Quiltspiration draws any pattern in the fabric you own and works out the cut list for any size.