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Framing a rectangle is very similar to framing a square (see quilt tip Framing a Square) except you cannot always be assured that the design on the fabric will automatically meet at the corners. To acheive perfectly mitered corners, follow these directions:

1. Follow Steps 1-3 in the quilt tip, Framing a Square with a Border Print
2. Place one of the cut strips on top of a length of the border print stripe, matching the design. Cut one miter to match the miter on the cut strip. Place the newly cut strip along the length of the quilt through the center of the quilt with the mitered edge at the edge of the quilt. Bring the strip to the exact center of the quilt and cut it off 1/4 inch beyond the center. Using this cut strip as a guide, cut one more piece identical to it and two strips that are the exact mirror images of the first piece.
3. Sew the seams at the middle of two mirror imaged strips and attach these borders to the quilt the same as step 4 above. Sewing the borders to a rectangular quilt in this manner assures that the corners will match. There will be a seam at the center of the long strips, but the design at that center will mirror image as well, as shown in above diagram.

For more in depth information on using borders and border prints refer to the following books by Jinny Beyer:

• Christmas With Jinny Beyer, published by Rodale Press
• Soft-Edge Piecing, published by C&T Publishing
• Patchwork Portfolio, published by EPM Publications
• Medallion Quilts, published by EPM Publications
• Quilters Album of Blocks and Borders, published by EPM Publications

For Information on how to coordinate colors with a border print refer to Jinny Beyer's Color Confidence for Quilters, published by Quilt Digest Press.