Narrow borders are EASY if you know the secret! VBG I didn't want this to get lost in Hanne's thread about how to quilt her darling Christmas wallhanging. Somebody might miss it and it's such a simple way to get tiny narrow borders- with accuracy.
First allow sufficient 'space' for the narrow border- if you are piecing with triangles, etc. which cannot be covered up or the points lopped off. Then decide how wide you want that narrow border. I'll use 1/8 in. for my example. You add your normal 1/4 in seam allowance to the 1/8 in. for the narrow border and get 3/8 in. Double that which is 3/4 in. Cut your narrow border strip at 3/4 in.- best on the lengthwise grain of the fabric to prevent any stretching. Then put that 3/4 in. strip on the edge of your quilt top where you want the narrow border- right sides together. Then sew it down- and here's the important part- with a 3/8 in seam allowance! Then fold the 3/4 in. strip back to the edge of the quilt top and continue as always. You'll have a perfect 1/8 in. narrow border strip that's *attached* and much easier to quilt over or around..... that's IF your 3/8 in. seam allowance was sewed consistently and then the 1/4 in. seam allowance (as you continue the quilt top) is also accurate. This will work next to the binding like a piping strip, too.
See? It's easy!
Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.