Inner and Outer Borders

I know that inner borders (I call them "fudge strips!") are used to frame the quilt, but also as a "spacer" so that the outer borders can fit nicely if they are pieced.  The fabric I wanted to use for my outer border was a co-coordinating fabric from the collection. Small "Pictures" within a light blue background, not actually a border print, but I wanted to use it as such.  I cut the strips apart, and sewed them end to end to reach across the top and sides of the quilt.

I don't know why it was so difficult for me to figure out how wide the inner borders should be.  I knew that I needed 13 small squares across the top and bottom, and 15 going down the sides.   I struggled (badly) with the math, and came up with the necessary width and length I would need for the inner black fudge strip.  As you can see , it didn't work out at all.  The top border strip of 13 pictures is about two inches too wide.  

Gahhhhh.  So frustrating!!!  The sides worked out a little better, but not exactly as I thought it would have.  So how do I fix this without ripping off the fudge strips and re-cutting them?  I thought about this for and came up with this plan:  There was a half-inch blue background between the pictures.  What if I decreased the distance between the pictures by sewing a teensy pleat between each picture until I decreased the width of the strip enough so that it will fit? Kind of a hit-and-miss, trial and error process.  

And so I did.  Not all of the pleats were equal, but it isn't that noticeable overall, and I can camouflage the seams with the quilting.  And it worked!

Here it is, the finished quilt top!  Next: Pinning and Quilting!