Is There a "Rule" for Border Widths?
12-29-2016, 08:26 PM
#11
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 9,300
I play around till it just looks and feels right. And I do think it's probably very close to the Golden Ratio (which I've heard of but haven't applied consciously). I take pictures of the quilt as I audition borders; often the camera helps me "see" what I haven't seen. I also stand back as far as I can, and (if I have time) will let my choice "rest" for a day in my sewing room while I peek in several times a day to make sure I'm satisfied. If I'm stumped, I'll send the pictures to quilty friends for feedback. Just kinda trust the ole gut. It's never failed.
12-29-2016, 11:23 PM
#12
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,397
Originally Posted by minibarn
Where did the "golden ratio" come from, I have never heard of it but it sounds interesting.
Originally Posted by Bree123
Golden Ratio (aka, Golden Mean/Golden Rectangle) is ratio of 1:0.618. It is the typical ratio found in nature (flowers, shells, placement of eyes on a people's heads...) and is generally believed to be pleasing to the eye. Some well-known quilt designers use the ratio intentionally in their designs, but mathematicians have studied award winning quilts and found that whether the person intended to or not, most of them followed the Golden Ratio.
Or, Donald Duck will explain it to you, which would be much more entertaining!
Donald Duck in Mathmagicland
Last edited by Peckish; 12-29-2016 at 11:25 PM.
12-30-2016, 04:17 AM
#13
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: western NY formerly MN, FL, NC, SC
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Originally Posted by Peckish
"Fibibacci Sequence in Quilting" for more information.
here is a link to a search https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...ting%20borders -- lots of info available
thanks for the Donald Duck link... it's a half hour, so will watch it later
12-30-2016, 04:25 AM
#14
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Nawth o' Boston
Posts: 1,879
I try to figure the outside border at roughly 2/3 of the block size but never related to the narrow stop border except to make sure it is at least 3x as wide and maybe 5x as wide. But overall the outside border, I find, looks better if it is proportional to the whole quilt - in other words my 82" quilt would take a wider border, even if it's got the same block size, as a 56" quilt.
Of course this all depends on what fabric I've got left and how much of it!
Of course this all depends on what fabric I've got left and how much of it!
12-30-2016, 09:16 AM
#16
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Ridgefield WA
Posts: 7,765
The sizes you have thought of would work well for me. I like to use a size that can be associated with the block size. eg: for a 5" block - a 2 1/2" border, for 6" block - 3" or 2". But that's just me!
I like a "stop" border, too and that could be 1" for any size blocks.
I like a "stop" border, too and that could be 1" for any size blocks.
12-31-2016, 07:20 AM
#19
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,018
Giggles! I love the Donald Duck theory! I have seen some pics of antique quilts that have very wide borders and others that have none. Hmm, those quilt makers were not formally trained by the --cians, or ----ists, just used what they had on hand or to make the size wanted/needed. I, personally, have done all ways. Never once did a theory question enter my mind at that moment. In actuality, I imagine everything we do is based on some theory.
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