I made this quilt top about 2 years ago. I started with a lap size quilt and then DH said "I really like this, can you make it a queen?" Well, I searched and found most of the fabrics that were in it. Ordered more of the border fabric from a shop in South Carolina or something like that. I couldn't find 2 of the greens so I took the lap size apart and then put it back together with the new blocks with the new green so that all green were dispursed throughout the quilt. Anyway, I need to add the borders. I paced the quilt on my bed and determined that I need to add at least 4" inches to the overall measurement of the quilt so it will drape over the box springs.
The pattern has the finished size of the inner border at 4" and the outer border at 5" finished. What I am wondering is would it look ok to increase the purple on the inner border (the green needs to stay the same 1" finished) to a 6 in finished, pattern calls for strips to be 2" unfinished, I am thinking 3" unfinished, which is the size of the squares in the quilt.
Also the outside border is supposed to be cut 5 1/2", would it look "ok" to maybe cut it 7".
This is getting confusing. Without borders at the moment it is 75x75, if I followed directions (which are for lap size by the way) it would be 93 x 93. My calculations would bring the quilt to about 98 x 98. Maybe l00 squared would be better? I just don't want to throw off proportions. I also do not like really wide outer borders but I may have to for this.
Would it look bad if I added an additional narrow border instead? Help!!

I think your borders will look lovely the way you have them laid out!! It's a beautiful quilt!

I love that material and those borders look great!

Okay, I'm going to take a stab at this, I hope I'm understanding you well.

The pattern has the following:
thin border (purple)
thin pieced green 1"
thin border (purple)
wide border (patterned)

Correct?

You are wondering if you could increase the two purple borders and the wide border, right?

Okay, assuming that's correct, here's my thoughts on the matter.

I think you could safely increase both thin purple borders, but not by more than a 1/2" or so until they started to look funny and dwarf the pieced border.

If you choose to increase the outer border, I think that would be fine, but I think at that point I would like to see something "interesting" in it. I'm thinking perhaps purple cornerstones and a 3" or so purple strip in the center of each border (not longways, kwim??). Or maybe green fourpatch cornerstones and a fancy contrasting thread border quilting design. I think that would look better than just adding a lot more width.

Hope that makes sense!
Isabel

I love your border layout, too :D :D :D

I think those proportions looks just fine. If you make the purple any larger I would make the pieced green one a bit larger too.

In any case, love the quilt.

I agree with SAHM - her ideas for an "interesting" outer border sound great. In any case - I love the quilt. The fabrics are beautiful and the color combo is fantastic. It's going to be fabulous. Keep us posted.

The quilt is beautiful and I love your layout of the borders. Hubby is right, that's a great quilt.

The pieced green one is already done. They are basically the 3" squares like the others except they are cut in half, so unfinished they are 1.5". I already have the lengths done, did them 2 years ago. what stopped me then is among other things, I couldn't decide exactly how I wanted to finish the borders. I am really trying to pull out a couple UFO's and get them done. I have made extra blocks with this quilt and plan on making pillows and window coverings to match.

sounds good. here's another possibility. since you did some work on this and you obviously have more purple left, you could surround everything with another purple border to 'frame' it. that border could be thin again. at that point you have to do something interesting so the quilt doesn't look like it's all border. you could navajo strip it with shades of green, even though they may not be the same greens, on a lavender ground, because that's fast work and fills borders. if you still have enough, i would bind off in the same purple. otherwise, i would choose lavender to stay within the purple family. your design is very geometric and any geometric design on the border would be good looking.

please show us what you decide to do. however it comes out, it will be scrumptious!

I think it looks good the way you have them laid out.

I like the borders to "echo" measurements in the blocks, so I'm always tweaking something...

I love your quilt and I know whatever you come up with will be georgous.... :D

Oh I agree with your DH, that is a great quilt. You've been given 2 different options for borders...both good advice that I agree with. I just wanted to say that I like your color choices and you've done a great job so far with the quilt. Whichever way you decide will look good, can't wait to see your decision!

butterflywing said:
"sounds good. here's another possibility. since you did some work on this and you obviously have more purple left, you could surround everything with another purple border to 'frame' it. that border could be thin again. at that point you have to do something interesting so the quilt doesn't look like it's all border. you could navajo strip it with shades of green, even though they may not be the same greens, on a lavender ground, because that's fast work and fills borders. if you still have enough, i would bind off in the same purple. otherwise, i would choose lavender to stay within the purple family. your design is very geometric and any geometric design on the border would be good looking."

What is a navajo strip! I'm not familiar with that term? I have some more greens, just not all the same ones. I do have lots of the dark purple, and had planned on binding it in the purple (I like contrasting bindings)
I probably have more of most of the lt purples that are in the blocks.
Fortunately when I place the quilt top on the bed, the design as is comes over the sides of the mattress. I just have one of those really deep mattresses and I need it to cover the top couple inches of the box springs to come down to the oak sides at the bottom.

nice quilt

I'm a big fan of the patterns from the company, too. My only complaint is that the quilts aren't big enough, and you ALWAYS have to add extra borders! Yours is beautiful!

I have several of their patterns. Have made about 4 or 5, I always end up doubling the pattern to make a bigger quilt. I don't think I have made one yet in the dimentions that they give!!

I don't know if anyone mentioned this to you, but remember that the backing and batting you buy must be larger than the quilt. So I am thinking that your 98 by 98 is going to be perfect size for a queen sized batting.

I really love your quilt! Hubby was right, it needed to be bed sized.

Thanks,
I really really hate piecing batting so I have a couple of King Size Warm and Natural Battings out in the garage They are 124 x 120

good. a lot of what is called queen is really too narrow. king isn't that much more pricey and then you're sure.

i like the way you made the border look,s great good job on your quilt :D

Thanks everyone on your wonderful comments. I am still contemplating how I want to finish the borders. I may try to work on it Sunday evening. I am always home alone on Sunday evenings so it is a good sewing time for me. I would really like to get this quilt done!!!!

That's a really great looking quilt top. On the borders, I like the way you have laid them out. I don't think I would increase the purple ones any more than they currently are or they might over power the quilt and really jump out. Be sure to show us the finished quilt!

Your quilt is going to be beautiful!!! I love your colors that you've chosen for the borders. Looks Great!!!