I've finished the center of the military branches quilt for my DH, but need suggestions on how to finish it. I was thinking of putting the four branches of service, one at each corner, but I still have 2 areas 12 x 40 finshed and 2 areas 12 x 60 finished to fill. I have approx 2 yds of the blue, 2 yds of the red and 1 yd of the flag fabric left. I was thinking of having a six inch braid and a six inch red, but I'm not sure I have enough fabric. Suggestions ?? Help!!

My first thought was to do a 4 inche inner border of red, an 8 inch outer border in blue and bind it with the flags..

Then I noticed how the small blue squares form a cross pattern through the center, It would be cool if you could piece your borders in blue and red so that you carry those blue squares continuously into the border..

I would still bind with the flags.

Just some thoughts

That's a cool idea, arrrghh, I wish I had something like EQ so I could test this stuff out. This is the first quilt I've made that hasn't been from a pattern, so I'm drawing like crazy on graph paper.... :?

Thanks for the idea, keep 'em coming!

Boy, that is really looking sharp! You've done a great job so far! Keep going!

Ok, since you like the idea, I have been looking at this and I think the only way you can carry the blue squares into the border evenly is to remove the blue border you currently have on the outer edge.

Then make a border of 12 inch squares like the ones you have from the blue and flag, only make them from blue and red
using the military ones in the corners..

Then reapply your blue border around the entire thing and bind with the flags..

What do you think?

I think this would do two things.. you would accentuate the pattern made by the blue squares and
you would cause the red in the center part of your quilt to pop as well.

I know you dont have a lot of fabric to play with, but...
You could make up one blue and red block and lay it in place to see if you like the effect before making a commitment to the idea

Ok, so I've played in excel to see if I can come up with your layout. What do you think? It seems like alot of red to me.

Sorry, Lori, since I am work, I cant download your pdf to look at it..

but in my mind, Im thinking you are going to need some plain blocks in the border too... maybe blue or can you make the border squares 6 inches instead of 12 and put your blue border back on the outer 6 inches?

Can you post it as a picture?

Oh, I'm at work too.... sshhhh, let's not let anyone know we aren't really working.... LOL

lets try this.... now I'm just playing, but nothing seems to reach and speak to me yet.

OK, here is a thought..

on the first one,, stop at the hour glasses and replace that outside row of checkerboard with a solid blue down the length

and remember that you wont have that much red as your center squares are made with the flag fabric.. that will tone it down a bit too

Like this? Hmmmm, this is better than the first two.