Modern quilt...second guessing it...
 

My DIL requested a Christmas lap quilt for their “new” 1890 farmhouse they are renovating. She chose this pattern, and we decided on Christmas Gatherings fabrics. Maybe I have been staring at it too long, but it just isn’t speaking to me. On the other hand, I don’t make 16” blocks and I lean towards traditional patterns. Pattern does not require a border, and I am trying to resist....blocks are not yet sewn together-they have been sitting on my design board for awhile........the darkest blocks are actually a deep purple and deep red. Quilt top will be 64x44 if I stop here.

I love it. What don't you like

That’s the problem! I don’t know what it is that I am uncertain about! :0

I like it too,the colors would fit in with a farmhouse look,very nice. Keep going. I wouldn't call it a modern quilt, that's a traditional block.

Could it be that it has no one color that "pops"? BTW: I like it.

If you want a border, put a border on. It is lovely though. no matter what.

I love it, but I'm a border kinda girl. If you want a border go for it.

I don't like many of my quilts at this stage. When I finally finish them and they are quilted, they are much more pleasing to my eye. If you want it to look Christmasy, then add a small stop border - maybe the white background in each of the stars or see if a glitter fabric would look good, and then frame it with the dark red for the outside. If you still don't like it, look for something you can applique across it. Perhaps Santa and his sleigh, maybe Merry Christmas. Good luck.

I don't see this as "modern" if your intent is modern maybe arranging the colors in a more purposeful way instead of scrappy? It looks fine to me though.

No border. I haven't seen many modern quilts with borders. The contrast of the dark colors is the modern part of this quilt. Modern quilts seems to be stark and sleek. So Stark Stars is what you have achieved. Very nice.