adding a border
 

I am making a king size quilt. I want to make it bigger to hang down over the bed. I have added a 3 1/2 inch border to it and want to add another. Shoud I add the same size or shoud it be bigger, say a 4 1/2 inch border? It is currently 103 inches. How many borders shoud I have? Thanks for your help

The answer for one quilt, might not work on another. As Ruth McDowel says, "make visual decisions, visually.

Please post a picture.

I try to make my king size quilts about 120 x 120". But some LAQ have difficulty with that size. The wide backs are usually 106-108", so at 103" you barely have enough backing to extend out under the top. If you make it any larger, you'll have to add onto the backing, too.

King size beds are around 80x80", so for a 15" drop, you'd want it 110" wide. I'd make it 110" long to have room to cover pillows. Or you could leave the length at 103" and use a wide backing sideways.

there are some backings 120" or you can piece one. I like my king size 120 to give enough hang on sides. I make pillow cases to match the spread than don't need pillow fold back.

Why not put a ten inch border which will be closer to the drop over the sides. To make it easier you could do blocks or plain ready for beautiful free motion.

Personally, I like borders that are proportionate to one another. Thinking if you currently have a 3.5" (which would finish at 3") then I would like something (finished) 6"; 9"; etc. The number of borders you add is totally up to you. The only consideration might be, if you are sending it out to a LA'er, the size that they can accommodate as someone above mentioned.

I am replying so you can see my king size quilt (my avatar) on my bed. It has 5 borders: red, brown, white, brown, red. The red and brown are approximately 1 1/2" each and the white is approximately 5 1/2". The quilt is approx. 103" wide.

I read this with interest - my kids have king size beds - I really don't want to make quilts that big so I plan on getting them neutral bedspreads for their beds then making smaller quilts to showcase on top of the bed, and maybe some throws for the bottom of the bed with matching pillow cases. That way I don't have to make such a huge quilt and they will have the opportunity to change the quilts with more frequency.

I like my inner border to be slightly smaller than the outer. The 4 1/2 sounds good, or even 5.

Thank you for your input. It was very helpful