Advice on ABC quilt, please.
 

Working on a baby quilt for a special friend's daughter but I need advice. I have cut the ABC panel apart and added the green w/stars fabric between the blocks to brighten things up. Now trying to decide whether to add the colorful stripe fabric (which will also be the backing fabric) between the rows OR stay with the green stars between rows.

I am thinking of adding a stripe border around the panel with a 2nd border of the green stars. Since my backing fabric (the stripe) will need to be wider, I need to add some of the green ... but not sure where I'm going with that right now. Ha!

I'm not "thin skinned" so all suggestions are appreciated. And a "thanks" to Quilting Haven who posted a quilt with this panel back in April. The mother-to-be is a teacher and I think she will like this little "learning/play" quilt.

I like the panel without the stripe. I think the stripe draws the eye away from the cute blocks. For the back, you could cut the stripe in 2 and just add a strip of green the width you need. It doesn't matter where you cut it. It would look nice either symmetrical or asymmetrical.

----- I concur. -----

I prefer without the stripe. Love the panel.

I prefer without the stripe between the blocks. The striped fabric would be super cute cut on the bias for a binding.

I agree with everyone else ... super cute, but too distracting. Also, I was thinking the same thing as OhCanada, that it would look great as a binding (or if you trim it down by at least half as a thin border -- but binding would really be cute -- on bias or on grain).

I prefer to use the strip for the border and keep the same green sashing.

Thanks ... looks like green sashing is the winner. The more I look at it, the green really does setoff the blocks better.

I agree with everyone, that the stripe would best be used as a binding. Regarding borders, I would suggest something other than the sashing green, something darker that picks up some of the colors in the quilt. The stripe could possibly be a thin inner border, but I would have to see a mock-up to be sure. I am picturing a thin red or yellow inner border and a dark blue outer border.

I agree with the green sashing. Now if you could only make my grandson one--I have had the panel for 3 years !! This year he went into kindergarten--I best get busy or he will be graduating high school--lol ! Hope to see this when completed so I too can get ideas.

I would do the sashing in green. However, it may look nice if you use the colourful fabric for the border.

Thank you for the thank you and I like it with just the green. That way the baby can concentrate on his "ABCs" and not be distracted with with the stripes. And since I am a retired 4th grade teacher, they can sure be distracted. You are doing a beautiful job!!!!

What about white strips in between and the green/white for a 1" border? Since it's a baby quilt you want it easy on the eyes and the focus should be on the cute little alphabet blocks. I think the stripe is too busy for the theme of the quilt.

I really like the green with stars fabric you chose for between the letters.

I agree that the stripe added between the letters is distracting.

Same here.

What a cute quilt you've started--and perfect for a teacher's baby:) . I like the green, clean and simple without the busy border. But I can picture a black border around the whole thing and then the rainbow stripe as a binding cut on the bias. The black would make the letters stand out, and the stripe would make the colors pop.

I would use the stripe for cornerstones between the green, and then again for a small border inside a wider green border.

So many great ideas! That's what I love about this board. I do plan to use the stripe for binding. I didn't want to buy more fabric; however, I do like the idea a few of you had to add solid color borders in a few of the colors within the blocks. Since I need to widen the backing anyway, I can use some of the solid colors to breakup the stripe. Aaahh and my stash grows. Hahaha.

Thank you all for sharing your ideas.

So many good ideas. I prefer the green sashing. I love the idea of cutting the stripe on bias for binding. I will remember that for a future baby quilt!

I would add a strip of green the width of your sashing to the top and the bottom. Then, I would use the stripe for the binding. I really like your quilt. Cute fabric.

Adorable panel! I think the green for sashing & the sweet little stripe for binding.

I agree with everyone that the green between the rows really makes the letters stand out.

I agree with katier825. Keep all sashings alike.

I received word earlier tonight that the mother-to-be I'm making the ABC quilt for is in the hospital. Her water broke but she wasn't due until Oct. 20. Please keep her and the baby in your thoughts and prayers. She is 39 and has tried for years to get pregnant.

Thank you.

Striped fabric too busy especially in a teaching aid. The green is just enough.

Keep just the green around the letters. Use the stripe for a border and/or binding.

I agree about using the striped fabric for the border. I think this will draw more attention to the center letter blocks. It is a great quilt for a teacher's baby. Good idea.

I think this quilt will be adorable either way you decide! Personally I like it without the strip, but still is cute with it. How big you want the quilt may help you decide if you want to include the strip fabric on the front or not. Please share a picture when you finish.

I understand that babies are drawn to the bright colors, so I would think the more bright colors you put in the quilt the better it would be. I personally like the added brightness that the striped fabric brings. Your quilt will be sew sweet.

I said a prayer for them. Hope for the best for both mom and baby.

oh, no! What a shock. I certainly will pray.

I would use the stripe fabric elsewhere, either on the back or in a border or as binding. My reason is that I think the letters, which should be the focus of your quilt, get lost in the busy-ness of the stripes. The green stars, on the other hand, set them off nicely.

This is going to be adorable!