Asking for advice...
 

Hello! I am new to the board, but I've been enjoying the posts and the awesome pictures on this board for a month or so.

My mother died several years ago, and my sister gave me an unfinished quilt top that Mom had had someone piece from her sewing scraps. Mom was a very good seamstress, and made many clothes for herself and us three girls, so this quilt top is pieces from dresses and curtains that I remember very well. Most of the fabrics would be from the 60s and 70s. I want to know if it would look good to use a lavender border on this quilt, or what color you experts would suggest. I have a piece of lavender, so that's why I wondered if that would be acceptable. :)

Also, how would you quilt it? Someone suggested that I just "tie" it, but I enjoy hand quilting, although I don't have very much experience at it yet. I think it would make an excellent winter project.

Thank you for taking a look!

I'm not going to be of much help, but I do agree do NOT tie it. I think this is a lovely quilt and enjoy the variety of fabrics/prints. Maybe because it has a scrappy appearance, a kind of scrappy (lavender and other colors similar to the patches) 'coins or piano keys' or something would be nice in the outside border but use a thin dark inside border to break up the sqs from the scrappy outside border.

looking forward to reading what others suggest.

I would not tie this quilt. Maybe just quilt it with a simple grid , straight lines arainged in a way that suits you. You could lay some yarn across the quilt to audition any ideas , before you start.

If you want to make it really stand out I think I would use the orange (or red, can't tell for sure which it is) for a thin border and then a larger one of dark or medium brown. Maybe use a dark lavender for the binding.

How nice to have such wonderful memories! Lavender might be a nice border, but something darker would really make the colors 'pop'. Maybe a nice rich red or even black? You might even consider a second, narrow inner border. If I was you I'd audition several colors, step back and just pick my favorite(s). Please post a photo when you're done so we can all see the finished quilt!

I think you would be happier with the finished product if you quilted it. And, as you said, that will make a nice winter project. When I first look at the quilt, the red colors seem to pop out, so I would be inclined to go with that. (IMHO) You might lay several different colors next to the quilt and see what you think. I also agree that you should use a think dark inside border to give the eyes a place to rest. Whatever you do, I am sure it will be beautiful when finished. Be sure to show us pictures when finished.

Thank you!
 

I truly appreciate the advice, Ladies! I really had toyed with the idea of a black border, but now I'll just have to try different colors to see what I like best. Having a two-color border appeals to me. Thank you so much for your suggestions!

I don't think I would use lavender as the border. I would use either the red or the orange. I also like the aqua. I would put a dark narrow border and then the color. The quilt is very nice. It will be nice when you hand quilt it. I wouldn't tie it
either.
Sue

You might try a narrow accent orange as the inside border and then try a black or a brown for the outside border. I would hand quilt it using diagonal lines since you can't stitch in the border with hand quilting. GOOD LUCK !!

I like your quilt a lot! I'm wondering if it even needs a border. If it's large enough, maybe not. I've seen older quilts that were just quilted & bound without an borders and this quilt made me think of that. If you're going to hand quilt, what about Baptist Fans like Bonnie Hunter shows how to do?

I agree, that a small dark border then a wider maybe use the lavendar, and bind in a dark color. It is a wonderful quilt of memories. Hand quilt it rather than tie it, this treasure deserves your time as you enjoy hand work.

I agree-don't tie it. This quilt so full of memories will become a valued heirloom. IMO, I would use a darker color for the outer border to frame the quilt. Then a narrow border of your lavendar or...orange or red, or another color from the quilt. What a joy to have such a special quilt.

Play with come color strips to see what you like with it! As for hand quilting... it is my favorite way too... I would do interlocking circles or a simple heart in each square as a symbol of the love you shared. Both are easy to hand quilt and wouldn't take away from the beauty of the quilt.

I love your quilt- what a wonderful history behind it and what great memories for you! I would put a narrow black or dark border first, then maybe a piano key border with all the other fabrics, or a red or orange one. Thanks for sharing, I love to see the old fabrics.

I am curious why so many advise against tying quilts? That was the most common practice in my experience. In fact I never saw a "quilted" quilt until I was well into adult hood. Is it more a regional preference?

Thank you so much for each helpful reply! I can hardly wait to get started, but I have to make a decision first, and quite possibly, visit the fabric store!

In answer to this last question, I just prefer the look of a quilted quilt, but I've seen and used several that were tied. I would say that for myself, tying just doesn't satisfy my creative feelings. There's nothing WRONG with tying though!

Do u have anymore of the scraps? I'd sew those other!! I wouldn't tie either. Like u said great winter project! Don't forget to show u's when done!!