Auditioning Borders for Bed Runner
 

A quick question on border sizes. I am still working on the bed runner, decided not to use multiple colors - found it to be easier. I am using "Night Crossing" pattern in "Bed Runners" -Using Precut Fabrics by Kathy Brown. i have added a third border...the pieced section measures 13-1/2" x 51" unfinished..planning to use finished border sizes of 1" brown, 2" Aqua and 3" floral. This will finished at approx 25"x 63". In the pattern the finished borders finishes at 2" and 4". Question would i be better with a 4" floral that would also make the runner a couple of inches wider. thank for looking :)

PS squares are 5" square unfinished...this is reason I was concerned about the border sizes

Judy in Phx, AZ

It is totally a matter of taste. I like what you have done in the 1st photo. Love your fabrics!

Personally I like the 4 inch floral border. Very nice color combinations.

Ditto, Its going to be beautiful!!

Either 3" or 4" will look nice, but if you have the fabric I vote for the 4" outer border.

In the limited photo, I really don't think the aqua does anything for the bed runner but that might be because I am seeing very little of the aqua in the print. And aqua is MY favorite color. I would prefer to see the the rich tan instead. But you are the one that is going to be looking at it every day. Good Luck with your final choice.

My rule about borders is that you don't want any two fabrics to be the same width. That isn't proportionally pleasing to your eye. So, when I want a 3-fabric border, I often will choose 1", 2 1/2", 4"..... or 1/2", 1 1/2", 3"..... something like that.

And the picture you posted on the left would be more desirable to me.

Ditto the above comments.

The first thing I also saw was the aqua border. I also looked for it in the prints - and didn't see it - and I was wondering "where did that choice come from?"

I like the proportions of the borders on the image on the left better than the proportions of the image on the right.

Again - it is your project - your choice.

I think the other fabrics that you have chosen look very nice together.

My vote is picture #1 too

I think what you've done in #1 is beautiful. And I, for one, love the aqua. For me it just makes the quilt 'pop'.

A big Thank you to all who responded to my inquiry...I am indeed going to rethink my choices - it is for a wedding gift and I want it to be lovely. I will try to take a larger photo there really are aqua flowers in the most of the 5" squares...perhaps I will looking a light tan and see... I am thinking not using the dark brown - maybe just two border.



Judy in Phx, AZ

I also like the left photo.

I do see aqua in the floral in the left photo, both in the 5" squares (quilt) and in the floral border.

Not so much in the other photo, I think it was just a trick of the fabric that the 2nd photo doesn't show the aqua in your focus fabric.

I'm in the middle of my answer...so can't look back to OP, is it a quilt? Audition quilt with the borders hanging off either a bed or a sofa/couch, and get as far away from it as you can. Does the aqua work from a distance, or does it feel off? Your answer might be different if it's a table runner...cuz the ones using it will be closer to it.

Great idea.. Bed runner looks a little short...but it is laying on a King size bed at moment.. I think this might show more.. think of jut two borders with mitered corners...I so appreciate all the input I have received..i did not realize the aqua took over so much thanks :)
Judy in PHx, AZ

I like picture 1

I don't think the size of the border makes a difference for the beauty of the fabric.

very pretty, I like the wide floral

Photo #1, love the fabrics.

# 1 catches my eye. I also love the unexpected flash of aqua. It's fun to pull a color that is almost hidden in a beautiful print and add a narrow band of that color to my projects.

Love #1 myself

Oh, goodness. Put that aqua back in. It really makes it pop.

I would - perhaps - like just a flash of the aqua in the border - a flange - maybe a half inch wide border -

Taking a photograph of an item - from a distance - really does help one "see" an item more objectively.

Just the dark brown and floral borders does make it look sort of bland. If you did use just those two colors, maybe only have about a 1/2 inch (finished) dark brown border before adding the floral print.

I like what you came up with in the first picture. I think the blue adds a lot to it. Your project, your choice.

Thank you for this idea.. I googled flange and watched a U tube...I am think a aqua flange and a 4-1/2" finished border with binding to match the wide border... Sorry but i have a concern that the flange with cover the points of the outside 5" squares on all the outside edges...as the flange looks to be pressed to the main body of the quilt (bed runner)...I did see examples of what I just stated... I really like the idea of the tiny flange to just add a little color - Yes the brown and floral is flat... i was thinking safe... LOL thanks for your input :)

Judy un Phx, AZ

This is what I ended with .. Now wondering about the backing. Please see below

That thin flash of color was just the ticket. I like the right hand fabric for back.

Picture number 1. I love the aqua with the brown!

Oops, I came in a bit late I see LOL It came out really nice. The one on the right would be really nice.