To border or not to border, that is the question
 

I'm doing a scrappy challenge and trying to organize my scrappy totes at the same time. So, I put together this little baby quilt (35" x 44") from the blue box but I can't decide whether I should border it or not. I'm also working on HSTs to try and get better at them.

I could leave it as it is. Or...

I could border it just like the sashing. (I really am glad I did the sashing. It looks so much better.) Or...

I could border with something else.


I'd like to read some other's opinions on the matter to help me decide.

I think a border just like the sashing would look great.
That's such a pretty top!

Borders yes, something like Tartan suggested.

Really cute top!! I too agree with Tartan - Do the outside sashing (white with red cornerstones) and a blue border. It will finish it off and frame it beautifully.

I have to agree with Tartan's suggestion. I think it's going to be so cute when it's completed.

Yes, borders please. Love those cornerstones and the little touch of color they give.

Definitely a border...and the colors Tartan suggested sound fine....

Oh, I love it! Yes, just like was described. Sashing and borders. I could use a boy baby quilt. my sisters daughter is having a boy in September. I've just been working on my applique and playing with the grandsons. I need to get busy.

What tartan said.

Thanks everybody. I do appreciate all your comments and I guess I'll duplicate the sashing all the way around. I'm afraid if I add too much border the quilt will be too large for the donation criteria. So, maybe I'll add the red squares and white strips 1/4" wider than the sashing so I can bind in blue and the little red squares will stay square. If it weren't a donation baby quilt with specific size requirements I do think I would add that blue border and then the red binding.

I'm starting to put another one together now. This first one was a practice one. I made a couple of mistakes so hopefully the next ones will be closer to perfect. I do like sail boat blocks for little boys.

I agree. Very sweet quilt!

IMHO this top is better set off with a boarder all around. You want these boats to sail out of the quilt top.

I also agree with Tartan. Beautiful so far.

I like this idea!

How about just red all the way around and a blue binding? That wouldn't require as much piecing, and would fit the donation confines, correct?

I vote to border it just like the sashing! Your hst's look great. You are doing a great job with your challenge using up your blue scraps.

I just love the sailboat block you have chosen and have enjoyed seeing the varied background fabrics you have chosen. My niece is having a baby boy in Nov. and I was searching for a quilt to make. You have inspired me to try the Sailboat block. Did you follow a pattern for the block that you can share?

Do a border like your sashing and then a blue final border and a blue binding

I saw a picture and figured out the measurements.

Tartan has the best idea!

I agree, a border will finish it. Very nice!

I always border my quilts. I look at them as a work of art, so bordering them frames my work.

Without any sort of border, you are going to cut off the tips of the boats. Personally, I would continue the sashing with the cornerstones and then do a simple border. If you stay with only an edge sashing, cut it a bit wider so that after it is bound, it will be the same width as the inside sashings. If you add an additional border, it does not need to be very wide and could be any of the fabrics used in the top, depending on what you have left and what the top 'tells' you it needs.

As someone who can never ever manage to get a quilt to be within one width of fabric, size constraints are hard on me!

So here's an idea... if you leave the basic size of the quilt as 3x4 blocks and take off the bottom and one side row, you would only be 4 blocks short of having two quilts. Then you can add that sashing border and a wider border and still be within your size constraints.

This is a sail boat top I made last year, didn't get a shot of it after the binding was done. It is a "big brother" blanket for a 3 year old so he wouldn't be jealous of the baby gifts. It's huge for a baby quilt, small for a twin, but just right for this gift.

Nanna, I was going to suggest just what you described. Sashing with red cornerstones and then a blue binding. Your quilt is adorable.

Love your quilt. I am always looking for different easy and quick patterns to make charity quilts and love this one. Hope you don't mind but I am going to Electric Quilt and follow your design. Hope it works.

Of course I don't mind you using my quilt as a pattern to follow. I followed the block I saw on a free site but it was just a picture.

As so many have said....what Tartan suggested. Love your use of the blues for the background.

I would make a narrow border same size and color as the sashing, then I would add a darker border, perhaps twice as wide, of the dark fabric used in your blocks... the boats themselves... not sure if it is dark blue or black.