Border opinion needed
 

Hello all,
I'm really bad at visualizing things, so I thought I'd reach out to you amazing people for some advice.

I have this quilt center constructed. The pattern calls for a 1" border then a 5" border. I plan to make the 1" border black (a no-brainer for me). I have a fair few scraps left over from the bright fabrics in the quilt center, and was trying to figure out how to/whether to incorporate them into the 5" border (and then finish off with black binding). Would it be too much, do you think, to construct a scrappy 5" border using the same bright fabrics as the center? I was thinking about piano keys, but I don't have quite that much fabric, so I would really have to make the border out of long-ish strips (about 18") of each fabric in order to eke out the scraps around the whole quilt.

For reference, the blocks are 9.5" square (finished, as you see them), and the bias strips are about 1" wide.

Any tips, ideas, insights, inspirations?

Thank you!!

First of all this is a gorgeous quilt! Very impressive. I looked over the various colors in your quilt and a couple stuck out as possible borders. One is a multi-color rick-rack looking print and the other a gold with close together lines. One or the other with the black borders would be great IMHO. Of course you as the quilter have the final say. I can't wait to see it finished.

I agree that your quilt is gorgeous. Kaffe Fassett fabrics? I think a narrow black border would be perfect and it could be the binding if the quilt is already the right size. Otherwise to make it bigger use the black as the stop border and then a border in the green or yellow fabric that is used in the quilt.

Wowzers! great quilt!! I bet that was very tedious to make it.

First, do you "need" it to be bigger?
For me, I see it as is, plus a black narrow border, a little wider than you mentioned.
Perhaps 2" or so?
Then a black binding with a multi-fabric flange.

If you "need" it bigger, agree with Tartan.
Lay some fabrics and photo, to get a sense as to how it would work out.
Do you have enough fabrics to do them in the same square sizes as the blocks?
That would flow well with the centre of the quilt.
... though would make the quilt a wee bit bigger yet.

Wonderful quilt! I don't think it wants a border -- that would confine the flow. I would bind in black.

Votes for exactly these suggestions, depending on the finished size needed. It definitely wants a narrow black border, and if only that, the flange of multi-color with black binding. If you go larger with Tartan's suggestion, it would only need a black binding.

Very pretty, but no opinion. If fabric is limited I would just come up with what I had. Your quilt your way.

I love that quilt!!! I like the idea of a thin black stop border. I don't really like the idea of a piano key border. i think the linear-ness of it would conflict with the curves in the body. I vote for no border or a border of one single fabric.

Here's another vote for just a narrow black border. the quilt is gorgeous as is. I really wouldn't object if you posted what the pattern is either.....

Thank you so much for all the great ideas, and all the compliments! :) This quilt was definitely outside my comfort zone for fabrics and colors. I won this pack of Kaffe Fassett FQs at my LQS some time ago, and since they were fabrics I would usually never buy, it was a challenge to me to use them. I decided that since the fabrics were bold, I'd go bold with the quilt also. It's pushed me, but I'm really loving the results, and I'm now far more open to bold fabric choices than I was before.

Oh, you have no idea! It languished in the UFO pile for a long time, but I am determined to finish it now.
I'm really happy with how it's turning out, but I can tell you that it was one of the worst-written patterns I've used, and if I'd fully understood the method applied, I'd have done it in a completely different manner...but once I got going it was too late to change my method and I had to soldier on. However, all's well and all that! :)

I'm really liking this idea. I had wanted it a wee bit bigger, but I just can't find a color border that makes me happy. I think simple black is the way to go, and I *love* the idea of a multi-colored flange on black binding. Time to do another "first" for me with this quilt!

So with the caveat that I have seen better written patterns...it's from a magazine called "Down Under Quilts", issue #146. The pattern is called "Summer Soiree". I was able to download it, but that was years ago (2011?) and I haven't been able to find it online lately.

Once you do one flange binding, you'll want to do it on all your quilts!

That looks fab! You could go any way with this one, the one thing I would keep in mind is you have a visual star already in the quilt, don't compete with what you already have.

In a Round Robin I did a few years ago we had one instruction, "Make It Better"....that is a great guide when you are trying to decide on borders and bindings.

I am a huge fan of auditioning ideas up on the design wall (in my case black batting pinned to a wall).

Audition these and see what you like best...or see where it leads you!

1. Just a black binding

2. a black border of about 3", then a bright binding

3. a bright border (probably solid or reads as solid) and a black binding

3. turn and face (no border, no binding)

4. black and white...as a border or as a binding.

One will feel right to you...

WesternWilson ... great checklist of ideas!

PiedPiper ... Taking Western Wilson's idea a bit further and merging with my earlier flange suggestion. I now wonder if the flange may be a little too small to really get the pop of colour effect. So here goes my latest idea .... 3"ish black border then 1/2"ish assorted Kaffe border, then black binding, or 1-1/2"ish black border before the binding. I think you will find the wider pop of colour with the black will do a nice frame job of all your work in the centre. Whereas too wide of the black and it would darken and look too heavy against the joyful Kaffe fabrics.

Of course, nothing dyed in wool here, just some ideas to audition and approximate sizes to start wtih.
Good Luck!

I really don't think it needs a border. If you bind it in black-that would be such a nice finish to your beautiful quilt

Wow what a pretty quilt, love the colors. I agree with everyone a narrow black border would look good. Congratulations great work.

That is one awesome quilt!

Thanks again, everyone! I thought I'd share what I finally did. I made a flange border to have a little pop in a black border., and I put it on a little differently, such that it's a lot wider in front than on the back. I'm really happy with how it turned out. Two pics, one of which shows detail of the binding and backing.

I really like what you did! It frames your quilt perfectly. Curves are my nemesis, but your quilt is inspiring me to give them a whirl.

First of all it is a wonderful quilt.

I would inventory the fabrics left over to see how much is available. The question is: How wide a border can you get of this or that fabric. Keeping in mind that the farther out toward the outside edge you go, the more fabric you will need.

I understand you have an unlimited supply of black. So the picture with the larger black borders and accent 3/4 to 1 inch framing border is just perfect.

Wow....a perfect finishing choice.....I love it it!!!!

I would just put a black binding as there is so much going on in the quilt itself. It is beautiful!!!