funny how some people decide on something...then decide that is the way it is...and that is the way the rest of us should do it...too funny :mrgreen:
i've made 50 or so queen-king sized quilts...one of them (might) have a 6" border on it...but i'm not sure about any others...hmmmmmmmmmmm does that mean they are not (appropriate quilts?)
a few have no border at all...bet that's a huge no=no?!?
one has a 12" border...that one probably make (someone) roll over in their grave?!?
i have literally hundreds of quilt magazines on my shelves...can not even begin to tell how many large quilts do NOT have 6" borders anywhere on them...i kind of think this OFFICER OF THE QUILT POLICE may have their own (mind-set) that has nothing to do with the rest of the quilting world ;)

LOL Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I first learned to quilt, someone told me the border should be the same width as the block in the quilt. (or something like that) After a while I realized I could do what ever looked right to me.

I add what looks good on that particular quilt.

This is the direction in which I tend to lean also. Another reason for a border, or a combination of borders, is to create a frame which will highlight the piecing, or make it pop. Color is an important consideration, as well as the width.

Think of a quilt as a fine art painting. Some artists paint the sides of the canvas. No frame needed because the art sinks into the wall. Other paintings, such as a portrait, are finished with only a frame. Without a frame, the portrait appears unfinished.

A more complex painting may have a mat, or a pair of mats. The first is a "stop action" mat, called a reveal. It is designed to keep the painting on the canvas. Otherwise the mind of the viewer will try to complete the painting by allowing the sky, grass, river, or some other known aspect of scenery or action, to drift off of the canvas. (The mind does play tricks on us.) The first frame stops the action, and contains known scenes. it can be fairly narrow. Some quilters refer to the narrow, stop action border, as a sparkle. It can be flat, pipping, or tab-like.

The wider mat on the picture will add considerably to the richness of the presentation. The color choice will either bring the painting into the foreground, or tie it into the room.

When applying borders to quilts. The first question to answer is probably going to be about the size, and if you still have room for a border. (In the design phaise - do you want to make room for a border.) The next question is “What statement do I want my quilt to make?” The second question is, “What mood should this quilt provide?” Is the quilt about color, movement, tranquility, rhythm, joy, or . . . ? Inner and outer borders will make or break the statement or mood with width and color.

Different viewers will have different perspectives, so it all boils down to the designer. YOU. In your eyes, what looks best? Lay the top against different widths and colors of fabric to get the feel for each, and how they effect the piecing. This is one of the fun parts, without rules.

Concepts of size and color theory play a roll, but I believe that it started with some bloke who studied hundreds of quilts and wanted to know why the quilts looked so good. He then determined that sizes and color made a difference, told others about his revelation, and someone thought they were “rules” set in stone. (They are really just “rules of thumb.”

Have FUN.

Have to? No way.

Right on!!

I don't quilt by what the quilt police have to say.....I just sew and quilt my way and if it is wrong ohhhh well! As long as it looks nice and sewn well I am happy.

It is your quilt, put what ever size border on it that you want.

I tend to add 6" borders, as that seems to look pleasing with the 12" blocks that I usually make. The 6" comes from the 6.5" ruler that I can cut the borders with. Just laziness for me. It is a pain to try to cut wider borders. I will also add a narrower inner border most times.
Of coarse, if I feel like doing something different, I will. This can be because of a lack of enough fabric.

Maybe they just meant the "drop" . . . ?

Oh, what a gang (gaggle?) of rebels we are! LOL We throw caution to the wind and make our borders any size we see fit. No one is going to stiffle our creativity. United we stand.

I love Susan Garman's patterns and she generally uses more than one border and the last one is 8" or more. Since she is recognized internationally, I lean toward her thinking.

I could not have said it better!

RST[/quote]

This is the direction in which I tend to lean also. Another reason for a border, or a combination of borders, is to create a frame which will highlight the piecing, or make it pop. Color is an important consideration, as well as the width.

Think of a quilt as a fine art painting. Some artists paint the sides of the canvas. No frame needed because the art sinks into the wall. Other paintings, such as a portrait, are finished with only a frame. Without a frame, the portrait appears unfinished.

A more complex painting may have a mat, or a pair of mats. The first is a "stop action" mat, called a reveal. It is designed to keep the painting on the canvas. Otherwise the mind of the viewer will try to complete the painting by allowing the sky, grass, river, or some other known aspect of scenery or action, to drift off of the canvas. (The mind does play tricks on us.) The first frame stops the action, and contains known scenes. it can be fairly narrow. Some quilters refer to the narrow, stop action border, as a sparkle. It can be flat, pipping, or tab-like.

The wider mat on the picture will add considerably to the richness of the presentation. The color choice will either bring the painting into the foreground, or tie it into the room.

When applying borders to quilts. The first question to answer is probably going to be about the size, and if you still have room for a border. (In the design phaise - do you want to make room for a border.) The next question is “What statement do I want my quilt to make?” The second question is, “What mood should this quilt provide?” Is the quilt about color, movement, tranquility, rhythm, joy, or . . . ? Inner and outer borders will make or break the statement or mood with width and color.

Different viewers will have different perspectives, so it all boils down to the designer. YOU. In your eyes, what looks best? Lay the top against different widths and colors of fabric to get the feel for each, and how they effect the piecing. This is one of the fun parts, without rules.

Concepts of size and color theory play a roll, but I believe that it started with some bloke who studied hundreds of quilts and wanted to know why the quilts looked so good. He then determined that sizes and color made a difference, told others about his revelation, and someone thought they were “rules” set in stone. (They are really just “rules of thumb.”

Have FUN.[/quote]

Some people are just so funny. There are no rules to quilting. Do what makes you happy. If someone else doesn't like it then it is their problem not yours. I have never made a quilt to a pattern. I always make it "my way". Would a painter follow rules? No they follow their heart and their vision. I think quiters are as much artists as painters are.

I eye ball my quilts as to what I think it needs, and go from there. Never heard of the six inch thing.

I hope that person doesn't bring her tape measure to my house and measure my quilt borders.

necessary??? That IS the quilt police LOL!! not in my book. You can do what you want :)

Who said THAT? Come on out into the light and say that into my face. Yeah, to me. Oh, you and what army of quilt police??

Hey, it's YOUR quilt, if you want a border 10 inches wide, go for it. If you want a border the quilt police would have to see with a microscope, go for it. It's your quilt, make it fun and pretty. If you aren't having fun making these lovely works of art, then you won't be working at your best.

I vote for your quilt, your time, your money do it your way !!

I was taught it should be a multiple of or divisible by the size of your finished square. For example a square that finishes at 1.5" would look good with a 1.5", 3", 4.5", 6" etc.

Supposedly, it is more eye appealing that way. However, I rarely go over 6" because I don't always want to quilt something in the border and anything larger would definitely need quilting. (I know quilting looks better in the border and if I am going to pay someone to quilt it I would do that but if it's just me with my fibromyalgia I sometimes only stitch in the ditch around the borders.

I do mine however I think it looks best and however it needs to be to cover the area I want to cover. The quilt police can stay home!

I do what I want with my quilts. I often change a pattern to something different and i sometimes put two or three borders on and sometimes none. There are no laws to quiling only some basic things that make it come out right,

I have never heard anybody, nor have seen any rule written that our quilts need to have 6 in borders

the lady who quilts my quilt tops prefers at least a 4 inch border - it lays better she says, not as much chance for it to "stretch" or get a diagnonal appearance by over stretching one side as the other when she puts it on her quilting machine. So, I put on my fine border and end in a wider border always! I aim to please! :)

Really?Man I always do everything wrong.

PHOOEY.....do what pleases you..It's your quilt, your masterpiece..your border.

To border or not to border. That is the question. Whether tis nobler to have a wide or a narrow.... It depends on what YOU want and if you need extra width to fit the particular bed. Thats what guides me. There are no border police.

Yeah, I agree...we don't need any stinkin' rules! My quilts will be made to please me or the person I'm making it for.

My quilt ... my rules!

there are no rules...you do what you want!

My quilt, My rules! :-)

I just made an oversized queen quilt and the pattern called for a 4" pieced border and then another 4" final border. I think all quilts are different and I usually do what I think makes sense to me, looks good and also consider what and how much fabric I have on hand vs. having to go buy more. I love quilting because there really are no rules just lots of ways to do things differently for the same effect.

Sooooooo,do we have to turn our quilts in if they have the wrong size border? I guess I'll be left out in the cold. I do what is pleasing to me. I do like the idea of making the border divisional (sp) by the block. I think that's the first time I've heard that info. Now if only I can remember it when I need a border. :lol: :lol:

I have no rules for borders, I think I read someplace that the border should be half the size of the largest block for balance, but since I usually put several borders on mine, I just go with what looks best on a particular quilt.

I love borders. They are an opportunity to do another creative design. I have never heard of a rule and I agree with respondent #1, my quilt, my way.

Many of my quilts have NO border!

I totally disagree with this. I may or may not add any border. I DON'T add one just to make a quilt larger. I only add a border if it suits the overall design.

Don't worry - If you're left out in the cold you can just wrap up in your bordered quilts to stay warm.

I just do what I need. If I need a wide one I put one on. If I
just need a narrow one, that is all I put on. It is yours so do
it the way you want to.