Border Size Question
 

Hi...I am new here.

I am wondering if there is a general rule about border size. The quilt I am working on has 8" log cabin blocks set up in the barn raising pattern. It is a lap quilt and right now it is 6 blocks by 8 blocks (48 1/2 x 64 1/2"). I am going to put a 1" red border around the edge, and then I was going to add a 6" navy border, but now I am wondering if 6" is too wide. Maybe it should be 4". Any thoughts?
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Welcome to the board! Six inches sounds about 'right' to me, but it's your quilt, so up to you. Lovely quilt btw! :)

Thank you, Knitette.

I also have no idea how to machine quilt this. I usually make quilts that have sashes, so I have always quilted the blocks individually. I would love some ideas.

Lay your border fabric beside the quilt top folding it at different widths. I tend to use 4.5 inch borders often. Be sure to show us your finished quilt! Welcome to the Quilting Board:)

It's beautiful!

Just feeling like experiment and learning with my program, but here are the images. So you can see and get the feel for what you prefer.

6" border:
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4" border
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What finished size are you striving for or does it make a difference? If that isn't an issue, I think I like the 6" border. Looks more balanced to me, but I am no expert for sure.

The short answer ......... there is no rule as to border size.
In fact, you do not even have to have a border if you want.

You have a lovely quilt here .. .and to me, a log cabin quilt, sometimes just reads as "do not border me!" IMHO this is one that cold finish up the way it is.

However, I am wondering if this is not your quilt as you mentioned a red small border and then a navy one ... and yet on my computer screen I only see browns/beiges.

you could do some nice quilting in a 6 inch border.

Thank you for your input, ladies! I am leaning towards the 6" border. Thank you, justflyingin, for posting the pictures.

Yes, QuiltE, that is the quilt. I just haven't added the red yet. I do want borders on this, because I think it is a little small for a lap quilt without them. I do agree that sometimes we don't need borders.

When I drew out the picture for her using EQ, I wondered about that. My monitor looks like they are greens and browns...can't see any blue in the log cabin blocks...but I threw a blue strip for good measure in the program pic.

The colors of the quilt are the mustard/beige, red, green and navy from various Kansas Troubles lines. The creams are Buggy Barn.

Welcome! If you think that 6" is too wide, you can always put a small border first and then the 6". If you choose to put a smaller border first though, I'd make it the same width as your log cabin strips. And if you still think 6" is too wide, make it 5". Your quilt is quite pretty, so whatever you do will only enhance the charm and beauty of what you have already. Please, post a photo when you've finished.:thumbup:

I like the 6" border. It will frame your pretty LC nicely. 4" just looks skimpy as a last border, imho.
peace

I love the borders, and I'd leave the blue one at 6 inches. If you're looking for a quilting plan, I did a log cabin and then did a SITD on every seam. It took me quite a bit of time, but the quilt looked awesome!

Check out the Fibonacci sequence. http://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/fi...-sequence.html This is a natural occurring mathematical sequence that occurs in the spirals of sea shells and petals of flowers.

Using the Fibonacci sequence, my suggestion would be a 5" border.

Thank you, everyone!

I just finished laying out my quilt with the different border sizes and I think that the 5" border actually looks the best. The 4" wasn't wide enough, and the 6" seemed too wide.

I did look at the Fibonacci sequence and it makes sense to use the 5". The 'logs' and inner border are 1", my centers are 2", the border will be 5" and the blocks themselves are 8".

I love your program!!!

I think six would be too wide, four sounds better.

My border width is usually determined by how much border fabric I have.

Your quilt is absolutely beautiful!! I vote for a 5" border.

I just saw your update!! Great minds think alike!!

That is a cool program that was posted to audition your quilts!!

Very nice. Love LC. BrendaK

Nice quilt. I like the 6" borders. Depends on what design you want to do on the border, too.

Looking at your quilt on the floor, and assuming those are 12" tiles, I'd say 4" was about right. But play with it and see what you think. You don't want to overpower your lovely quilt with a big clunky border. That being said, I have made borders larger to "stretch" a quilt to a certain size. Plus, I've done a few quilts without a border, and a dark binding, and they look fine.

i actually like it without added borders. but if you want it bigger then how about adding i would audition several width borders and then decide.

Love your choice of colors with the log cabin. Delicious!

I am giggling. I wonder bout this with every quilt but don't ask the question. I just give up and do what looks right. I don't do well with mathematical calculations and rules but my eye seems to tell me the right thing every time. I'll follow the thread to see if I can find the "correct" way to calculate a border.

Welcome to the board.
Maybe a smaller border after the narrow red border and then a larger border. I usually use 1-1/2", 2-1/2" or 3-1/2" and maybe a 5-1/2". Really depends on how much I want to add to the top.

Welcome from N. Texas. I love the idea of two borders, one narrow and the other four to six inches. I think you might be happier with the wider border because when you bind it, even though the binding is narrow, it will take a little off the appearance of the outer border. froggyintexas

The narrow red border, then the 6" navy border sounds about right. I would "audition" the size of the borders before cutting to see what works.

I always tend to do a narrow - 1 1/2" border then an outer border. I just like the look of it. Like others have said - play around with what pleases you ---- we don't allow the "quilt police" in here.

I have just started another Boxed Squares that will have two borders when done. I am making the outer border to be finished at 4 inches to accommodate the quilting that I plan for it. Usually I try to make the border be a size to fit the quilting I want to do.

I would also go with the 6" - more room for quilting and sometimes those extra inches make a difference in how the quilt looks on the bed.

mckwilter that was an amazing link. Who would thought!

Welcome and remember that no question is ever stupid.

Thank you all for your comments and thoughts. This is a wonderful, encouraging community.

I ended up going with the 1" red border and then 5" navy border.

I am really undecided as to how to quilt this. I think I will free motion quilt circles in the border, so that I have some organic movement in the otherwise really structured quilt. I don't know what to do in the body of the quilt. I can't see myself stitching in the ditch on every single seam, but I don't want anything to take away from the quilt as it is. Any other ideas?

Welcome to the board, the border can be whatever size you need to complete the quilt to fit where you need it. It's really pretty, you're off to a great start.