Border, thinner border or no border?
 

I am on the fence about this one. The pattern calls for a 6.5 (unfinished) border. The original pattern with the border makes a twin size quilt. This is for my DH as something for his chair so I left off the last row (I'll use it on the back). I think that a 6 inch border may be too overwhelming for the quilt. However, part of me also thinks a border would be nice to give it a little extra. I am torn between these options:

A: No border just the binding which is the red print. I don't hate this option but it seems a little unfinished to me.

B: Thinner border. The picture shows a 3.5"(unfinished) piece. I think this would be a decent compromise. Would a thinner border 2.5" finished look better?

C: Thinner border with piping between the sashing and the border to give a little definition between the black cornerstones and the black border. If I can get more of the red print it would be the red, if not then I would pick up one of the colors either in the sashing or the red print; maybe a solid red or a rusty orange or and then the black border.

I am open to other suggestions as well. Thanks!

I like the idea of a 3.5" border, but wouldn't worry about piping.

I like your quilt ... a nice way to showcase some different blocks, in the star centres!!

While I like quilts without borders, I agree with you, that this is not one of those!

Not knowing the sizes of your blocks and sashings ... nor the strip you have laying next to it, it's hard to know how your suggested measurements compare!

So here's my suggestions .... quilt top, then a black border about 1-1/2 the width of the sashings, then a red flange, then another black border about 1-1/2 times the width of the first black border. Then bind in black.

Very nice quilt. I think it needs the wider border. The thinner border seems out of proportion. Since each block is large and the pattern is bold, the quilt would not be overwhelmed at all. Just my opinion.

I agree with Martina.

I know there are no rules in quilting but I do recall reading something about proportion of borders, etc. to the size of the blocks. Just don't know where I read it or exactly what it said. Sorry...

Beautiful quilt.

Interesting suggestion...going for two black borders and the red flange rather than the red binding. It might look cleaner with the black binding.

I would do a 4" red border and bind it in black. But that is me.

Thank you, both. I believe that a border is supposed to be 1/2 the size of the blocks and then sashing 1/3 the size? I'm pretty sure about the border, the sashing I'm a little vague on. But it seems correct because (this is a commercial pattern that I am using) and the original measurements (finished) are 12" block, 2"inch sashing and 6" border. My issue has come in because my blocks are not exactly 12" because I used too much steam and I had some shrinkage.

You're right, though, Martina. The blocks are bold and it is for a man so it probably can handle the wider border. Maybe I'm just getting cold feet thinking about all of that black on black quilting that is going to be done in that wide border! :)

Thanks! It's a look I like, and as you said, nice and clean. You've got a perfect quilt for it with the red in your stars, but not overpowering ... the flange will make it pop and too, won't be overpowering, either.

LOL, that was what I wanted to do originally, the red border, especially since DH loves red, but they didn't have enough of the red so I had to compromise.