Border Width Decision...
 

If your blocks and sashing are all even numbers...6" blocks and 2" sashing...is it best to stay with even number for the borders, or does it matter?

I'd like to do a narrow inner border...maybe only 1" wide with the accent colour and then a wider outer border with the print, maybe 3", but I'm wondering if this will be jarring to the eye?

Is there a rule of thumb about this?

Thanks!

Watson

I have read where the borders should equal 2/3 to 3/4 of the block size. But, I usually audition a border first and if it looks good to me, I just do it whether it is in those size frames or not.

I'd audition the 2" border first since your sashings are 2". The last quilt I made that's what I did, and like the consistent look. But really, it's a personal call. I'm a believer that you'll know in your gut when it's right.

The rule is ..... there are no rules! :)

OK, there was one rule that I saw a while ago that I kind of liked .... no two borders should be the same width!

Quite honestly (and yes, this is only my opinion) ..... I believe in auditioning to figure it out.

You can have the same quilt made, but with different fabrics .... one will command a large wide border or borders. Another might yearn for quite a simplistic border. And yet another might say, leave me alone, I don't need a border!:)

Two things that I think too often as quilters, we forget ....

* It is quite OK to not have a border. Not every quilt commands one. In fact, I think sometimes a border destroys the look of a quilt. Just the same as the wrong border choices can.

* Borders can be more than just plain fabric added on, whether a single or multi-layered border. There are so many ways to dress the borders up and make them so much more!

Without seeing your quilt, it really is hard to give you suggestions ... although, that was not what you were asking, was it? :)

I was trying to think of this when I responded earlier, but the name would not come!

Fibonacci Sequence

This is a formula that some use for their quilts.
Here's a link ....
https://virtualquilter.wordpress.com...e-the-borders/

Personally, I have not used it .... and have opted, as per my earlier comments.
However, it does make sense to help give a starting point.

Interesting that the blog writer pretty much said the same thing
.... starting point and then audition it, adapting to what you like!

well, I think there is a rule--Fibonno?? Know that isn't accurate, but something like that and it's a mathematical formula. But obviously I can't remember it--I usually just audition it (eyeball it!) But I personally don't like to have the sashing and borders the same.

Doesn't matter. It's a matter of both personal taste and how much fabric you have.

And you don't HAVE to have a border. I seldom do.

I honestly believe if you are making the quilt it is yours to do whatever with. If we all go by certain rules there would probably not be new ideas or patterns so go with what you want and enjoy the process

I like a stop border and usually make it 1/2 to 1" finished. For the next border, I have various methods.
1) The final quilt has to be a certain size, so I add borders to make it that size
2) I only have a limited amount of border fabric left, so that's how big the border is.
3) The border fabric is a print, and I want a particular portion of the print to show.
4) I use the scientific audition method. I sew on the narrow inner border, lay the outer border out & move the quilt back & forth.
As a mathematician, I prefer one of the above methods to Fibonacci Sequence. I think making it pleasing to your eye is the best.

This was a great read for the this morning because I finished my Mystery Train 16 blocks last night and couldn't decide on the sashing and border so I only got as far as pressing my fabrics...then I watched the Grammy's.

Today I will add my sashing and borders with a new idea of width in mind.

Well, I made the 1" border and then...I kind of liked it. I may not add anymore at all.

Watson

Jenny Beyer, in one of her books offered suggestions as to border width. I don't have the book, but you might find it in a library.

Does the quilt police live at you house? Are you expecting to win first place? If not it is your quilt, do what you like best.

[QUOTE=PaperPrincess;7763126]I like a stop border and usually make it 1/2 to 1" finished. For the next border, I have various methods.
1) The final quilt has to be a certain size, so I add borders to make it that size
2) I only have a limited amount of border fabric left, so that's how big the border is.
3) The border fabric is a print, and I want a particular portion of the print to show.
4) I use the scientific audition method. I sew on the narrow inner border, lay the outer border out & move the quilt back & forth.

I do the same methods. The quilt will tell you what it wants. Often I wait until the end to even decide on what border(s) to use. Just be careful that the borders do not over power the inner blocks of the quilt. I have made border as big as 15" since I like a longer drop on the side of the bed. and to bring up the quilt to size. One quilt I just finished with 2 stop borders and was ready to add the final border when the quilt said "I need another color in the borders". instead of adding another border I did a flange of the accent color. PERFECT!!!!!

Audition them. Lay out a couple very different looks and every time you walk into the room, which side appeals to you? That will be your starting point. There are quilts that go from borderless to framed with same as sashing size to double sashing to huge borders to make the quilt top bigger. Whatever pleases your eye is the correct one.

One inch border, and then a binding?
You may not want to hear this suggestion, but .... I'll give it anyway! :)

If you like it with the one inch and nothing more .... my suggestion is to take it off and replace it with an extra wide binding. That way your border is all border ..... and no binding! To me it looks much nicer than border plus binding.

Of course, we don't know if this is a wall/art quilt? or a functional one?
Depending on the end purpose, and wash-frequency, you may not want the wide binding without any quilting on it. Though that could be stabilized with some top stitching, if you were concerned.

Here's a wall hanging where I used the wide binding as the border .....
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...s-t241121.html

I always do what looks good to me. All quilts are different, of course. Have fun with it & do what looks good to you. It is your creation so there are no rules.

If there are rules, I always say rules are made to be broken. Do whatever you want.

I'm making a baby quilt right now & my finished blocks are 7 1/2" square. I've put on a 1 1/4" border (finished size) around for the first border & then a 2" border (finished size) around for a second border. I like the way it looks. I never thought that there might be some sort of formula before your post here. I just go by what I think looks good. Sometimes I need to enlarge a quilt so I will do it with borders.

If I have solid or "reads solid" sashing, I will use the same material as the first border since my blocks float and I like the look. I also frequently use a flange of black, white (or some color that may be in the fabrics, but not dominant) so the flange can stop the pattern. I then use the guidelines that Paper Princess outlined:
1) The final quilt has to be a certain size, so I add borders to make it that size
2) I only have a limited amount of border fabric left, so that's how big the border is.
3) The border fabric is a print, and I want a particular portion of the print to show.
4) I use the scientific audition method. I sew on the narrow inner border, lay the outer border out & move the quilt back & forth.

There is one exception -- sometimes the quilt tells me to stop, it's done. I have been wrestling with a Halloween because it is telling me to stop at a wall hanging (I have no space for one) and I want a lap quilt. Sigh -- hate it when that happens. :mad: