Borders Needed?
 

I just finished (or thought I had finished) this top. I now see there is a mistake so I'll have to take that apart and fix the mistake.
I'm now waffling on whether or not it needs a border. I don't think I have ever done a quilt with no border before.

The size is OK, as it is just to hang over the bannister of our upstairs staircase, but the original plan was a 1" border of the background grey grunge fabric, then a thin border of the strings like is in each block (1 1/2"), then a wider border of the grunge, maybe 2", then another thin border of the strings and another thin border of the grey before binding. So, that would make about a 7" border, total.

Thoughts? Other ideas? No border needed?

Watson

First off, that's just gorgeous, great job!

Considering how many colors are in it, I would leave it as is a birth it or put a small border of one color and call it good. I would be afraid that putting on a border like what you're thinking might make the quilt just too busy. The stars of that quilt are the blocks - I say let them shine through.

Your quilt top is beautiful! At least the mistake is on the edge instead of the middle.

I think your border plans will look lovely. Today’s tutorial on MSQC has a solid/pieced/solid/print border combination that looks awesome.

The top would also look great without borders but I’m a fan of quilts having a frame. I suppose it just depends on how much work you want to put into it.

Love the colors in your quilt.

I vote for your borders as detailed. It will end the quilt block design. It looks like the blocks want to run right off the quilt edge.

Very cool quilt! I would probably add borders just to finish it off, at least on left side and bottom- it just looks - not quite finished. The top and right looks finished. All the way around will probably work-before committing to 7” all around I would fold my chosen fabrics in the sizes stated and lay them out around it- audition first to decide if you really want to do that much more.
what ever you choose it is a really great quilt!

I love this quilt it is so pretty. I am torn between a border and just a nice deep color for the binding. It needs just a litte something to set up the quilt. Not much just a little to make it pop!

I love the quilt and the colors and the over all bright, airy, light look. It looks so very modern. So many modern quilts just don't need the borders we traditionally put on most of our quilts. So having said that....When I can't decide on borders, I lay the fabric out on one side as I think I want it and take a picture. Then I look at the picture. Lots of time I am surprised at the changes in the look of the quilt. I don't cut any fabric until I am absolutely sure about what I want to do. What you have described, seems to be very busy. I'd want to see a picture before I make any real comment.

Edited to add: Looking at the quilt again, I think I would add a white border on the other two sides to float all the darker pieces on the edge and then whatever, if any, borders you want to add.

If you like the size, why not add a grey border on the left and on the bottom--just for design continuity. That is a beautiful top and I just might have to steal the design. Goodness knows I have strings!!

Great scrappy design. One of your own?

Being that you said size is not the issue, I am with you on borderless and just add a binding. I would audition something of a strong or jewel toned colour that will look well with the quilt. Being that you know it's destiny, perhaps that colour would be one that coordinates with the setting. Although, with the multi-colours in the quilt, I wouldn't worry about the decor coordination!!

Perhaps what you might want to change the width of binding from the traditional. A little wider, may help you feel that you have a bit more of a frame. Yet, a nicely done narrower than normal can be quite effective on a quilt like this, and not overpower the glory of the quilt itself. My own instinct is the narrow strip around!!!

The key ... you already know, Watson ........... audition! audition!! audition!!!

As always, keep up the great work!!!

I love your quilt!! Love the bright, cheerful feel of it. I’d prob’ly add the light solid color down the left side and across the bottom and bind it with a bright solid. And let it tell it’s own cheerful tale ;0) !

Another beauty! Imho its a very modern looking quilt, I would just bi d and enjoy, no border necessary, love it!

I agree. A thin non-fancy border would be a nice finishing touch.

Great quilt Watson! I would not use a border but use a scrappy multicolored binding. You are so lucky your mistake was on the last corner. Good job.

Watson, I love that top!
I don't think it needs a border. Maybe just a fun binding.

Beautiful quilt! I would add a white border either on 2 sides or 4 sides. Not sure if I would bind in white, black, one color, or scrappy.

I'm joining the chorus for a narrow white border. As a personal opinion. quilts without borders look unfinished.

And I'm OCD enough that I'd fix that corner. Last week I did just that -- ripped out and fixed a corner turned 90 degrees. Why that didn't get fixed earlier I have no idea, but it would have been a lot easier if it hadn't already been basted for quilting!

No border! I love the modern look to this quilt! Maybe even go with a facing or at least white binding.

If you are happy with the size, I think I would skip the border. This quilt reminds me of birds in flight, and it seems a shame to “cage them in.”

You know you don't have to put your borders on all 4 sides. A border of white around the whole quilt to separate the quilt center from the pieced border. Then a pieced border (like the narrow piecing of the blocks), but this border only on the top and bottom. After that another narrow white border on the top and bottom to separate the pieced border from a strong colored binding.

I'm far from an expert but I agree with others to add a small white border on the left and bottom. Then, if it were me, I would bind it in the lime green which I think would keep the cheerfulness of the quilt. 😁

It's a beautiful quilt!

Your quilt is awesome.

I think you need a narrow white border on left and bottom. It you look: top and right a faux border has emerged as a secondary pattern. So without a similar sash it will look off balance. Then I wouldn't add anything else other than a fat scrappy binding.

My opinion- but your quilt.

We all were thinking the same thing....Here is what I did and now I am on to thinking about quilting.

So far, I am thinking runs of feathers, one side only, along the light diagonals.

Watson

I think a border or borders would make it look more finished.

I think feathers will look fabulous on those light diagonals!

Your small light border looks really good. That was a good choice.

What are you thinking for the binding? Some people have been suggesting a scrappy bind, which could be fun.

I've made a template to try to figure out the quilting and I think that I will do some ruler work to create some structure and then decide what to fill it in with.

Watson

Beautiful quilt! When a quilt is this busy and colorful, I'm a fan of keeping the borders simple. I'd probably do a narrow border of one color or pieced with several colors and a narrow black border then bind in black. Alternately, you could eliminate the black border and just use a colored border and then black binding.