I almost always quilt mine, but do a different stitch in them, as usually the borders are the picture frames of the quilt, I do like them to look a little different....but quilted

Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I thinke the frame idea might work best since I can frame the pictures printed on the border. And it has the added benefit of being quicker than hand quilting.

I agree that a 3 inch border is just a little too wide not to have some quilting in it. I think your idea of quilting around the pictures in the border should look very nice. Show us some pics when you are finished!

Recently, I just extended my horizontal straight quilting lines through the borders on a quilt. It was an easy & quick way to quilt that area!

A quilt is always quilted as the quilter wishes, but I do quilt my borders. Usually something simple and fast but again, it is all up to you. With a three inch boarder it may not be necessary but if the quilting would make the piece look "finished" then, do so. Congrats on your first quilt! Do let us see a photo when you are finished. We all were new quilters and love to see others join us on the path to quiltdom.

Don't think I have ever seen a border that wasn't quilted.

I say quilt em!

Definitely quilted in some way, even if its only a straight line. Follow the instructions that come with your batting, to make sure your quilt stays together for many years without the batting bunching up inside. Even then I always 'err on the side of caution' and quilt closer than the recommended amount on the package. It's a shame to see that happen after all the work (and money) that goes into a quilt....

Borders should be quilted.
SandyQuilter