Are borders quilted?
 

I'm finishing my first quilt for my neice. The quilting is a combination of machine and hand stitching and there is a three inch border around the quilt. Are quilt borders typically quilted? Or do they remain unstitched? Or is it just up to the quilter? I can't decide if it will look ok without the stitching but I'm trying to finish it up for her first birthday and I'm running out of time.

I appreciate any advice you can offer.

I usually quilt mine.

I'd say quilted because you don't want them to pucker up all weird after the quilt is washed.

I quilt mine.

In the past, I just did stitch in the ditch around the borders. After several washings they seem okay, haven't puckered too much. Maybe quilt a simple design in them to help hold everything in place?

I like to quilt my borders...but do have trouble deciding how to quilt them.

I quilt mine so that they don't puff up and also because I think it makes a nice frame.

Why not attach the walking foot and do a repeated straight line around a few times like a frame. Easy and simple.

"Why not attach the walking foot and do a repeated straight line around a few times like a frame. Easy and simple."

I like this idea.

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

They are typically treated like the quilt, though not necessarily connected. If your quilt is quilted with lines, say, 1" apart, then you should have similar quilting in the border to keep the look consistent. That's not to say the quilting has to be the same. You can do meander in the body, and just straight lines in the border, but the amount of quilting in each part should be similar.

my personal rule of thumb is non-quilted area should not be more than outstretched hand.........so yes, I would put something in that border......maybe just a straight vertical line every 3/4 inches at best.............jmho

I always thought you were suppose to quilt the whole quilt. But I don't quilt. My LAer does and she quilts my whole quilt.

This is how I do mine. I like the way it looks when I am finished.

Dina

This is how I do mine....I like the results. (Yes, I replied without the quote earlier. Blush!)

Sometimes I quilt mine, really depends on the quilt. I enter 3 quilts in the Waco quilt show a couple years ago the the judges got me for not quilting the borders. But due the the design of the quilt, I didn't want it quilted and they said I should. hummmm on them, lol Well I am here to tell you,. I do what I like. so you can too:thumbup:

If it is only 3" I would probably not quilt it unless I wanted to! However, if you did heavy quilting on the quilt and not on the border the borders may get wavy once it's washed. (Happened to me once even though I soaked the batting in hot water before hand to shrink it. And, I did quilt the border, just not very heavily.)

Usually quilt mine. but its the quilers choice

you could also just do a curvy line with your walking foot. just move the quilt left and right slowly as you sew.

I always quilt my borders. Usually I just do FMQ as I usually always do FMQ, a large stipple type pattern. I would be afraid the batting would bunch if left unquilted.

I quilt mine so they lay together nicely. Gives it a nice finished look.

I think it depends on how wide they are. Borders up to 1" can usually get away without quilting. I feel anything wider needs it. I also try to keep the amount of quilting even throughout the entire quilt so it will lay flat. A heavily quilted quilt needs quilted borders.

I quilt mine. Seems like an unquilted border would detract from the overall look. Maybe looked unfinished. Also, certain battings require stitching every few inches to remain stable.

The border should have the same level of quilting as the rest, or it won't lie flat. One time, I made the mistake of just doing straight stitching parallel to the edges. That did not help. If I am doing plain straight quilting across the quilt, I continue it through the border. That is minimal quilting, but works. Most often, I use the border to make it's own statement, a feathered wreath, a wave pattern, a vine, or whatever. Even just a wavy line works.

I usually quilt mine. A simple straight line repeated is a great idea for a first quilt.

I always quilt mine. It makes the quilt look more finished, I think.

I always quilt it or the quilting police might visit you!!!!

there are plenty of templates that can be used for borders. you might want to refer to those. i would quilt to the edges also.

I do quilt mine even if simply with a chevron or grid lines

Thanks for a great idea that I need for a quilt I am finishing up and I never thought of just straight stitching to make a frame!