Can’t decide which border
 

I made an 18” paper pieced unicorn and now can’t decide what to do for the border.
I made the ribbon border but can’t decide if I like it or a plain red border best.
I’m almost out of black, so can’t make another pieced border containing black.

i love the ribbon border. if you can squeeze it out of your leftover black, i'd make a narrow black border then bind it in one of the pink/reds. it looks great

I vote for the ribbon border. Please post pictures when you are done. It's beautiful!!

It's beautiful! Both borders are wonderful...i lean toward the ribbon one!

That ribbon border is lots of fun, I think it goes well with your rainbow unicorn! :D

I love the ribbon border, but it may be a little too busy and take away from the unicorn. I think I'd go with the plain border, for the sake of the unicorn being 'center stage'.

What a hard decision. I think though I would also go for the ribbon and finish as QuiltnNan suggests.

Both borders look nice but the ribbon border gets my vote!

Both work well.
At first I liked the fun of the ribbon border ... but then ...
I the simplicity of the red called to me. I guess I am the lone one on this thought!

Why? My conclusion was that your unicorn has a lot going on with the multi-colours,
and the ribbon border was competing, even pulling my eyes outwards to it.
Whereas, the plain red seemed calmer and let my eyes focus on the star ... your unicorn.

Unless you need size, I might even consider no border, instead using the red as a binding.
And too, would make the binding a wider than normal one, to give a nice frame around it.

Red border. The ribbon border distracts from your unicorn (at first glance I thought it was a horse because I was distracted).

The ribbon border.

I am going to be the odd ball and tell you not to use a border at all. Bind it in the same black as the background or a narrow stripe with all or some of the unicorn colors in it and cut it on the bias so it spirals. I would not want to take one bit of interest away from that unicorn.

The plain border gives the unicorn more " punch".

I love the ribbon border! A unicorn needs a fun, fancy border!

Oh, I really like the ribbon border!

I agree with jokir44,no border at all and bind it in either black or a fabric that is in the unicorn. BTW, great unicorn and pattern. Fantastic job.

Though I like the idea of the ribbon border, I also think the plain, solid border frames everything nicely without detracting from all the work you put into the unicorn.

I like the ribbon border because it brings out the white in the unicorn. I also like the red border but I think the unicorn gets lost in it. What if you put a 3/4 -1" white border off the black then put the plain red, also at 3/4 -1"? Then I think your unicorn would really pop!

I feel you need some lightness in the border to help make the unicorn sparkle.

I ditto this response. The ribbon border definitely brings the quilt to life!

This would look so good!

How about the ribbon border and use a black binding. I like how the ribbon frames the unicorn and complements the design.

You can't go wrong with either one. It's gorgeous!!!

Def the Ribbon

I vote for the ribbon sashing. It makes it look so focused and finished. You did quite an awesome job! Beautiful!

great unicorn!

I think the ribbon border sort of reflects and enhances the unicorn's mane.

Otherwise, as someone else suggested a plain black binding, so that the unicorn is the star of the show.

I have not figured out the "why" of it, but the red border in the second picture seems to be more of a distraction to the unicorn than the ribbon binding in the first picture.

Beautiful piece, but I lean towards the solid red border to showcase the unicorn.

I like the plain red best because it complements instead of takes attention from your wonderful unicorn! But you, perhaps, can't go by me; I tend to prefer conservative borders, which I think are there to frame and set off the heart (center) of the quilt. You'll get a lot of votes for the ribbon border, which is, indeed, beautiful.

I vote for the ribbon border. It looks so pretty with your project.

I agree with others that the ribbon border on this is a bit busy, although I do love that ribbon.
But I also agree with Quiltn'Nan that the ribbon needs a black border on both sides. 1/4 inch would be enough, just to join with the tiny black triangles to make it look like a background. A 3/4 inch strip would produce 1/4 finished.

They both look great, but I really like the ribbon border.

I like the plain red border. I think the ribbon border draws your eyes away from the unicorn.

I think the ribbon border does justice to the Unicore.

I like the ribbon border best

I agree. The ribbon border is wonderful, and you did a great job with it, but I think it is a little too busy. The plain border recedes into the background, letting the unicorn (which is beautiful!) shine.

Leslie

Ribbon! Looks beautiful

I like the ribbon border in and of itself but I think it takes away from the unicorn, which is awesome.

Oh my gosh beauty at its best. Love the unicorn very nicely done. I also love the ribbon border and kept going back to that one. However, I think it competes with the unicorn for attention. My eyes keep traveling and does not rest on the unicorn. I'm not much help with this one. Good luck with your decision. Beautiful work!!!

I agree with this too.

I vote for ribbon.