I'm making a table top for a boat table. (Weird shape.) In the middle there is a mariner's compass. The material around the compass is a little too narrow to be inserted into the rest of the quilt. I can always add a thin border around with the same material - and then quilt just off the seam to accentuate the border - or not. Or I can make a border of a different material which would really accentuate the center compass. My inclination is to use the same material but I've never done that before. Does that work out OK? And if I do, should I quilt off the seam?
Picture also shows some outside border materials I'm considering. Any thoughts on those?
Thanks.
PS: There will be star appliques on the 'night' section before I'm done - if you can imagine it.
Bonnie

beautiful design

I Would say the top one to bring in the center color...

Yeh. I'm leaning that way.

I personally like the lightest color for both, I'm not sure what else you're asking.

Just an idea for you to consider. What about the darker brown that is in the compass points as a narrow inner border and then the pink/salmon color that is the background for the compass as a wider outer border. I feel that would really frame it out beautifully.

I agree. It's neutral to both sides and does not throw the balance to either the warm or cool side...keeps the visual weight the same.

I love your design. I wouldn't use the teal...it's too far off the color scheme. I like the tan best. Overall I think you're right on!!

really nice! I like the darker brown that you used in the center. Do you have any of that left to make the border?

That sounds lovely and would really bring it together. Anyway, I would try to somehow incorporate the compass background fabric into the border.

For the inner problem I would just bring it up to size with more of the background fabric. I think it breaks up your design too much to add a different color in there.

i like the border and inner border to be the same as the mariner's background

I would go with the border around the compass being either the same the background of the compass or else the light tan, but I'm thinking the darker would be better. Also I would just do echo quilting on the background of the compass and leave the border area plain. Then do whatever you are wanting to do on the rest of it. I think the tan outer border would look best even though I usually prefer a darker border.

Everyone - thank you! I didn't consider using the darker brown as a border for the compass, but I think that would work well. Especially since I have the boat name embroidered with the dark brown color. I love the peach color behind the compass (Actually, I love a lot of the materials I used, especially the paler blues. That's a surprise to me. I usually go for brighter stuff.) So I am going to do the outer border with the peach. I now have a direction and can get back to the machine!
BTW, the boat cushions are in teal and green, which is why I was thinking about the teal border, but I'm ditching that idea! Oh yes, it's a boat, so I'll 'scuttle' that idea.