A designing question about quilt borders
 

I have been designing my own quilts for a short time now. As I design I make the decision concerning border widths, as well as whether there will be more than one - say a narrower inner border, in addition to a wider border.

The problem is that as I make the quilt, I sometimes have to change my widths because my original idea doesn't look 'quite right'.

Is there a formula for calculating how wide borders should be in relationship to the size of the middle section? I think I read somewhere that there was, but can't remember where I read it nor what the article said.

Of course, I know that formulas rules are broken per the designers desire, but think it would be helpful to have a starting point.

Thanks in advance.

I too design as I go along. So far, it's just a matter of how it looks to my eye ... if it's balanced, etc. If there's a formula, I've never heard of it.

My thought exactly. I start with a cut that's in the quilt, if I had a lot of 21/2 inch cuts I look at that first. Typicaly my borders graduate in size 2-4-6 or something similar. That's just where I start I change it up a lot sometimes the fabric pattern is more of a consideration than the blocks in the top.

I agree with HillCountryGal. There is no formula. I have bee quilting for over 25 years, so when I have what I consider a balance border, I keep a remnant from the border and keep it for further reference. My border in my avatar was NOT what was included in the published design. It was of my own making.

What you can do is to place the quilt on the design wall and audition the widths and color placement that you think will look pleasant. I take a photo of each one to remember the placement. Usually one will click and I then go with that one. I had a difficult time selecting the color for this Bargello. I actually changed my mind after I had sewn most of the strips. So the border was even more difficult to decided. Just thought I would post this picture so you can see what I did to audition the border. This was also an original Bargello design I made for a special friend.

If the borders aren't pieced, I usually finish the center, then just lay it on my chosen fabrics to audition. You can move the fabrics back and forth to see how a wider/narrower strip will work, then decide. If you get one you like, write down the dimensions and take a photo before you try again.

I have made quilts without borders...And as I lean towards making my own designs and more modern approach to quilting, I find myself rethinking borders - Do I really need them? Does the border enhance the quilt or does it distract from the focus? Just a few thoughts...

One basic rule of thumb that often works is to use a multiple of the block width. So if the block is 8", you could have a 1" or 2" inner border, followed by a 4" outer border. A 12" block would offer a 1", 2" or 3" inner border and a 4" or 6" outer border. Bottom line, if things look proportional, you're probably good to go.

This also works for me.

I have learned to RESERVE fabrics for a border - but NOT to cut them until I am ready for them!

Recommendations often are the border widths should divide into the block size...12" blocks can *handle* borders that are 2", 3", 4", and 6" wide and look balanced... Borders that do not {go into} the center components tend to look ~unbalanced~

There is actually a formula. this blog post explains it http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/golden-...-moden-designs