Do borders and bindings need to match?
 

I am making a quilt and did not buy enough fabric for the binding! Do the borders and bindings need to match? What about the backing? I usually have borders, bindings and backing match. What are the rules or recommendations for a lap quilt?

mine never match. I think of them as accent.

I usually pick some colors in the fabric and go with that. They don't necessarily have to match.

No rmules. Do what lends itself to the quilt and fabric.

there are NO RULES! you can make it any way you want- and if you 'browse' the pictures catagory here you will find many many pictures of quilts with bindings totally different than borders- and backs a whole different quilt---you can do it any way you like-it's your project! if we all made them alike what would be the point?

Mine never match, enjoy using accent colors :)

Sometimes the coolest quilt comes from fabric shortage. I like the mental challenge.

Sometimes my binding match and sometimes they coordinate. A quilting buddy of mine likes to use striped fabric (on the bias) for her binding.....just depends on the quilt.

As far as backings, I love to piece things together for my back. If I have leftover fabrics or blocks, they get incorporated into the back. Makes the back interesting! :)

Mine never match. I look for a pattern that brings out something I want to highlight in the blocks and make continuous bias binding. I may make an exception for my Dear Jane only because it's so busy and I don't want eyes drawn to the binding.

for me, the binding is the last border or frame to the pieced top.....sometimes it will match the last border, sometimes it will match the backing....sometimes it matches nothing....just depends on what fabric is available and the look I am trying to achieve....sometimes it is a many colored thing with WOF strips from several different fabrics!

Mine seldom match. I NEVER buy enough fabric so I use what I have to compensate, or go to my LQS and go through their remnants for something suitable. Remember Rule #1: There are NO RULES!!!

I've only made one quilt with a matching binding and I honestly like a contrasting one better.

Same here.

When you say match I'm assuming you mean the same fabric. I don't think they have to match but I do think they need to compliment each other. I've used a fabric from the quilt for the binding or sometimes something that's kind of unassuming (meaning it's not really noticeable but let's the other fabrics shine). Also if you've used a lot of fabrics sometimes the combination of all fabrics looks really good for the binding.

no rules...most of the time mine don't match...I like the contrast of a different binding than border!

Does not have to match. I just do what ever I like.

No rules. I like to take leftovers from fabrics I used in the quilt and piece my binding together. :-)

When you want the binding to blend in, make it match. If you are looking for the opposite or a border to stand out from the border, bring out a color or even better use all the colors of the quilt. This is a great way to use up the extra fabric too.

This is what I do, especially with scrap quilts.

I need them to at least coordinate. IMHO I think you can ruin a quilt if it's too random. The colors, I believe should at least go together.

NOPE...in fact I think a different color/fabric help ADD to the creative element!

IMHO matching binding is BORING! Of course I have been accused of being a Hawaiin punch can quilter! I rarelty match my binding, and lately I have been using all my left over fabric from the project to make a scrappy backing. I got tired of trying to center the seams, so I put them any which way. Most people that comment are positive about the backs.

They don't have to match. Sometimes my borders and binding are the same and sometimes they aren't. Do what you like best.

No. I love to piece my bindings with the leftover fabric. I have starting piecing just about all my backs. Piecing the backs is almost like having a reversible quilt. It takes a little more time, but is so much more interesting and it can sure use up some scraps.

It's like with clothes; they don't need to match just go together. It's your quilt and if you like it then it's ok. Some people piece their borders and bindings to accent their quilts. Backing is on the back so who cares if it's different or not. Make it reversible.

Some of the most attractive bindings are a contrast. I love the look of a striped fabric for he binding.

I never match my binding. As a matter of fact lately I have been using my left over fabric to piece the binding together, the end result is gorgeous!!!!

I intentionally use a different fabric for all my bindings. It is kind of my favorite part of the whole thing. That little accent that makes it really special to me.

There are no set in stone rules. Use what looks good to you.

Me too, I just LOVE striped bindings !!!

My favorite bindings are scrappy. I like to use fabrics from the quilt - anything over 12" long gets included. I agree with the person that said the binding is the final border. Mine are generally contrasting to make a statement. I try to make them work with the front and the back. The back might be anything. I tend to like flannel for throw size. So, it definitely does NOT match. I am too frugal to spend all the money it would cost for it to match!

YOU are a creative designer, and of course you planned to have them not match :)

So far, mine have never ever matched, co-ordinate yes, but match as in being the same fabric, no.

This is a great look and you can use the pieces left over from cutting the quilt.

Thank you for all the wonderful opinions. I will not be matching the border since I do not have enough fabric. But now I feel better about it with the blessings of so many talented quilters. I'll be looking for a coordinating fabric.

the only rule in Quilting is - It is YOUR quilt, do it YOUR way. However, my favorite binding is scrappy -all the pieces left over from other bindings.

I use bits and pieces left from the quilt to make bindings it really looks neat that way. There aren't any rules but
your own.

Think of the border and binding as matting and frame, then start looking at pictures. You will see that they are "framing" the picture and are accents to punctuate the picture. Same thing for a quilt. You want the border and binding to be the "frame" to bring attention to your quilt. Backing doesn't have to "match" either. Remember there are no rules here, this is your artwork and you can do as you please.

No, they don't have to match. In fact, I sometimes use up some of the fabrics from the quilts in the binding , so even the binding is not one color. I've made quilts where the borders are pieced and are not the same from one side to the next. You probably don't want a "formal" quilt to all of a sudden have really funky borders and binding, but with a little bit of planning, it can work out wonderfully!

Mine don't match, might use a border fabric for the binding too but not always