Do I Have to Quilt the Border?
 

I need a quick round of advice from veteran quilters. I'm making a quilt, due Thursday (my own deadline) for my best friend starting chemo Friday. As I type, I am about to make a design decision but not without first checking with you guys.

My initial design plan included an inner 2" border and outer border 2.5"

Facts in case it matters in your counsel:

a) pattern is Warm Wishes
b) size is large throw, flannel back
c) inner border, teal colored, is finished at 1.75
d) outer border, gold, is cut to almost 3
binding is a floral print that incorporated teal, gold, pinks, whites
e) My basting job being what it was, I asked my friend to only quilt up to the outer edge of inner border in case i had to cut it to make it look right.
f) She did a great job doing exactly that.

g) But she rebasted it first, bless her heart (she's not a pro LA, either, just did this out of the kindness of her heart) and now I can make it my original size

BUT

it won't be quilted on the border, at least not matching her quilting style

OR

I can cut the border and make it a finished 1" (gold)

AND it won't be quilted.

Does it matter if the outer border is unquilted? What would be the result of having a 2.5" unquilted border? Or an unquilted 1"?

I'm not experienced enough at all this to know.

Thanks for your feedback. I want to make a decision within the next half hour.

I think you'd be fine leaving that 2.5" border unquilted. Most battings can handle much more unquilted space. You might want to stitch in the ditch between the outer and inner border, or you could also do a wavy line (or two!) straight down the borders (with a walking foot if you have it).

My thoughts are the same as Linda: you would be fine not quilting the border. But I would SID around both borders. The only other factor I can think of is if you are using a high loft batting, the borders will be more puffy without quilting, but that may be just fine. Probably only you would notice.

So you favor the outer border being wider, not narrower, than the inner, as I had originally planned?

I'm not sure exactly what the batting is, but it's Warm & Natural and is seems like medium loft to me.

I think Linda has a great idea. Just stitch a wavy line or two and then the binding. Your friend is going to love it whatever you decide. Warm and Natural isn't a very high loft batting, it is my favorite batting.
Sue

Thanks, everyone, for your input. I feel good knowing I can retain my original design concept without messing anything up longterm.

I'm in agreement here. I think you're fine not quilting but I would do at least SITD between those two borders.

I have never quilted my borders, I just do SITD. As I'm gaining confidence in FMQ, I'm starting to think about quilting the borders, but so far, 30+ quilts and zero quilting in the borders. :)

As long as your batting distance is fine with your quilting lines, you're totally good to go.