Do I have to quilt the border?
 

I am through quilting in the ditch the quilt blocks. Now I have the border to think of.

Is it necessary to quilt it or can I just bind it?

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If your batting requirements state every 4" (or every 2" or every 10" or whatever) that means in all directions. so yes, even if your border is only a few inches wide, you still need to put some quilting in your border that satisfies the minimum quilting distance your batting specifies. It will not only look better but it will keep your batting from shifting into unsightly lumps along the borders.

It is necessary to quilt the border, otherwise the batting will separate, ball up, leave areas with no batting and areas with balls of batting. The amount of quilting depends on the batting being used. Some need to be quilted every 2"-4" others allow up to 10" between quilting lines. It is important to follow at least the minimum to keep the batting from falling apart with use/ laundering. The quilting distance means in all directions there should be lines of quilting.

feline fanatic is correct. You don't want the batting to shift. Since it seems that you don't want to FMQ, then mark with tape a 30 degree angle and then got back zig zag a straight line down you border. Love your fabric selection!

Thank you for the lightening fast reply! :hug::hug::hug:

I used Warm and Natural for the border. Thanks for the 30 degree angle idea. I also might give FMQ a try. I've been practicing, so I just need to get my feet wet. The quilt is for a grandaughter and she won't care about the goofs and hopefully, the pattern will be forgiving.

What color thread should I use?

Another reason to quilt the border with the same density of quilting as the main body of the quilt - it will lay better -

I really like your colors. The border is really, really nice.

I do FMQ but by the time I get to the borders, it seems I kind of "run out of steam". So if I have a floral or patterned border like yours are, I like to just out line some of the designs. Doesn't take a lot of planning or marking and it doesn't have to be exact since the stitching won't show much on the fabric design. On yours you could use an off white or about any neutral color thread.

Thank you, barny! My 8 year old grandaughter said her favorite colors were pink, black and white, so that's what she gets! And she is in gymnastics, so I threw in some poses for her.

Suern3, I like your expression, "run out of steam". My main issue is I've got two more quilts in the queue and I'm anxious to start the next one! But I will finish my grandaughter's well, first. lol

Stay tuned for more questions on my next quilt! :D

You can do simple straight line quilting in the border. One or two lines of straight stitch all the way around your quilt, 1-2" apart. I frequently do this especially if the other quilting is geometric SID.