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judylg 06-12-2012 04:14 AM

Do you like a square quilt? I might change..to rectangle...need advice
 
I have a quilt nearly finished, only have the borders to add. I look at the quilt laying on the floor and wonder if I should add something to make it into a rectangle shape, it would have to be added on the top and bottom and then I would add final border. I wonder has anyone done that? I have it in two colors, which I like. It is a redwork with 9 blocks, triple sashing and nine patch (background of redwork blocks-off white and red fabrics). Not sure what I could add to it to add length and yet fit in. As I say the square just does not appeal to me, but may leave it if too much work. I hope my explanation is ok.

gollytwo 06-12-2012 04:17 AM

I sometimes, like you, wind up with a square quilt - and I leave it that way
A good friend always makes her quilts square. She says being able to switch around 4 ways saves wear and tear on the binding.

judylg 06-12-2012 04:38 AM

That may very well be how this ends up, just thought 60 square is an odd size. I am doubting very much because of the redwork that this quilt will get used that much, if not it is not much good is it? Looks good though.

lfletcher 06-12-2012 04:46 AM

I too prefer a rectangle quilt over a square one, but some patterns just work better square so I leave them. Square is good for a wall hanging. You could add wider borders to the top and bottom than the ones on the side. I think if they are the same fabric, it would probably look good.

joyce888 06-12-2012 04:48 AM

Without seeing the quilt it's a little hard to advise JMHO.

paulswalia 06-12-2012 04:50 AM

I may be round, but I'm not square! That being said, I feel a rectangular quilt suits my uses better than a square one, unless I had planned to use the square as a table topper or a wall hanging. I have added borders to top and bottom, sometimes a pieced section that mimics the design in the square as a way of making a square into a rectangle.

reginalovesfabric 06-12-2012 04:53 AM

I like a rectangular quilt and don't like my quilts to be square.

PaperPrincess 06-12-2012 05:02 AM

My bed quilts are rectangular, but all my throws usually are square, but it depends on the pattern.

ghostrider 06-12-2012 05:03 AM

Afraid I can't help you much, I only make square quilts. Besides the fact that I prefer designing within squares, I find the shape is much more adaptable than a rectangle and looks more like art than like a bed linen.

Squares make perfect wall quilts, no matter what the size, so all mine have a handing sleeve. Squares are also perfect for both queen and king size beds, as well as couch quilts and toddler quilts. Your 60" square redwork would look beautiful as a 'topper' on a queen sized bed, providing warmth for either a cozy nap or a full night's sleep.

BKrenning 06-12-2012 05:29 AM

I do it both ways. It depends on the design and the size of the bed the quilt is intended for. I have added a neutral inner border to top & bottom and I have just added another single border line at the top. Often, I will just make the first inner border on the top & bottom wider than the sides to "float" the design.

Scissor Queen 06-12-2012 05:56 AM

One way to make it rectangular and look like it was supposed to be that way is to add a redwork border to the top or to the the top and bottom.

May in Jersey 06-12-2012 06:00 AM

I like rectangular quilts as people who use them are usually longer than they are wide.
Simplist way is to make the top and bottom borders wider than the side borders.

Another technique is to 1) add the inner border, 2) make a checkerboard strip from 2 fabrics in the quilt, 3) add the checkerboard strip to the top and bottom, and 4) add the outside border.

117becca 06-12-2012 06:02 AM

Of course you can change it. I am another one who has only made rectangular quilts..

quiltsRfun 06-12-2012 06:04 AM

I've made a square into a rectangle by adding fancy borders to the top and bottom. I prefer rectangles.

ljptexas 06-12-2012 06:10 AM

I have found the old quilts are too square. They barely fit a full size mattress & queen or king, forget it. I'm making star blocks for oldest GS (graduates in 3 yrs) (good thing I got started early 'cause his brother & oldest GD the next yr, then another GD yr after, another GD 2 yrs later, another GD 2 yrs later & finally baby GD 2 yrs later). Just hope the Good Lord gives me continued health & no visits from Arthur. Anyway, am making oldest GS's very long & wider (than a twin) cause he's already 6'2", not even 16. My Mom has hand stitched blocks & is working on 15th of 16 14" ones now. When I use them I'll make it longer & future ones.

judylg 06-12-2012 06:12 AM

Hm..lots to think about, I am going to try and take a picture later and post it, hoping to anyways. Your suggestions all deserve merit and consideration.

elizajo 06-12-2012 06:28 AM

I like square quilts on queen sized beds for design and function. As someone said, you can rotate to minimize wear and tear on the edges. I don't like to use quilts to cover the pillow, so that makes a square more useful.

CoyoteQuilts 06-12-2012 06:29 AM

Best way to add length is to add blocks not borders. I know you didn't want to hear that :)... I love square quilts for babies, but rectangle for all else.

dunster 06-12-2012 07:07 AM

For bed quilts, the size should take into account the size of the bed, the depth of the mattress, whether there is a footboard, whether the user wants a pillow tuck... For king or queen, this usually means a quilt that is close to square, or even wider than it is long. For a twin or bunk bed, rectangular is better. A full bed could go either way. For a throw that I snuggle with on the couch, I prefer square. So... I guess my preference is with a square quilt. Most quilt designs work out better with a square too.

Annaquilts 06-12-2012 07:13 AM

I always make large bed quilts, king, queen and double square. Generally I make lap quilts and most baby quilts rectangular with the exception of baby floor quilts or quilts to cary babies in. (kind of like recieving blankets) I also prefer utility quilts for in the car, park or on the beach a large square like 65x65. I think it sound like your quilt does not look complete to you eventhough it is done. I have added strips to the top and bottom of quilts in order to achieve the size I wanted, like for extra long twin bed quilts, but never just for the look of it. To me it generally takes away from the look.

romanojg 06-12-2012 08:07 AM

That would depend on the bed it was going on. My full size and my twins are longer that wide. The full sits so high up that it can take more of a drape over the side than the twin. Now my king, that's a different story. It's actually more square that long. I have a problem even when buying for king to get it to drape over the sides far enough; no problem at the end. Since I don't have a footboard I'd like it to drape down past my boxsprings and I can't get on to do that. If you like it square leave it alone or change it as needed.I did make a twin size one that is meant to be more of a throw for my son and after looking at it decided it needed to be longer since he's over 6ft.

LadyElisabeth 06-12-2012 08:10 AM

I like rectangular however, some patterns just look better square

DawnFurlong 06-12-2012 09:15 AM

I like mine rectangular (though I don't mind square on baby quilts). When making a quilt for a bed, I normally measure the mattress plus whatever amount I want for the drop (allowing a little extra for shrinkage). Then I adjust my pattern accordingly. This usually means I am adding blocks one way or the other (or both). This way my quilt fits the bed the way I like it to fit! :o Actually, thinking a bit more on this - I don't mind a square quilt - so long as it fits my bed the way I want it to fit. But generally - my quilt will be rectangular.

I like the other ideas given for making a square quilt rectangular. Sometimes I am so close to the size I want (I prefer my quilt to be a little long rather than come up short) - but I would rather not have to add another entire row (and sometimes adding that row would throw off the balance of the pattern - so I would then need to add a horizontal and vertical row). I'll have to refer back to this thread for alternative ideas when I am just inches away.

GrannieAnnie 06-12-2012 10:53 AM

the quilts that we make for our church raffle are always square---well they're supposed to be. Just easier to offer a king sized quilt so it suits everyone.

Personal sized quilts I make at 72" long or better and as close to 50" wide as I can.

Baby quilts I keep at around 45" x 50"

Tweety2911 06-12-2012 11:26 AM

I too, prefer rectangle quilts and when they are your size I prefer to make them rectangle so they fit better whether a lap quilt, single or double bed size.

kristakz 06-12-2012 11:46 AM

1 Attachment(s)
I did this recently- this quilt was a square, and I added the top & bottom borders to make it rectangular instead. I wish I could see your quilt so I could offer suggestions. Suffice to say, if you don't like it, find a way to change it so you do. It's definitely worth the extra effort in my opinion.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]341630[/ATTACH]

DawnFurlong 06-12-2012 12:14 PM

Love your quilt Krista! Those colors are so vibrant and really pop!

spokanequilter 06-12-2012 12:35 PM

Depends on how you're going to use it.... For snuggling up under a quilt to read to watch TV, rectangular works best. But I do make square quilts and use them for wall hangings or as bed toppers over my bedspread.

May in Jersey 06-12-2012 01:07 PM

1 Attachment(s)

Originally Posted by May in Jersey (Post 5283445)
I like rectangular quilts as people who use them are usually longer than they are wide.
Simplist way is to make the top and bottom borders wider than the side borders.

Another technique is to 1) add the inner border, 2) make a checkerboard strip from 2 fabrics in the quilt, 3) add the checkerboard strip to the top and bottom, and 4) add the outside border.

Here's a photo of the 2nd technique to make a square quilt longer. [ATTACH=CONFIG]341646[/ATTACH]

judylg 06-12-2012 05:43 PM

After thinking about this and I have, might just leave it square. Unless something pops into my head that I think would look good. Sometimes I spend too much time thinking what I should do, without actually doing it. Thanks so very much for your suggestions.

hopetoquilt 06-12-2012 06:12 PM

I love square quilts. There is no absolute rule as to which is better though.

deneldacoop 06-12-2012 06:38 PM

Why not add another row of blocks. Then you can have even borders all the way around.
Dena

Christine George 06-12-2012 11:38 PM

The quilt pictured in my avatar is square. It's on my bed right now. And for that reason I now know that I like them rectangular. And here's another quirky thing....I put the rectangular ones on my bed crossways. I know, sounds funny. The square ones always want to slide down off the end of the bed and I'm constantly trying to cover myself in the middle of the night. If I put a rectangular one on crossways I don't have that problem. There's no weight hanging off the foot of the bed.

Pat625 06-13-2012 02:17 AM

It depends on where the quilt will be used...

judylg 06-13-2012 04:16 AM

[QUOTE=Christine George;5285276]The quilt pictured in my avatar is square. It's on my bed right now. And for that reason I now know that I like them rectangular. And here's another quirky thing....I put the rectangular ones on my bed crossways. I know, sounds funny. The square ones always want to slide down off the end of the bed and I'm constantly trying to cover myself in the middle of the night. If I put a rectangular one on crossways I don't have that problem. There's no weight hanging off the foot of the bed.[/QUOT

I know if this one was on the bed it could only go one way, with the redwork pictures they have to be up and down and the top has to be at the top, it is barns.
I like your border there.

coopah 06-13-2012 04:30 AM

All my quilts turn into rectangles so they can be used on a bed. Square ones just don't cut it! :D :D :D

jeanneb52 06-13-2012 04:35 AM

I much prefer rectangular and will add borders or blocks to make it so...

rj.neihart 06-13-2012 04:41 AM

Personally, I do both..depends on the quilt design. Sometimes it needs the "square" look. I always make them large enough to hang over about a foot or two, so when one gets into bed, the body is still covered. Sometimes I make one large enough to fold over pillows, other times the quilt is just flat and doesn't cover the pillows. It's all in a mood thing for me - they always turn out very nice.

quiltmom04 06-13-2012 06:41 AM

Depends what it's for. A square lap quilt is sometimes too wide and not long enough. I make a square for my bed so there's enough hanging over the side . I wouldn't make it a rectangle - or a square - just because you think it should be, unless it enhances the over all design. That is, I wouldn't make a square quilt into a rectangle, if the square functions for what you need, unless changing it to a rectangle would make it better.

nancyw 06-13-2012 07:11 AM

How about adding a row of 9 or 6 or 4 patches to both ends. I am getting so tired of square quilts!!!!


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