Does it look ok without the borders being more quilted?
 

I have the coordinating leaves and vines I could use,would have to re-size to fit, but I'm not good enough to be sure I'd get them all lined up perfectly as they are an embroidery pattern which means lots of hooping and moving....
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Thoughts?

If I were quilting it, I would probably do some quilting in the border. You have some beautiful quilting in the blocks and my feeling is that the density of quilting should be uniform throughout the quilt. It's a really pretty quilt.... but, it's your quilt. You get the final say.

Just do FMQ, like a large stipple. I would not try to continue the vines and leaves. I think it would look just fine. Just what I would, if or when I ever do designs.
It is beautiful and the quilting too.

I agree I would quilt the boarders, but it is your quilt and you can do it any way you want. Very cute quilt!!!

It all depends on the batting you've used. Check the package. and it will tell you how far apart the minimum quilting lines should be. remember, that this dimension is in ALL directions, n-s & e-w. Just looking at it looks like there is no quilting at all the length of the quilt. Don't know of any batting that will allow this distance. Also, since this quilt will probably be laundered a lot, you would want to err on the side of more quilting, rather than less. If you haven't already done so, SITD between the white and print, then just sew some straight lines extending the block seams to the edge of the quilt, adding a mid-line if your batting needs it.

I agree. I think I would also do a bit of quilting in the owl blocks with the name. Maybe outline the owls and letters or do the same leaf design in white thread so all you really get is the texture. I would definitely do something in the borders to try to keep continuity in the quilting density throughout the quilt. Additionally your batting may not hold up to having no quilting in the borders. That looks like a pretty long stretch to have with no quilting. You can mix up your own FMQ with digitized embroidery.

Yes I agree. Thee is a large selection of different widths of stencils available for borders. You could use the leaf stencil you used in the quilt and try to stretch it out a little straighter for ising it in the border. Good Luck !!

Another way to think of it is that the borders get the most wear in use. Think about it; you virtually always use the borders when moving a quilt, so they get heavy use. You need to "strengthen" the borders with some kind of quilting so it will stand up to use. But you don't have to pick a style that is difficult for you to do! Straight lines or stippling will work just fine, and they won't compete visually with the the quilting on the rest of the quilt.

It might look unfinished without the borders being quilted, as well as being a little wavy around the sides. I often quilt my borders with a sequence of straight stitching all around. It can be evenly spaced (e.i. 1/2 inch) or unevenly spaced.which is interesting.

Lots of great suggestions and reasons why to quilt the border..

Cute Quilt.... I agree, something simple would be fine..

IF in doubt, I would leave the border un-quilted. The center looks great and that would remain the focal point. I am a beginner so if I don't feel I can make the adjustments just yet then I'm pretty right. I've ruined some things I was attempting. But how do you know until you try. Good luck with whatever you decide. It looks great!

Large loop-d-loops would be cute too.

What a cute quilt!!! Someone is going to be very lucky!

Dina

I had already done SITD between each of the embroidered letter blocks and the borders. Since I'm not a FMQer I'd hate to ruin it at this point with trying something new that I'd end up ripping. I guess I'll try to do some straight rows in between which would make a cross-hatch cornerstone. Thanks for the compliments, they did a lot for my confidence. I just want to get a lot better, and that's an investment of time and practice.

Nancy, That sounds like a great idea. I was thinking cross-hatch too actually. I'm not as good at straight lines so I may have tried a stipple. Thanks for sharing a pic of what the back looks like as it looks great too and I had been wondering how embroidered backs come out. You could try scattering a similar motif along the border and thn FMQ a light stipple or swirl design around each to connect them? Whatever you decide will look great because this is adorable, and I think the lovely print design in this will take front stage. It looks darling! Thanks for sharing!

i looks fine, but does it meet the distance requirement of your batting?