I have only made one quilt and a few small projects, but I tackled this.. How should I finish it? I am going to try to post pictures and my question is what border should I put on this? Green then rope ---rope then green - either or. The grass fabric is for the back. I thought I would put one of the large horse panels in the middle of the back.
I thought this would be easy, but have changed so many times. It started out I was going to put sashing around each panel with the rope fabric, didn't like that and changed to the green. Now how or should I finish.
This is for my step-son and wife, I want to take to them in Oklahoma when we go in May.
Finally, do you usually stick with your original plan when making a quilt or does it change as you go like this one did.

My plans change all the time. I often get the idea I'm good at this until I start putting things together and then have to adjust the plan to fit my abilities.

I think the rope border followed by the green would look good with what you have so far.

I think green border - then small rope border - then green again

If you do the roping as the first border you will loose the effect of the boxes. I would suggest that you do a border of the green the same width of the spacing between the blocks, the do the roping as a final border. Bind it in the green.

To see if you like what I have suggested, line the green, roping and then green up on one side and see how it looks. That's what I usually do to visualize how it will end up.

I was typing while you were posting.

Love the green border then the roping. Do the darker gold as the binding and the grassy(?) fabric as the backing.

At first I thought the rope would be good, but then when I read this post, I realized she had a point. The green border will finish the box around the squares. Or if you are filling particularly adventureous you can do a a strip with rope where there is green and green where there is a picture...but honestly at this point when I'm making a quilt I just want it done and do it the fastest way.

Of the second and third picture which way do you think? or do you mean just brown and leave out the other two? Never thought of just plain brown, but that's a good idea. Does it matter how many borders you use, don't want to over do it. Tossed this around in my head all night, I need sleep.LOL

agree - green border, then roping. And yes, quilt plans change or are made up as I go.

I love it! Your quilt is gorgeous. I am a boring rule-follower, so I usually make my quilts just like the instructions. I have only gotten really creative with the borders. I plan to try something with my own pattern soon to see what happens. I admire those of you who just make it like you want it. Now to your borders, I would suggest a narrow green border to break up the rope around the horsie blocks, then the rope, and if you have enough fabric, another border of green. You could even bind it with the rope again if you have enough fabric.

Green, then small rope border, finish with the other fabric if you need it for size, binding if not.

Oh yes, like a novel, the characters take off with the plot in quilting too.

I also like the continuity that using the green again on the other side of the rope border brings. They must be horse lovers. It is beautiful!

Your right, I want it done, but also want it to look OK after this much work. I was happy it matched up as good as it did so far, since this is my first attempt outside of a class and no pattern.
I was thinking of putting it together I think I saw it called pillow case. Like sew three sides and flip it, but i like the sounds of binding in green. It may depend on how much time I have which way I do that.

Thank you, yes, they train horses for riding. Thanks for posting.

I agree also think the grassy will be perfect for the back. I'm work on a butterfly quilt have change the strips 3 times. I can't seem to stay with the colors I statr out with on this one. Makes the fabric store happy.

I would use a strong color from the quilt for a narrow border first, then a wider border of your choice, though I do like the rope best. A chestnut color would work as the narrow border, then the rope with green bindiing.

If you don't contain the colors in the quilt, then wherever a quilt color touches the border, the color will visually bleed into the border.

wow! love it .. where did you get the pictures? good luck, you'll figure it out.. let it settle on your mind a little before you decide.
Walk around and look at it from the sides too.. that helps me.

decisions.. not my thing ! hah ! good luck

Most of my quilts are design as you go.

Irishrose, thanks for the tip about the colors bleeding, makes sense, I think that will help a lot.
Chairjogger - the panel fabric came from Goods in Lancaster,PA, love that store. DH picked the green, sometimes he amazes me.

Have you thought about using the rope fabric the other direction so you have short stripes....I love that look. You can piece where need be and it won't even show. I also like the green border so all your blocks looked framed in the green. Cute quilt! They will love it!

I did think about putting the rope the other way, but thought it might loose the look of rope. It would be easier to cut that way and piece too now that you mention it, won't have to line up the rope. I'll try laying it out that way and see how it looks. Thanks

I did think about putting the rope the other way, but thought it might loose the look of rope. It would be easier to cut that way and piece too now that you mention it, won't have to line up the rope. I'll try laying it out that way and see how it looks. Thanks

I generally make them up as i go. If I don't have enough of one print or colour, I throw something else in and when I get some nice surprises with colour combinations I run with it. No one knows what the original plan was so there is no need to be hung up about it. It will be what makes your quilt unique.
I would not introduce the mottled green to the front of your quilt. Keep it to the back if you want to use it is my suggestion and I would keep the rope and green to the front.
It is looking like there will be large areas to show off some nice quilting and feathers.

It depends on how solid the plan was in the first place, whether or not I change it. I always sketch up a design of what I want for *this* quilt...I like the comparison of finished project vs the planned one. Sometimes they're the same, sometimes they're radically different! lol

For yours, which is beautiful (!), I like the rope border then the green one. Great job!

I agree with Donnajean. :thumbup:

I would go with a thin green, the rope and then the green again. It looks great so far.

What you've done is beautiful. I'd probably add a green border to keep a nice amount going all the way around each panel, then add the rope border.

Lisa

I would have to agree, rope then green!

TreeFrog

I like the rope then green as shown in the 2nd photo. Very nice!!

I agree

Think I would do a small green with a small rope and then a final green. Be sure and send us a picture when it is done.

Green, then rope. Your grass will look fabulous on the back.

Love your quilt = I like the look of green then rope, I might stop there, and again if you need it bigger you could go with the green again after the rope

Love your quilt = I like the look of green then rope, I might stop there, and again if you need it bigger you could go with the green again after the rope

Oops posted twice

Rope as the final border, I don't think I would put another green border as there is already alot around the horse blocks. Very nice job so far.

I like what Peg is suggesting, green then roping, then green. Binding could be several different choices. I like to audition by laying out the fabric first. Sometimes taking pictures helps us see the project with a different eyes.

Pam M

I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHEN I OPENED THIS THREAD AND SAW THE PICTURE. I AM MAKING A QUILT WITH HORSES NOT THE SAME ONE BUT VERY SIMMILAR COLORS AND HAVE THE SAME GREEN SASHING AND AM IN A BIND OF WHAT TO BORDER WITH ALSO. WHAT A HOOT. SO I WILL KEEP READING YOURS. LOLOLOL
P.S. SEND A PICTURE OF THE FINISHED QUILT SO IT WILL GIVE ME A CLUE WHAT TO DO.

I HAVE A 2 INCH BORDER OF A DARKER GREEN RIGHT NOW AS MY FIRST BORDER AND WAS THINKG OF DOING A DARK BROWN TINY ONE BEFORE I DO THE FINAL BORDER BUT CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO THE FINAL BORDER IN. CAN'T BELIEVE HOW SIMILAR OUR HORSE FABRICS ARE.

I HAVE A 2 INCH BORDER OF A DARKER GREEN RIGHT NOW AS MY FIRST BORDER AND WAS THINKG OF DOING A DARK BROWN TINY ONE BEFORE I DO THE FINAL BORDER BUT CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO THE FINAL BORDER IN. CAN'T BELIEVE HOW SIMILAR OUR HORSE FABRICS ARE.

You've done terrific work so far - very nice quilt. I agree with those who say green and then rope, bind in green. But then, whatever you do will be great. My quilt ideas change depending on fabric chosen, size, whatever.

Yes. I agree.

If it were mine, I would preview a narrow 3/4 to 1-1/2"darker brown first border with 3-4" of the green grassy print on the outside, then bind it with the rope print cut on the bias. I'd love to see a pic of that :)