I need help deciding if it's ok to use another material to frame my blocks of butterflies. I started my framing with a mint green and ran out near the end. I need to frame at least five more blocks. I can't find any more of the mint so I found this print that was as close as I could get. My question is do you think I could put this around the middle block and on the four corners and make it look ok. This is my first quilt. I also wonder if I should quilt as I go using material that matches each butterfly as backing or should I send it out to be quilted?

I think the green print would add that special zing that u need

As long as the ones with the print border are evenly dispersed, I think it will look just fine.

I would probably go with a coordinating color for every other butterfly. Maybe a light yellow? So it would alternate yellow, green, yellow green, yellow.

I like the idea of using a contrasting color and placing it alternately. As to quilting as you go, I've not done that yet, but seems like a great idea. It would so much easier to quilt those lovely butterflies that way. Go for it!

I think it would look great if you scattered the odd borders randomly throughout your quilt.

Those are Really Cute Butterflies !!
Alternate block color, and quilt as you go.
Congrats... Thats a Great First ! :)

Try not to match the color. the idea of finding a coordinating fabric and alternating each block would look great and add one other dimension to an already great look you have. Save the new green for another project.

I'm a big fan of use what you've got. If you've got enough of that green fabric, USE it. I'm not a fan of buying fabric in circumstances like this. Pull from your stash and make it work, is my motto!

If you have an alternate color that would coordinate, go with that. But if you don't, I think using the second green in the way you describe would look intentional, and not like you just ran out of fabric partway through.

I too am a fan of using what you've got.

If you have a darker green, I think that would put a zip to it. Love the butterflies.

Awesome butterflies! Your curves are beautiful.

There are some rich colors in the center butterfly that don't appear elsewhere in the quilt. Do you have anything in the stash that would highlight those colors and make the whole quilt pop?

Pink (an appropriate shade, of course) might be nice, since you already have green. I like to use complimentary colors on the color wheel whenever I can.

That's a good idea. It will look like you planned it that way

As the others have said, use the print on half the blocks and then alternate them.

I like the idea of alternating the print border blocks with the solid border blocks.

Your butterflies are beautiful! One additional suggestion for you to take it or leave it...on the butterfly with the very pale background print, how about going over the outline of the wings with a darker thread to keep it from almost disappearing into the fabric it is appliqued to.

I agree, I think if you frame the remaining 5 in this new fabric and disperse them evenly it will look as though you intended it to be that way.

I think your idea will work out fine and it will look like that was your original plan. These little things teach us to improvise on our quilts and lots of times the unplanned things give a quilt that little "extra" that makes it special.

I like the idea of alternating borders on the blocks. That would be so pretty. IMHO

You did a beautiful job on the butterflies!
Here's my 2 cents: Since you already have the borders on the light green, keep this, put the new green as a border on the center butterfly, and also as a border around the whole top. Personally, I'm a fan of saving a step and using what you have!

Thank all of you for your ideas. I went back and found that I needed 10 more blocks so that I could center the block with the black. I only have one of them. I intend to stitch around each butterfly with black thread to make it pop ----I hope.I was thinking of quilting it with the pattern with black thread. In other words outlining each butterfly with black as a quilting design. I intend to use the colors of green that I have and then since this will be a king size, put a border around it. Since I have left overs of each color butterfly, do you think a border of blocks of each one like strips would work? The colors don't stand out much in the picture, but they are bright.

I had 23 blocks with the light green border but will only use 22 of them and the rest the darker green, 30 blocks in all. Sorry I didn't make myself plain before.

I think that would work out great.

I would use coordinating colors. Butterflies are beautiful. Hope to see picture of the finished quilt!

Hi I love what you are doing, including the new boarder for the center blk, But I noticed, and I am not critisizing SP?? you on it, It is just - the blk left of the center is so pale I can't disstinguish it from the back ground. I was wondering about useing a darker thread to outline it, if not black then a darker thread that is in the blk it self, to help it to stand out. Forgive me for entruding . Theresse

Theresse you're not intruding. I intend to use black thread to outline the butterflies. I didn't realize that the light ones would get lost against the white back ground, It looked good when I started it, but it sort of faded into the background when I did the block. Thanks for your comments, always welcome. That's why I asked for opinions.

ANY ONE OF SUGGESTIONS WOULD WORK, IF IT PLEASES YOUR EYE, THEN IT IS GOOD.

THATS WHAT MY SISTER ALWAYS SAID.

I think the center and corners would an excellent choice and will look great.

I agree, that if they are evenly dispersed, it would look nice too.,
Hancocks of Paducah, has a seafoam green that you might like.

My first response is, it's your quilt and there are no rules. You can do it how you like. But I understand how you might be uncertain as to what is the best thing to do.

I had this same problem once, and I put a different fabric around the outside of all the blocks, and used the other fabric on the interior sashings (if that makes sense).

Here's a picture if it helps. I used the floral on the interior blocks and the solid around the outside. Don't know if that helps with your quilt, but your fabrics and blocks are lovely. It'll work out beautifully regardless of what you decide to do.

I actually think that black or whatever color your butterfly bodies are made of, would pop the color.

Wow! Your quilt is really lovely. It moves the eye across the field so nicely that I just want to soak it all in. Good job.

Your butterflies are beaut. but for my eye, the dark one looks out of place. Maybe consider using a softer one & save the dark one for another project. Maybe a pillow top or a wallhanging.

I think it would look really nice wi the green print/

I wouldnot use that green since your quilt blocks are mint and that is a yellow green, you would be better to use a contrast and it will add some emphasis and make it look deliberate especially if you develop some type of pattern to the way you set the blocks. :D

I agree too that if you scatter the borders all around they should be fine this way.
Let us know what you decide ok ay?

I think you made a good choice on the alternate fabric and the placement you chose would work out well. I would not send it out to be quilted but try something on your own. You did a great job so far why not give it the finishing touches yourself.

I would alternate a darker mediium tone and that white one gets lost so I would probably go around the outline with a med. or darker gray. You might add another color to the wings be it embroidered or some beads. That block is way too plain. Look thru your embellishments and jazz it up a little. You could do that with all the blocks on the wings. Just a thought. I do like the butterfly design.

Thanks for all your help. I wasn't satisfied with the butterflies, I think the fabrics are too much alike, but it's what I had. Anyway I found some scrap material with butterflies in it. I cut them out and placed them on the left corners of the blocks. I've changed my mind so many times on how to set them together, that I'm not sure at this point how I'm going to do it. I know the black one is way to dark for the rest of them, but it was my favorite material of all, so that's how it got there. All of this was made from material that I already had, except for the white. I thought I'd try this before I start something with really nice material and a special pattern. I can't begin to tell all of you how much it means to have your tasteful eye watching out for me. Again thanks

I think it would add even more interest to your quilt. Great butterflies.