I got myself involved in the pinwheel challenge here and now am perplexed as to what to do for the left and top borders on the quilt. The pieces in the picture are the general idea, not necessarily in the order here. The pinwheels are made from 5" print charm pack and the co-ordinated borders from a solid charm pack. I like the mixed sashing and right side and bottom, but have no idea what to do on the left and top. There are not enough solid charm pieces to match the pinwheels on those places and I really don't want any of the blocks to have the color border on three sides anyway. Help! :-(

I'm not sure if I understand correctly, but if I do and you don't want color on the left side and top, why not use the fabric you used for the background?

Not sure either, but I would use whatever fabric is left, randomly pieced and use it as the border.

can you find a primary multi color for the borderd or is that not allowed in the challenge? I love your colors and the piecing looks perfect. Do you have any scraps left? There is a great free site ...quilterscashe.com/B/Borde.rs that has several ideas you could use for piecing a border. please post picks when our done . It is already beautiful

I think that they are really cool right now. it is like an attic window. and if you use a brown or black for the boarders that would be really cool.

Sorry if I'm not clear. The bottom of the picture is the left side of the quilt. The right side has the mixed colors of the solid material. Can I get away with no left border or a border of the background material? Would this look lopsided?

I like your idea to leave it as it is and just use the background material if you want a border. I don't think it will look lopsided. JMHO

Maybe you can find some coordinating fabrics and piece them together for the left and top.

Looks like it's this challenge:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-96494-1.htm ...doesn't look like are any specific rules, just make a pinwheel quilt.


Those blocks are wonderful. I know you said it was from a 5" charm pack, put how big is the finished block?

(Your picture isn't really clear as to the colors (BG or PW) so I'm not trying to match up exactly):

If those blocks were mine ...I would go straight to a great border....something like this
(which I happen to have sitting right next to me - if you want a strip to try, PM me your address):
http://www.mountainviewquiltshoppe.c...es=0&lastmenu=

or a funky stripe:
http://equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi...16111307504.1f

You know, something with pizazz. (And more of the plain background, I think, will just make it.....meh.)

Maybe the width would be 1/2 the size of the block measurement. You don't want it to overpower the blocks. And I don't think I'd even bother with a smaller inner border.

The other thing I would do is to turn the whole thing around so the matching sashings are to the left and bottom, but I suspect that has more to do with my own anal retentive condition than your layout. ;) :roll: ;) :roll: ;-)

I think it would look great either way!
I would probably use the background material for the left and top border.

Your blocks are similar to the Attic Window Block. Follow this link http://www.quilterscache.com/A/AtticWindowsBlock.html then click on page 2 at the bottom. There are several examples of how these blocks were sashed, or not, and bordered.

Also, if you search this QB for attic windows, and select those in the Picture Section, there are many examples there too.

I really like the 2 sided sashing on your blocks. Your quilt is going to be beautiful! :D

I like the way they lay in your pic, with the different colors forming the other to borders! Looks neat that way! Then you could add an outer border, sashing, or two, to the whole thing.... Nice work too!

oh what lovely blocks! IMHO, I'd use the backgrund fabric or the Great Mountain fabic posted by MTS. It's going to be a gorgeous quilt.

MTS, thank you for your suggestion. The Oodles of Doodles is perfect for the border! The blocks, with the color strips on two sides, are 9 1/2". Each of the blocks are a different color and a lime green and a red one have been added since the picture was taken. The colors in picture are kelly green, bright blue, purple, hot pink, bright yellow and orange.

Thank you, all of you, for your very helpful suggestions!