Need Help to add border
 

OK, you have all seen this top before but I am on a mission to finish some UFOs. I hope you don't mind a repeat posting but I want to add a border to enlarge this quilt ( it is now about 54 X 50) and would like it to be at least another foot or so bigger. I have been trying for a couple of weeks to think of something to add but cannot come up with anything. I know someone will come up with the perfect border. Keep in mind that I am a mindless quilter. I start quilts with no thought as to how much fabric I have or what size the quilt will be. I am also trying not to buy fabric - need to use up what I have around and there is a lot of it. The cat I took off of another quilt I am working on (used a different cat for that one) so threw him in the mix as well. Should I take him out? He is deciding what to do about that really long legged crow!!! LOL Any suggestions welcome and apologies for a second posting of this top.


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Whatever color you choose, I would put it n with a small flange to frame the quilt you already have. It is so pretty, whatever you do, it will look great.

Could you do a border that mirrors the inside border? I think that would look great. I also would not eliminate the cat - he adds whimsy.

That's really cute!

Yes keep the cat.

Im thinking what if you did both of the above a small flange like your current one and the mirror image of your current border minus the cat tail :-).

Really cute quilt.

What a nice quilt it will be. Love the cat, so please leave it. I think I would add a framing of multi colors to match the framing around the middle section & then maybe flying geese all the way around it with the same colors in the quilt. Then bind it with the same framing strips as the middle. I love your quilt.

Definitely the cat should stay! :)

My vision would see you just enhancing the the stars and flowers that are in what is currently your outside border. Let each extend a little further along the sides/top/bottom, leaving the top left and bottom right still as open space.

I like this idea as well, would you add a narrow border same as inside border and then another wide border with the same flowers and stars as border already there?

I knew you guys would come up with some good ideas. You are the best!

My thoughts were no ... just continue that spray of flowers and stars.
To me adding another border would just chop it up, whereas without it would just look more natural with the flowers spilling across and up, kind of like a flower garden and the stars like in the night sky. Then in the rest of the plain area, you could do some neat quilting motifs to enhance the overall atmosphere the quilt is creating.

At least that is what I see ... take all our ideas ... and let them percolate in your midn for awhile before you decide! And see if you come up with something totally different!! :)

I would do another border like the inside border and then add a spray another section of the tan fabric and put some more star blocks but this time on the left and bottom left of the quilt. I think that would balance it out more and give you the larger size you are looking for.

This is exactly what I was thinking.

You made me laugh! Your "long legged cow" is not a cow... it's a sheep, thus the skinny legs! lol I agree, keep the cat but maybe give him something like a branch to sit on? I love all the border ideas posted. I especially like the idea of the flying geese for a final border. Nice job.

.............. though it was a long legged cRow that she referenced! :)

nice quilt.....

LOL, there is a crow (long legged thing and a sheep - fat thing that is smaller than the crow) and then the huge cat! I am still laughing....... I needed a good laugh today. It is a whimsical (or maybe just a crazy) quilt after all. Maybe I should add a cow somewhere. LOL

Thanks everyone for your input - like all the ideas so far. Looking through my fabric now to see what I can do.

oh it's lovely. don't remove the cat and the crow is very cute. depending on how large you need it to be, you could add a purple or blue border and then even a red one if necessary. It's a cute quilt, no matter what else you do.

Please don't make Mr. Kitty homeless... :)

I, too, like the idea of flying geese border.

Anita

I know you want it bigger but I think it's perfect the way it is.

I like the asymmetry you have going on, so anything added, I would work on keeping it balanced, but still asymmetrical. I guess for me it would depend on what fabrics I had to work with. I could see adding 2 side borders of pieced blocks in similar colors. Or if you have more backing fabric, you could add some new applique.

Very fun quilt.

RST

Nice quilt but please leave the cat lol

Beautiful quilt. I like the idea of a small framing border before the larger one. Not sure how "busy" the outside border should be.

[QUOTE=bailey;6569131]LOL, there is a crow (long legged thing and a sheep - fat thing that is smaller than the crow) and then the huge cat! I am still laughing....... I needed a good laugh today. It is a whimsical (or maybe just a crazy) quilt after all. Maybe I should add a cow somewhere. LOL

Yes, it is too funny... guess I need to learn to read! Yep, I think you should add a cow to the farm, then each time you look at your quilt you will remember and get another chuckle from it!

Wow! If this is mindless quilting, I hope I arrive some day! Beautiful quilt!!

Don't apologise - it's good to see that others are experiencing the same or similar thing to yourself! But that rainbow border gives you the clue. Why not put a wider border of the same colours? I really like the way that is a feature. Then or alternatively, you could add more long legged things like maybe some sheep or cows? I can see them happily jumping round the edge of the quilt on that fabulous background.

What a lovely quilt. I would add a narrow flange or border to set off what you have …….and I would then do a pieced border in the darker colors - each piece in the border a minimum of 6-8 inches long……and as wide as you need it to be……..much like the inner narrow border you have…..

I really like your quilt. Cute cat!! I agree with mirroring your inside border. It would tie everything together. I can relate to the mindless quilter statement.Me too!

Very nice quilt. I love it. I'm very fond of pinks and roses, that's the color I would use. But I think any color you use will be gorgeous.

I agree with this idea!

I would add a border in the same burgundy that the top house is in, and I love the unbalanced effect - that is neat. I really do love the quilt. DON'T YOU DARE ELIMINATE THE CAT - HE IS PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd do a scrappy border that matches the inner border. Love the quilt!

Why do you want this quilt bigger? Will the added border be the drop on a bed or will it frame on the top of the bed? If it is to be a drop then I would pick a small floral as aeborder so it looks like the center is in a garden or maybe a light green so it seems like you are looking through treas to see the "scene" To make it about 12" larger that means 6" on each side. I think that it needs no other borders especially if you are going to use it as a wallhanging or as a small quilt.

Beautiful, I would use the dark maroon .

I would somehow add some of the same kind of houses around the outside but I am not sure how I would do it..

Great quilt. Good job.

That is what I was going to say!

What about doing a piano key border leads your eye in lots to see love the cat!

I have another idea- How about a picket fence on the border. that would make it look like a village.

Save the cat!!!!

BREAKING NEWS..........The cat has been adopted by the village. He will be staying!!

Thank you everyone for your wonderful ideas. I am busy trying different things that I would never have thought of before. I will post as soon as I have a new border added and hope you don't think I have ruined the quilt. LOL

Thank you everyone.

Oh please don't remove the cat -- it just adds to the folk art feeling of your quilt top. If it were me, I'd do something simple like a piano key border, using the muted colors in your quilt top. Possibly make the keys a bit wider, like using 2.5 inch strips. It would nicely frame your lovely top, and you could make it 7 inches wide on each side, which will give you the size quilt you want.

EDITED: Should have read through the comments first as others had the same ideas! The fence idea is also wonderful...we quilters are a creative group.