New ideas for borders
 

This is a quilt that is pieced and on my design wall, no borders yet. Since the design is busy I think that solid borders work better but I also realize this isn't very exciting. What would you do?

I like what you've shown here.

It's beautiful just the way it is!!

Probably keep it the way it is, beautiful! But if you are dead set on a different border, what about bigger squares that match the little ones?

I'd probably find a great floral or add floral appliques to the border.

I like it. A plain border will give you an opportunity for some nice quilting that will show up great.

It does look beautiful the way it is!!!!

Personally, I think the borders have too much visual weight for that center. They're dense and heavy looking. The center is light and airy in both color and pattern, the borders should evoke the same feeling not weigh it down. No criticism intended, you asked. :o

I like the border you have chosen. I thgink it gives it balance and your center is the focus.

I think you need the plain border to calm the center down. If it were my quilt, I'd want all the attention for the gorgeous pieced center.

i like it the way it is... but if you are not happy, that is what counts. my suggestion is to add curves to it... perhaps with appliqued flowers or leaves on vines, or perhaps a scalloped border.

How about:

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I think it's ok to leave it as is ... but I like Scissor Queen's suggestions for floral appliques.

Just a thought . . . I think I would finish the stars at the edges of the center . . . then add a border of the background for float . . . then add borders. [ATTACH=CONFIG]397005[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]397006[/ATTACH]

Love the bright purple border. I like your original design.

Maybe it's just me but I don't care for that purple addition - all my eyes see is that purple border & not that beautiful pieced top. I might suggest a plainborder with some fabulous quilting designs on it - just my humble opinion. It is a lovely top. Hope you can find a solution.

Does it even need a border? Don't get me wrong- I put borders on almost every quilt I make. But think about leaving the border off and see how you feel about it. Or maybe a skinny border and a pieced border. There have been some good suggestions here- good luck with your quilt and be sure to post pictures of it when it's finished.

I'd probably leave it the way you have it designed and then do some special quilting in the border to make it stand out.

I'm assuming you can easily go in and change border colors, so you can try anything. How about leaving the skinny purple, but then making the wide outer border white - I think the border is too strong as shown

I would add 1-3 additional blocks like your cornerstone blocks evenly spaced to the outer border just to "jazz" it up but not make an entire border out of the blocks or any other fancy border. You also could jazz up the border with fancy quilting.

I love this idea!

Need it simple to tone down action of quilt. Your plan works.

i say go plane and make a design there when you quilt it. i think solid boarders are nice. and if you use a batik it will be really nice becauseof the texture. or even a tone on ton. just my two cents. post when you are done.

Love the original design!! At my house the border would need to be lighter so the dust bunnies under the bed wouldn't show too much.

I agree with LyndaOH.

I would take off the blue and do the whole boarder in the pretty purple. I held my hand up against the blue the the purple made the quilt come alive even more! Or I would take away the purple and blue and add a soft green to match the light green in the quilt. Just my opinion. It is pretty the way it is.

I like the picture exactly as it is. It sets off the rest of the quilt.

Definitely Plain borders. Somewhere for the eye to rest.

I would go with either the blue or purple but not both. I would do about the same width as the blue with which ever was chosen but split it and have a narrow white stripe running through the center to tie it to the quilt top.

What a beautiful quilt you have made. IMO, I think the dark blue is to much for it, but the purple brings out the rest of the pattern. If you do want the blue in the border, try a thin blue border where you have the purple & a wider purple around that. Just my thought.

I feel when you have a very busy pattern that solid borders (with a flair like your cornerstones) show off the design better.

My thoughts, exactly.

I like Mom3's design or KarenK's idea. It will be beautiful no matter what you decide. Would love to see picture after of finished quilt!

I like the border you have chosen and remember that they can be dressed up with some awesome quilting in the borders. The quilting in the center is not really going to show, so let the quilting shine in the borders. You will love it!

If you think its boring, just spice it up when you quilt it. I find a dull quilt looks totally different once its been quilted. The quilting can make it look absolutely fabulous. Just my opinion though.

Suz in Iowa

I like what you are showing, but if it were me I would use a really pretty light green with the purple you have on it now. That is just my opion. But I do love your quilt. I am sure that it will be pretty with what ever you decide to use on the borders. HUGS

question on borders
 

I think the quilt is lovely just the way it is. I think that there is a lot going on in the quilt and the solid borders contain it and give the quilt top billing. It is a beautiful quilt and I love the colors.

I like the layout. Personally, I think solid borders are perfect on such a busy quilt. (Busy in a good way!) Solid borders kind of "stop" it, if you know what I am saying. Nice quilt!

Well, no one has said this yet. I would take everything off down to the main pieced portion, then add just the white background for a border, not too wide, but finish each star on the side and corners into the white. The white needs to be just a little wider than the amount needed for the stars so that they float.

It is gorgeous. Don't change a thing. Love it.