Not Boring Borders
 

What kind of designs do you come up with to make your borders more interesting?
Things I've tried:
Scalloped borders (won't do that again)
Random, single block insets
Double row of 2.5" squares
Piano Keys
Multiple, thin borders

What have you tried?

~ C

I really like working my blocks into my borders, often using partial blocks or reversing the color or in other ways.

Since I typically press my seams open, I do like to seal up everything with a solid strip if I can. If not, I stay stitch within the seam allowance to keep the seams from opening up until I get around to quilting them (which can be years, sad to say).

I like to make the pattern "spill over" into the border. I also like to break the lines of the border with applique bits. I once made a few extra blocks and appliqued them on top of the quilt like floating escapees...they crossed into the borders too. That was fun.
I also like to use piping or a strip of lace sometimes, between the top and the border(s)

C, I used the QIAD ruler for scallops and it turned out well. However, scallops aren't for every quilt. I love that look.

Here's one where I reversed colors in a half block border and then used a plain strip of the fabric...

It was quite simple to do this way, I didn't have to do a layout until after I had made the individual blocks, but it fools your eye to think the blocks are made up of the light background and you have to carefully match the dark corners instead of the other way around.

I have a book called "The Border Workbook" by Janet Kime, 10th Anniversary Edition. It was printed in 2011 by That Patchwork Place and has lots of creative ideas. One of my friends did a French Braid border with three rows and cornerstones. It was gorgeous and simple, and added a great look to her quilt.

I make a lot of piano key borders because I can use up some of the scraps from the blocks in the quilt.

The half hexie border that is a new Jenny Doan video this week is simple to make but looks intricate. I like to make more blocks to make the quilt as big as I want then I use a narrow border to keep the binding from touching the blocks. I like extra wide binding so it looks like a border but not one.

sounds awesome! Pictures please!

I have brought the backing to the front for binding. I usually turn the front to the back. Or I have had no border at all.