I really like KarenK's borders!

Some really wonderful ideas here, guys, thank you all so very, very much.:)
Not yet sure exactly what I'll do, but at least I have a couple weeks before I'm really pushed.

Keep the ideas rolling please.

Jan in VA

I also like the idea of adding some other birds...maybe a yellow finch to bring in the yellow from the strip or a robin signifying the beginning of spring after winter? Good luck and please post after you finish - we will all be waiting to see the creativity emerge =)

It looks like whomever added the triangle borders did not finish squaring them. The top and right borders are not the same as the left and bottom borders. KarenK's suggestion shows them the same and they look much better before applying the other borders. That border hurts my eyes and it is not the fabric, but the construction that is so painful.

Me too, I couldn't work on it otherwise...

Ditto!!! Boy, it was so beautiful till that last border!!

I was thinking the same thing. Not sure without getting a visual on it but it needs to be brought back into focus and I can't imagine how else you will do it. Good luck.

I liked the ideas from gramojo and Karenk

It definitly need a dark heavy border to help balance. My first thought was to add a counter-direction triangles but I think a good 1 to 2 inch dark border then your border pattern of your choice. I think the person who added the triangles missed the mark on "reading" of this center block.

I have no idea how to help you but I love the word collywopped!!!!!! Never heard that one b4!! ROFL

I like this idea. I guess I've been spending too much time on the modern quilt blogs because I absolutely love this quilt.

Whatever did you do to the second-round quilter to make her so angry at you? :D

I think I would drop acid on that striped bit and beg forgiveness.

Jan, better you than me! I do not like the striped border at all! That said, you might find a mottled red print and use it to make the quilt square again; get rid of the wonky sides. Then, I would fuse cardinals or a tree with green branches to the new border, allowing it to spread out in whatever direction you want. I don't think the quilt is useable as is. Please let us know what you decide to do. Good luck.

When I first looked at the photo, I thought you were holding it wrong, and and the border was pulled. Oops! Guess not! I can't imagine whoever did that thought it was appropriate to the design - it looks like they were either trying to make it difficult for the next person, or had so little interest in it they just threw on some fabric - so shame on them. I like Karenk's designs with large triangles in the border. As for the quilter cutting into your month, I'd keep it for my month, or as long as you need to complete your design, and not worry about. Why the time constraint?

Wow. Just...wow.
As an OT aside, I think the next "training" session at your guild should focus on the difference between classic and modern quilt stylings, and why they often aren't compatible in the same plane :)

Now that made me smile!

Love the quilt but, get rid of the stripes. I would replace the stripes boarder with a blue to bring out the sky. Or you could use a pretty green to match the leaves.

Please show us the finished product after you finish and before you return to him. I'd love to see how it comes out.

A very modern border for a very traditional center panel.....good luck!
I would start by reigning the border in by framing it with bright red it might bring the focus back where it belongs.

Wow Jan, what a challenge. I personally like Tartan's idea, if you could only remove the crooked pieces, it would be a great start,though I know you can't. But, I know you well enough to know that you will come up with some fantastic idea! Keep us posted please. We always used to say "catty-whompus." Fun to compare sayings. Best wishes.....

Oh gosh, Jan. This is a tough one! I do not like that striped border with that beautiful center. I vote for putting a red stop border next. Guess you have two choices; go back to traditional or continue modern. Ha, not much help there sorry. I do like Karen's suggestion though to continue on the more modern path.
What would you do if that border wasn't there? I ask because if I got this quilt back I would seriously consider replacing that border myself (you said it is not his style?) if you were to bring it back to traditional. Maybe he'll put applique on that striped border himself. :)
Good luck!!!

add a bright and large enoungh red border to overwhelme the stripes and the white.

Can u applique un the stripe to cover some of it? Good luck.

You might pull two solid colors out of the stripe and add the white to make a braided look, or basket weave. Good luck with that one, I wouldn't have any idea what to do. Is your row the next one, or the lady that is over time?

Okay as an avid round robiner I say wack the stripes off. Take a photo for the owner. I would add a pale color for the other half of the border or do a small 2 inch breaking border for that wonky stripped one. I know if it were my quilt I would ball it up and throw it out with that stripped border. It is hard to imagine anyone adding that to this quilt. Then I would add my border of red white and grey to frame the center. Just my opinion. I would call both the owner and the person that did that round. I find when they run out of time they do a quick fix. It is not always the right fix but they send it on. I always ask myself would I like that on my quilt? So hoping you can make it right. Luann

I agree, I don't like those striped & white triangles at all. In fact, I first thought those were folds in the quilt. Sorry, but I have no ideas for your contribution that you probably have not thought of -- and improved upon -- yourself, except something to tone down those stripes and bring it back to looking "square" and balanced. Look forward to seeing what you finally decide on!

Oh my. I don't understand why the quilter would have put on the stripes. I guess I would just put on 2 boarders of different sizes. A black thinner one first to put an end to the strips and then maybe a bit larger red to match the flying geese. Otherwise, I too am stumped. Good luck and please post pics. Good luck.

Oh, I think this works! I like the first one. It frames that out of sync border and makes it make sense. Great job, KarenK!

I would cut the border down by half at least. Then add a red border the same size as the thin green one and repeat the flying geese pattern all the way around only in green, maybe some leaves appliqued in each corner and branching out over the striped border. One more thin red border to finish it off. I agree, I'm horrified at those stripes. You could also put some appliqued leaves on the white triangles overlapping into the original quilt block to disguise the harsh white shapes. Oh I wish you the best of luck.

I am new to quilting. I think borders should compliment or set off the quilt. This quilt is beautiful. The wonky border destroys it and now takes the focus away from the center and adding more wonky borders will make it worse. I do not know the rules of a round robin,but I would remove that mess in a nano second. I would not be able to add to it otherwise.

The last border is distracting from the beautiful center. Maybe try to incorporate some red into your round.

How about returning it to the person who put on the striped fabric and asking her(him) if they would rethink what they had used. Would it hurt their feelings? Perhaps they don't understand the purpose of the round robin. A whole lot of energy by a lot of people being spent on this one person's contibution. They probably could do better.

I agree with quiltingeileen and quite a few others of doing 2 borders of different sizes in black (skinny one) and red to detract from the triangles. Can't wait to see what you come up with!!!

What if you added another cattwompus border with the triangles going the opposite way of the one they put on.

I tried, but it's a difficult case.
 

I tried to balance the wonk in eq7, but I can't say I'm happy with the results. This is tough.

I think the real trick here is to get through this without hurting the feelings of the previous round quilter. I just don't see how you can cut off what she has done or really alter it all that much. Some of the ideas presented are good and I'm sure you will come up with many more, Jan, but I really don't think you can change what has been done.

You could try adding red and dark blue (or whatever color is in the stripped border) - 1-1/2 inch squares - to make a two-high checkered border.

I've had a couple of Aha! moments after reading these next pages of ideas and am feeling more encouraged! Keep them coming, please!

As much as I want to, I feel I can't remove the work of the round 2 quilter who added these two wonky borders.

It is SO unlike her usual work....her own quilt for round robin has a lovely, well-pieced mariner's compass in the center!! The man to whom this wonky one belongs created darling, colorful, striped beach umbrellas for his round on this woman's quilt ....so unfair for him to get this from her.

My heart keeps telling me to email him with a picture of her round, which I believe he has already seen, and ask his desire for me to do in mine round for him. I'm also thinking of piecing borders such as have been suggested here, but not attaching them to the quilt, so that HE can decide how he wants to handle it.

Of course, then I have no idea how it will appear when we all stand before the guild next month to show off this round's work on the quilts we had. I'll look like a idiot for not finishing, I suppose, though that doesn't necessarily bother me....I know my heart so I rarely worry about the opinion of others in cases like this. But, I'm just sort of worried that others will realize there wasn't anything I could do about her work and will talk about her. Such a dilemma!!:confused:

Jan in VA

Jan, I think you had a great idea to contact him and get his input on it. There might be a solution that would please him and we are not hitting on it.