Should take my own advice. Need advice
 

I would tell a new quilter that if they are using an old pattern, they should always make up a test block before cutting out a whole quilt's worth of blocks. I used a very old pattern and ignored my own advice in my excitement. It's been fun squaring up all those blocks. I'm making this at my daughter's request for my grandson. I might get it done before he's in college! (He's 2 now.) Any suggestions for the border? I'd hate to have anything too busy. My daughter and I tend to rather like old, traditional quilts. It will be twin sized.

I like the airplane quilt top...........the contrast is nice.
If a border is wanted, I would use a narrow solid like the planes.

nice

I would suggest a simple border... maybe a small dark and a white on the out side....

I would start out with a one- or two- inch border of the white, since the planes extend out to the edge of the blocks. Then I would use a wider, perhaps 2 1/2- or 3- inch final border and binding of the dark. Those planes are great!

That's a great top! Love it! How about a 2" border of white, to get the planes of the edge. Then a blue wider border or a pieced blue and white border would look great. Think the chevron idea is great and perhaps a navy with white dots print? Exciting possibilities! Hope you post whatever you decide to do. :)

This quilter made a good point about the planes coming to the edge. A contrasting color would be good.
I like the drama of this pattern and colors and the simplicity, so would not choose borders that are too busy. You could save "busy" for the back!

You could put a white border all the way around so the planes don't go all the way to the edge.

What about a red and white striped border?

White inner border, then a red outside border.

This would be my recommendation also.

Propellers and clouds would look good in the white. I would put a white around the planes, then thin red, then wider blue.

What about a pin wheel border to mimic propellers?

That looks like the pattern from "Quilt in A Day, Victory Quilts". Our group made 15 quilts from the book.

I agree with the idea of a narrow white inner border. Then I would find a print of the dark color and white, maybe wavy lines or something similar, something modern, for the outer border.

A thin border of black, then a slightly wider border with a small pattern or design.

If it were mine, I would use a narrow white border first, to give the planes a definite edge, then put a wider border of the plane fabric on the outside. I believe I would bind it using the plane fabric. The quilting you decide on later will add the finishing touch to your wonderful quilt.

I agree with Gail.

Great airplane quilt top.

Love your quilt!

I would put a 1-2" border of the background fabric to make the planes float. Then I might try to find a fabric with similar planes that are small, so the little planes are flying around on the border. if not the little planes, then I'd probably go with a border of the airplane fabric.

I agree with the QB members as to make a small white inner border and then possibly if you can find a dark blue fabric with small white pinstripe in it for a 3"-4" outer border. Love your quilt-it is so cute and please share with us a pic when it is finished.

I agree. It is a stunning quilt....very contemporary.

I knew you'd all have wonderful ideas! Thanks for taking the time to post. I have lots of options to offer to my daughter now!

I would use the fabric you pieced the airplanes with. Cute pattern. Never seen that one.

A small white one to keep those planes floating. That quilt is stunning!

Great quilt. I might put a 2" border of white and then a 4-6" border of blue. At least all your planes are flying in the right direction. When my daughter was taking flying lessons, I made her a wall hanging to celebrate her first solo flight. It never occurred to me that with all 4 airplanes facing the middle I was about to crash land all 4 planes. LOL. However, she loves the quilt, and although she never became a pilot, she did get her degree in aviation managements, so she does "play with the planes"; but right now she is still recovering from an automobile accident where she was rear-ended and still has to deal with severe pain in her back and neck; but she's slowly getting better. Having just celebrated their 1st year anniversary in July and having relocated to Sydney, Australia to be with him, makes things a little better for her; but they are both in the aviation field.

I feel the same as some others. A narrow white border first & then 3" or 4" dark ( plane) fabric border & also dark for binding. Great quilt also. Would love to see it finished.

I was thinking a print of white clouds on a blue sky?

I'm so sorry for your daughters difficulties and hope she is doing much better now. Thanks for sharing your story about your quilt, too. I'd love to see that one! I sure keep checking as I go and hope I'll get it all done without too many more mistakes!

I agree with the others about a small white border then I would do a checkerboard of the white and maybe the same solid as the planes. I really love this quilt.

Susan

Love this old quilt pattern. Beautiful job with the planes. I would frame the quilt with a narrow strip of a favorite color (red, orange, yellow) and then a four inch (half the block size) strip of the dark color.

You know, if that were my quilt, I would add a border about 1 1/2 inches wide in a red polka dot, then something wider in the background color or the airplanes. Just to add a real pop to the quilt. Why stay inside the box?