suggestions needed to finish up quilt
 

These blocks had been donated to the church. They were sashed with the fabric shown but I took it all apart to straighten it up. The picture shows the blocks put up on the design wall to see if the sashing would be useable again. I want to be able to reuse the sashing if possible but might need to add some cornerstones in the sashing. The blocks and sashing needs to be trimmed and squared. My question is ...what can I do to finish this up? Suggestions needed for border colors, designs, etc. Someone did a lot of work embroidering the blocks and it was headed for becoming a UFO. Can't let that happen. Took hours to take apart. Thought about just cutting it apart but then would cut down on the sashing size. The blocks would have been fine trimmed up. The original sewist thought the more stitches to the inch the better it would be. LOL Teeny tiny stitches.
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Just my opinion--I think the sashing is too busy. I think it takes too much attention away from the delightful embroidered blocks. Others may think differently and that is okay. I am anxious to see other opinions. I love the embroidered blocks.

My first thought was to use a black with white pindot for the cornerstones and binding. It has lots going on already. I tend to be conservative, though.

Let us know what you decide.

bkay

Those are so cute!!

I would border the blocks with solid fabric in that muted blue. That will distance the blocks a bit from the busy (but adorable) snowman fabric. Your sashing is limited to what you have, so if you also cornerstone the sashing with the muted blue, you can still use it. If your blocks end up slightly different sizes after you square them, make the blue different widths so they all end up the same size.

Wonderful that you are finishing this delightful piece!

hahahah! bkay & I cross posted. It must be a good idea if we both had it. hehehhe!

The embroidered blocks are absolutely adorable

I tend to agree that the sashing is a bit busy for the embroidered blocks.
IMHO I think adding cornerstones to the snowmen sashing would be worse than it is now.
At the same time, I don't think the original sashing fabric looks totally out of place.

Somethings to consider ...
Will the original donor be disappointed or even insulted, if the snowmen fabric is still not there?
Will they recognize and be upset that the blocks and sashing have been taken apart?
Will there be bedlam around the church because you changed it?

I have no idea as to your answers or whether they even matter.
Howeverrrrrrrr ... I also know how things can go around churches! :)

Is there an end purpose for this quilt?
i.e. a fundraiser? gift to someone at Christmas? selling at a bazaar?
Or perhaps it is yours to keep and do as you wish ... and the thoughts/feelings of others do not enter into this.

The answers to these may help you decide how much work you really want to put into this project.

My thoughts would be to either keep with the original sashing, or switch it up to a blender-nothing-print in a rich blue or deep cranberry red. You may even be lucky enough to find a small snowflake print that could amp the adorability even more while not taking away from the amazing embroidery work.

If it were mine to finish...
I'd use a solid color fabric or one that "reads" solid to go around the blocks.
Then, I'd piece the print and use it as a border.

I think the sashing is too busy for the quilt. I quilt, but I've been embroidering since I was 6 years old (49 years), won dozens of county fair awards for my embroidery, and this is my feeling about embroidery blocks: a lot of work goes into embroidery, so you should show it off. These are adorable blocks, so I would sash it in something solid. It's hard to choose which solid color you should sash in, because all the blocks are so colorful (my general rule is no more than 3 different colors for embroidery projects- too many colors muddle the work. General rule, not hard and fast.) Those sweet snowmen would have been perfect for a Redwork or "Blue"work project. With Redwork you can add a busy sashing, but those nice blocks need a solid sashing.
And sorry the stitches are so small. What was she thinking?

Those are the cutest blocks ever. I think I may have the embroidery pattern in my stash. I love the sashing fabric. But, feel it may be a tad busy also. What if you sashed each block in a coordinating tone on tone or solid. Then used the print fabric in the outer corners of the blocks with a coordinating fabric. Then you put together and sash again with the coordinating color for the outer border. And maybe use the print to do the outer 4 corners if there is enough. Just an idea. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

I agree with the others that you need something solid between the embroidery & the snowman sashing. If you really love the sashing, I'd add in a solid colored piping or flange around the embroidery to help feature them better. If you're going that route, I'd split the snowman fabric and add another fabric between to help break up the business a bit, again with the goal of refocusing more attention on the embroidery.

Here's one idea I came up with that might help you come up with others. I did a red piping that matches the red in the embroidery, a grey & white polka dot fabric that is added where the snowman sashing gets split down the middle, more red as a border & a black & grey (and maybe some white) striped binding.
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I agree w/ what nearly everyone has already said, the snowmen fabric takes away from the beautiful embroidery. I would put a narrow frame (solid color) as has been described, change the sashing to a WOW fabric. If your heart is set on cornerstones I would do a solid of what ever color the frame is, or fussy cut a simple complimentary print (like a snow flake). Then I would take the current sashing and either use it as the binding or piece it together in some logical way and use it for part of the backing.

I personally like the snowman fabric - I think it's adorable! It doesn't take away from the embroidery for me. I do like Bree's idea of adding a red flange. I wouldn't cut the snowman sashing in half, though, because then you won't have any whole snowmen left.

If think children evaluate quilts on their parts, rather than overall aesthetics. The snowman fabric is another element for a kid to be attracted to, if the embroidery isn't their thing. I would keep it simple - trim down the blocks, red flange, snowman sashing, bind in black, and be done!

I agree with Genden, the sashing is too busy.

I agree with most of the others. The snowman embroidery is adorable. I think a solid sashing is the way to go the snowman pattern is just too busy. I would use it the the binding, maybe, but nothing else. The quilt is beautiful and has a lot of work put into it already. Glad you are "saving" it and know you will make sure it goes to a "good" home.
Sue

I agree with Hill Country Gal. I'd use a solid sashing around the embroidery squares and then piece the snowman fabric to use for a border.

This is what I would do, or I would possibly add another border after the snowmen border as I tend to like two borders - like a mat with a frame.

I also agree with Hill Country. A solid border will allow the embroidered blocks to show up better.

I agree totaly with hiicountrygirl.

I'm with Jennifer on many points. If this one is going to a child, keep the snowman fabric and don't cut it in half. Kids want to see whole things (animals, people, snowmen, etc) and are often disturbed by seeing things cut off. Granted , the print is busy, but kids like busy.

My thought is to sash with red about an inch finished around each . The frame will draw the eye in to the embroidered pictures (red always draws attention).

You're a patient dear for undoing all those tiny stitches and giving this quilt a new and improved design.

I like the snowmen fabric. When I look at the blocks, the embroidered snowmen in them look like they are looking at the fabric and laughing. It's very cheery. I would just add some borders, especially a red one and just finish the quilt. Any child will love it.

The snowmen are adorable and the current sashing is a bit busy. I loved bkay's idea of a black with white dot or a tiny black and white check. I am enthralled with Bree's ability to add the extra colors: the flange looks great, as does the polka dot white and gray fabric. The red border with black and white binding looks fantastic. I'm not sure that the (2 inch?) current sashing would end up showing very well if it were cut in half. I calculate that it would end up being about ¾ of an inch finished. I also agree with QuiltE that there may be issues with the original donor if she were absolutely devoted to the fabric. Is there a way that you can find out how strongly she feels about it? If she's amenable to change, you could still use the current sashes on the back with maybe a fence row pattern with the red and white that Bree showed. That may be more work than you had planned, but it would cut own the amount of backing fabric that you'd need.

Pick this option! Just flange ore narrow border the embroidered blocks with red, redo the sashing and bind it in solid black/blue whatever colour the main of the print is. I also think the snowmen in the blocks are giggling at the print.

Too often we look at a quilt top as if it were "ours" - that there is a "proper" way to set up a quilt BUT there is also a great deal to be said about being "eclectic"!

I like the present sashing for this piece and it helps that you've already got it! I'd opt for a red corner stone though and maybe a skinny first border all around--or the red cornerstones and bind as is with the same red. I think it will tame the tumblers a bit. Interesting that there are 4 alike. I'd put those 4 in the corners

I really like the suggestion made by Bree123. The red piping or flange really adds a spark. I also felt that the original sashing was too compepitive and overpowering. The smaller sashing is much better. and the red in the border is nice. The focal point is the embroidered blocks and every other element needs to compliment them. Keep up the great work to finish this quilt-it is worth the effort.

Absolutely darling! Nice job with what some might call a difficult task. Thanks for sharing.
Karen

I'm in agreement that the sashing is too busy. What would happen if you removed it and used a solid blue or red and made the corner stones out of what is now the sashing (snowman material). Maybe there will be enough snowman material to use as the binding also. Show pictures when finished please.

I agree with the other comments; the sashing is too busy. I'd use a solid to show off the delightful embroidery.

My first reaction, too. I'd sash it with something calmer and lighter in color, or maybe a solid red or blue. Then a narrow white border and a wider border out of a different print or maybe the same as the sashing.

I agree with sashing being too busy, I would use a smaller print or solid color red, green, yellow, blue , or if you could find a blue fabric with the tiny snowflakes , that would be great. Post the finished quilt so we can enjoy.

Love the way Bree's suggestion looks. Too much "thinking" will just drive you crazzzy. Finish it up and any child (I would enjoy it also) will love it.