Using large prints for border fabrics
 

Until I saw a quilt on the cover of Quilter's Newsletter that had three of the four borders "match" - I never thought about watching for the repeats in print designs.

So - if one tends to be a bit OCD - that is one more thing to think about.

Look at the fabric from a distance and sort of squint at it - then "stripes" sometimes appear.

I tried that with a large border print but I cut it into 1 1/2" strips and between the prints substituted some solid colors pulled from the prints. Made an interesting border.

What I mean:

Oh yes, we can't have prints going off into nothing land. good point!

It's not only the large prints that do this. I cut the border for a quilt from a widely-spaced polka dot fabric and after I had the borders on saw that two sides (and not even the opposite sides) had the dots starting an inch out from the center and falling off the edge. Lots of unsewing there.

Excellent advice! I received this advice the other day on here when I asked for border advice on my baby quilt. It saved me from making an ugly mistake and wasting my fabric.

I usually use this method whenever I do a piano key border. Not big on mittering.....

I've made the mistake of selecting very 'directional' fabrics/prints for borders. Usually they have (thankfully) been for baby quilts. I do make it a point to have the top/bottom face the same way as well as the sides 'flow' into the top/bottom. I couldn't even fathom having to match up prints (large or small scale) on a border either mitering or not! That just makes my brain hurt!

I love to use large prints for borders and appreciate this information. many a time i have had regrets for not being more careful. TFS