What type of border would you put on this (it is an Omigosh quilt)?
 

I finally finished the 221st and final block to this quilt and will start sewing blocks together this afternoon. I've been pondering the borders for a while.

Most of the examples I've seen of this quilt use a skinny inner border then a 4 to 5 inch outter non-pieced border. Other than black, which I don't want to use, there isn't really a color that I haven't used in the quilt so it would have to be maybe one of the colors that is my favorite (I was thinking of pink or aqua or a lavendar).

But, when I posted photos a while back, someone suggested a piano key border using all the fabrics from my quilt. I really like that idea and am leaning towards that at this time. So, I guess I would do a skinny white border and then do piano keys maybe 3 inches long and either finish at 1/2 inch wide (like the tiny blocks in the small 9 patches), or do the keys to finish 1 1/2 inches which would match the width of the main blocks-the shoo flyies and the double 9 patches).

how big is the quilt? the picture makes it look huge! i don't think a piano key border would really compliment it- it is a totally different look- if it needs a border (to finish the edges or to bring it to a larger size i would stick with a narrow white one...or maybe a wider white one (depending on how much i need to add to make it the size i wanted it to be. any color you choose is going to (draw out) that color in the quilts- so if you used the light blue- all of the light blue blocks would (Pop) out...same with any other color- so if you want to showcase a particular color in it that would be the way to do it- if you wanted people to look at it & think of it as a purple quilt- you would use purple in the border- which would bring all of the purples out...
it is beautiful-
if you wanted to use all of the colors of the quilt in a border i would use the small 9-patches that are in the quilt- you could alternate them with white squares- or make long lines of them-with a narrow white on either side of the pieced row...

I too would use a white border. You can kind of see what thatbwould be like on your design wall.

And OMG what a great quilt! How big is it?

I think it's beautiful, if it was mine I think I'd go with a white border with piping between the border and quilt in one of those beautiful colors!

What an absolutely beautiful quilt, how long did it take you to make?

It's a beautiful quilt ... and IMHO you want to focus on the quilt, not the border. A piano key would be too heavy looking against the delicate-ness of the blocks.

Here's what I'd do ... extend your Irish chain blocks into the border to complete the diamond of the chain. Then the rest of the border would be just the plain white background .... take a look at this quilt and you'll see what I mean but am not explaining well ...........
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...h-t213094.html
.

Very beautiful!
The quilt looks very light and airy against the white design wall. To keep that airiness I would do a thicker border of white first, then a skinny border that could be your favorite color or multicolor piece, then finish with a skinny white border.

QuiltE has the right idea... that would be so right for your quilt... might use that idea myself... lovely.

Oh my, how gorgeous! I would keep the border solid so it doesn't distract or clash. BTW, that quilt just made my to-do list!

QuiltE, that is interesting. I'll have to consider that.

The quilt on my wall right now is about 67 by 87 but it will finish (with the borders in the pattern) at 70 by 88 inches.

I'd also suggest keeping the borders fairly simple. Perhaps a small-ish white border, then a similar border in an accent color you like, then a larger white border. You want the center of the quilt to shine.

Beautiful OMG! :) I'm still in the cutting stages~

I think it would really let the centre beauty float and show itself off as the shining star it is.

If you want some colour, keep it for the binding and do it scrappy with all your centre fabrics.

Wonderful work on your quilt! I have to agree with QuiltE - I think that it would make it look great! You could tie it all in with a nice one colored binding.

Sylvia

i think it would look great without a border and just pick out your favorite color from the quilt in a solid and bind it with that color!!! that way it has a little frame around it and all the focus is on all those great blocks!!! nice job!!!!

I would do white.

QuiltE's idea is the "best'! But if you choose to go on with a piano key border, I'd suggest a bit wider white border rather than a narrow one, to keep the airy lightness of the quilt. Then make your piano keys in narrow widths that match the cuts in the blocks. Be sure to share the finished product!!

Jan in VA

I think QuiltE's idea would be perfect. I think a piano key would take away from your beautiful work. So pretty

I think white prairie points would look good - simple and classy.

I would start with a thin white border, then, use thin stripes from the colors in the quilt.....maybe 1 inch finished..... go around once or twice with them sewn end to end...like the start of a jelly roll race.....then finish off with a wider white border and white binding. You're quilt is stunning!

Beautiful quilt! I too would keep the focus on the quilt and use a light colored border.

I worked up a few ideas in EQ7. I happen to be working on a variation of Omigosh myself (replacing the Shoo Fly block - so the version below looks slightly different). My EQ7 versions don't have as wide a variety of color as your quilt or mine, but it gives us a general idea.

1st pic is with a piano key border ... I think it's very distracting (oops .. I forgot to add a white inner border, but I don't think it will help much <g>).

2nd pic is with a diamond border ... slightly less distracting

3rd pic is with QuiltE's suggestion of using the double 9 patch in every other block around the border to extend the chain. Of the three ... I like this idea the best!!

One more ... I kinda like this too. I put a 4" white border then a series of 1" different colored stripped borders followed by a 4" white border. I like the frame. While I like the look ... the thought of 80" long 1" strips frightens me!!!

or look at fabric with graduated color going across it in the shades you used in your quilt. it's lovely by the way!!
sort of like this border fabric I used on one-

What about a wider white border and then scallop the edge? You could then bind it in your favorite color from the quilt.

I love, love, love the quilt!!!!! You have been a busy quilter. :)

I thought about this one a while. Here's what I'd do, I'd put on a narrow border of white. Then I'd add mini 9 patches but make them match the colors of the blocks as you go around the quilt and then another narrow border of white and white binding.

Love the quilt as is. I would skip the border altogether!

I like DogHouseMom's third example the best. It keeps the delicate-ness of the center, but is much more interesting than a solid white border. I feel it "completes" the quilt beautifully.

Your quilt is awesome. I would go with a simple border and let your beautiful quilt shine

That is just BEATIFUL and AWESOME and INSPIRING!!!!

I like QuiltEs idea also, I think the piano key would fight with your beautiful, beautiful design.

There are so many things I love about this quilt. I think borders would be better than the piano key idea.

Your quilt is stunning. How about this idea for a border, with binding that uses the colors in the quilt all the way around?

Your quilt is breath taking! I also like the idea of a white border. But what if you did a colored piping to separate the quilt from the border. The small piping would set off the edge of the quilt but not distract from it, while the white border would complete it. Just my two cents, but I think your quilt is beautiful!

I like this idea too. complements it completely.

Wow! I'd personally use a white border but would then do a pieced binding with the different colors in the quilt.

very nice. I really like the bright colors.

That's what I was suggesting ... with one switch ... the outer row of 9Ps all around would be removed to keep the chain closed. That final row opens it up again.

Great "playing" on the EQ7 with lots of ideas, DHMom!
</g>

How beautiful!

If you are counting who votes for what, I vote for a white border, love the idea of extending the Irish chain out into the white so it flows into your border, but this is so beautiful I think the white would set it off perfectly. I wouldn't want anything to distract from all the gorgeous work and it certainly makes a statement as is. Congrats, your hard work is amazing!

I agree with QuiltE. I like her idea best.