Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • What is the "rule" for quilt borders? >
  • What is the "rule" for quilt borders?

  • What is the "rule" for quilt borders?

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 12-31-2018, 04:00 PM
      #1  
    Junior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    phranny's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Dec 2010
    Location: Ontario
    Posts: 264
    Default What is the "rule" for quilt borders?

    I'm making a king size quilt, and have the center of it finished. I would like to add borders, but they would start at the sides and hang down. Is there a rule of ratios that I should keep in mind? I would like to use 3 different fabrics, light, medium, and dark for the borders.

    Usually, I make scrappy quilts, and don't make borders. Can anyone help me with this?
    phranny is offline  
    Old 12-31-2018, 04:02 PM
      #2  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Jan 2011
    Location: Southern USA
    Posts: 16,396
    Default

    I would do whatever size in each color that looks good to you. If there is a rule then it needs to be broken.
    Onebyone is offline  
    Old 12-31-2018, 04:20 PM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    GingerK's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2010
    Location: Ontario, Canada
    Posts: 3,585
    Default

    Ummmmm....... there's a rule? Why didn't somebody tell me?? Oh dear.....
    GingerK is online now  
    Old 12-31-2018, 04:22 PM
      #4  
    Member
     
    Join Date: Oct 2018
    Location: Des Moines Iowa
    Posts: 88
    Default

    Rules? Whatever size looks good to me and or I have enough fabric to do. Today I pieced a border because I didn't have enough of any one coordinating fabric.
    LindaJane is offline  
    Old 12-31-2018, 04:23 PM
      #5  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Apr 2011
    Location: Ontario, Canada
    Posts: 17,827
    Default

    ditto to the others ... no rules!!

    Sometimes centre/main part of the quilt "tells" me what widths work for the borders.
    Or at least give me hints!

    Otherwise, I just audition different fabrics/colours and different widths, til I get what I like best.
    QuiltE is offline  
    Old 12-31-2018, 04:37 PM
      #6  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Location: Utah
    Posts: 2,093
    Default

    Another vote for no rules!
    quiltedsunshine is offline  
    Old 12-31-2018, 04:58 PM
      #7  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Ontario, Canada
    Posts: 41,535
    Default

    Do whatever size borders you want for the size of the quilt you want. I do like to use one of the sizes already in the quilt (like 3 inch squares in the quilt, I would do a 3 inch border) and then any other borders I wanted but that is my personal preference not a rule.
    Tartan is offline  
    Old 12-31-2018, 05:08 PM
      #8  
    Super Member
     
    sewingsuz's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Location: Arizona
    Posts: 7,850
    Default

    No rules rom me also.
    sewingsuz is offline  
    Old 12-31-2018, 05:13 PM
      #9  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Apr 2016
    Location: Blue Ridge Mountians
    Posts: 7,075
    Default

    when my daughter was 12 she made her first throw sized quilt out of an animal panel (of giraffes and zebras), and a simple alternating block. She loved it, but when it was done, she wanted it to be a bed spread. we measured how far she wanted the sides to be on her bed (18 inches) and then we added "jelly roll strips" in fabric and colors that coordinated with the panel / throw. It turned out lovely and still looks good 15 years later. We had no rules....just a dream and then made a plan.
    Jane Quilter is offline  
    Old 12-31-2018, 05:56 PM
      #10  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Aug 2013
    Posts: 9,299
    Default

    While there are no rules, you could try
    -equal thirds
    -top 2 "strips" equal, lowest one a little wider
    -color 1, color 2, color 3, then color 1 again (top to bottom as it hangs off the sides)

    More important than anything is that it looks good to you. Trust your gut.
    zozee is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    bearisgray
    General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
    65
    02-01-2024 09:04 AM
    ILoveToQuilt
    Main
    24
    12-31-2016 07:55 PM
    vjohn1006
    Pictures
    111
    07-26-2014 03:14 AM
    pseudoquilter
    Main
    78
    07-03-2011 08:17 AM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter