Border Size Question
 

Hi...I am new here.

I am wondering if there is a general rule about border size. The quilt I am working on has 8" log cabin blocks set up in the barn raising pattern. It is a lap quilt and right now it is 6 blocks by 8 blocks (48 1/2 x 64 1/2"). I am going to put a 1" red border around the edge, and then I was going to add a 6" navy border, but now I am wondering if 6" is too wide. Maybe it should be 4". Any thoughts?
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Welcome to the board! Six inches sounds about 'right' to me, but it's your quilt, so up to you. Lovely quilt btw! :)

Thank you, Knitette.

I also have no idea how to machine quilt this. I usually make quilts that have sashes, so I have always quilted the blocks individually. I would love some ideas.

Lay your border fabric beside the quilt top folding it at different widths. I tend to use 4.5 inch borders often. Be sure to show us your finished quilt! Welcome to the Quilting Board:)

It's beautiful!

Just feeling like experiment and learning with my program, but here are the images. So you can see and get the feel for what you prefer.

6" border:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]462952[/ATTACH]

4" border
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What finished size are you striving for or does it make a difference? If that isn't an issue, I think I like the 6" border. Looks more balanced to me, but I am no expert for sure.

The short answer ......... there is no rule as to border size.
In fact, you do not even have to have a border if you want.

You have a lovely quilt here .. .and to me, a log cabin quilt, sometimes just reads as "do not border me!" IMHO this is one that cold finish up the way it is.

However, I am wondering if this is not your quilt as you mentioned a red small border and then a navy one ... and yet on my computer screen I only see browns/beiges.

you could do some nice quilting in a 6 inch border.

Thank you for your input, ladies! I am leaning towards the 6" border. Thank you, justflyingin, for posting the pictures.

Yes, QuiltE, that is the quilt. I just haven't added the red yet. I do want borders on this, because I think it is a little small for a lap quilt without them. I do agree that sometimes we don't need borders.

When I drew out the picture for her using EQ, I wondered about that. My monitor looks like they are greens and browns...can't see any blue in the log cabin blocks...but I threw a blue strip for good measure in the program pic.