Question about borders
 

Is there any set "rule" for how wide a border should be. I'm about to cut the border for the quilt my DH has been working on since his stroke and I'm not sure how wide to make it. What is an average width?

This is such a good question, and I sure wish I knew the answer. It would be nice to have a few guidelines for those of us who don't have a sense of "what looks right". I'll be watching for some advise.

My thoughts???? Make it however you want. That's about as much as I know. I will be watching for answers. :D

I agree with pokeygirl. I would say what ever you want to cut. I myself for the outside border(the 1st border around the quilt) I cut at least 3-3 1/2 strip. And go from there. I dont know, if any quilts in the picture section will help or not.

I eyeball it. I know, not helpful. Usually I have an end size in mind. I also look at examples by googling "quilt borders" and get ideas and run from there. My current project has 5 borders on it.

As already said ... there are no rules!

Sometimes the design of the quilt "tells" you how wide the border(s) should be.

And too ........ there is no rule saying you must have border(s).
..............you can always go borderless! :D

There are no quilt police here but this is what is pleasing to my eye. I take a component of the blocks. Say a block is 6 inches finished, I will either do a 6 inch single border or a combination of borders that equal 6 inches. That is proportionally pleasing to my eye. Again this is from my grandma who taught me to quilt. However you need to do what seems correct to you. This is just my method. :)

For me it depends on the quilt. I have a ruler 3 1/2 in wide and a 6 1/2 in wide. Therefore my border often get cut at either of these widths.

Any size you want is the right size.

I have used a single border of 12", as well as multiple borders that are of different widths (i.e -1 1/2 /3/4 1/2 or 2/4/6). I have made "checkerboard" borders and piano-key borders, ice cream cone borders and scalloped borders. Some people use complementary fabric, or contrasting fabric for the borders. Whatever you want to do, you can do, because it is your quilt.