SusieQOH

I don't like how this turned out. It's so blah! Any ideas on doing interesting borders? Or any ideas? I used a jelly roll and still have a lot left over. TIA

toverly

Lovely quilt. You could come up with a large applique and use this as a background. Whenever I make a quilt that I just don't like, I finish it and pass it on. Someone will love it.

stitch678

I'd add a border...since l love any excuse to applique, mine would be wide in a low contrast fabric so l could add flowers, butterfiles, birds...whatever. maybe you could add a narrow bright border ( yellow? Red? Bright green? ) as accent then go with a wider final one. A piano key pieced one using that jellyroll or fabrics that look like it would be a good final frame. Then finally, the binding could match that bright inner border

ElaineCovid

Or a piano key border of the darker fabrics? After a small inner border of a light colour?

LAF2019

I would add a border, but I would not choose anything too dark or solid, since you have a lot of the white/neutral in your top. Perhaps a white inner border then a pieced border (consider a seminole pieced border), then maybe another round of your neutral.

QuiltE

If it's to the size you want ... look for a coordinating print that goes with it, to use as the backing and finish it off. Who says this has to be the front and side you see the most? The print backing might be what you look at more!

Or ... if you need it bigger ... again find a coordinating print for the border. Something with the pale/neutral background and then just some flowers, butterflies, birds, animals or whatever, just kind of scattered all over. What I am meaning, with more of the background showing, to help it blend in with your centre blocks.

I know how disappointing it can be, when you get this far and can't convince yourself you like it! Hope you can figure out a way to like it more. Good Luck, SusieQOH!

copycat

Sometimes the quilting design and thread color can change the look of a quilt top. I had a top I wasn't crazy about until after it was quilted. I like the colors you have chosen!

Mkotch

I think it's fine as it is and will look great after it's quilted. I always think an appliqued border is a nice finishing touch. You could pick a color for a vine that curves all the way around and then use the other colors for flowers and leaves here and there.

Iceblossom

I think I would turn the whole thing on point and encase it in darker corners. The corners could be done in many ways, and more fabrics snuck in. You could just jelly roll a bunch of strips to make the corner triangles, or a single fabric, or maybe something with a sort of square in a square turned into a triangle to repeat the sashing square sort of... A single fabric would be a great time for a large print, bringing in colors from the jellys.

And I think a talented (as in, not me) could do something really great with maybe a strong yellow thread color??

Now that my vision issues are dealt with, I'm going to start going to the local quilt guild where I am hoping to find someone that appliques who would like to work with someone who pieces. I like to do a bit of sewing each day, and I don't mind repetition, but I am so bored with my own ideas... still I have fabric and I have time and working with someone I think we can both achieve great things.

Lena1952

I agree with Copycat, quilting design and thread choice can make huge difference in the look. I made a quilt for my granddaughter and while I loved the fabrics, the result was blah. I had it quilted with a darker thread and lovely design and once quilted i absolutely loved it.