SusannaOK

Hello! I am new to the board, but I've been enjoying the posts and the awesome pictures on this board for a month or so.

My mother died several years ago, and my sister gave me an unfinished quilt top that Mom had had someone piece from her sewing scraps. Mom was a very good seamstress, and made many clothes for herself and us three girls, so this quilt top is pieces from dresses and curtains that I remember very well. Most of the fabrics would be from the 60s and 70s. I want to know if it would look good to use a lavender border on this quilt, or what color you experts would suggest. I have a piece of lavender, so that's why I wondered if that would be acceptable.

Also, how would you quilt it? Someone suggested that I just "tie" it, but I enjoy hand quilting, although I don't have very much experience at it yet. I think it would make an excellent winter project.

Thank you for taking a look!

wraez

I'm not going to be of much help, but I do agree do NOT tie it. I think this is a lovely quilt and enjoy the variety of fabrics/prints. Maybe because it has a scrappy appearance, a kind of scrappy (lavender and other colors similar to the patches) 'coins or piano keys' or something would be nice in the outside border but use a thin dark inside border to break up the sqs from the scrappy outside border.

looking forward to reading what others suggest.

Lori S

I would not tie this quilt. Maybe just quilt it with a simple grid , straight lines arainged in a way that suits you. You could lay some yarn across the quilt to audition any ideas , before you start.

dlong

If you want to make it really stand out I think I would use the orange (or red, can't tell for sure which it is) for a thin border and then a larger one of dark or medium brown. Maybe use a dark lavender for the binding.

Yosamitesa

Beautiful quilt! OK...here we go...if you like the lavendar you have and you like how it looks then use it. Since it is going to be a quilt for you and a memory of your mom, then you need to use the colors you like/love and will enjoy looking at. That being said...personally, I would use a tan, brown, black or gray to make a think border first then use the lavendar as a little bit wider border. That way you have a little bit of a distinction. I agree not to tie it. If you enjoy hand quilting, then by all means take the time and enjoy it (make sure you have a good thimble...I learned the hard way) and make it yours. Picking a design to quilt on something that amazing can be hard. You could do simple and do diagonal lines, you could do wavy lines, you could do hearts in some of the squares, you could do a bigger heart to join the 4 patches. The sky is the limit. What does the quilt say to you? Listen to the quilt and your heart and follow it. Do what you will love and cherish!!! Enjoy and please keep us updated on what you do.

Quiltbeagle

How nice to have such wonderful memories! Lavender might be a nice border, but something darker would really make the colors 'pop'. Maybe a nice rich red or even black? You might even consider a second, narrow inner border. If I was you I'd audition several colors, step back and just pick my favorite(s). Please post a photo when you're done so we can all see the finished quilt!

QandE2010

I think you would be happier with the finished product if you quilted it. And, as you said, that will make a nice winter project. When I first look at the quilt, the red colors seem to pop out, so I would be inclined to go with that. (IMHO) You might lay several different colors next to the quilt and see what you think. I also agree that you should use a think dark inside border to give the eyes a place to rest. Whatever you do, I am sure it will be beautiful when finished. Be sure to show us pictures when finished.

SusannaOK

I truly appreciate the advice, Ladies! I really had toyed with the idea of a black border, but now I'll just have to try different colors to see what I like best. Having a two-color border appeals to me. Thank you so much for your suggestions!

susie-susie-susie

I don't think I would use lavender as the border. I would use either the red or the orange. I also like the aqua. I would put a dark narrow border and then the color. The quilt is very nice. It will be nice when you hand quilt it. I wouldn't tie it
either.
Sue

ManiacQuilter2

You might try a narrow accent orange as the inside border and then try a black or a brown for the outside border. I would hand quilt it using diagonal lines since you can't stitch in the border with hand quilting. GOOD LUCK !!