Roxy Roller

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?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]462942[/ATTACH]

Knitette

Welcome to the board! Six inches sounds about 'right' to me, but it's your quilt, so up to you. Lovely quilt btw!

Roxy Roller

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.

erstan947

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

justflyingin

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
[ATTACH=CONFIG]462953[/ATTACH]

Quilter 65

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.

QuiltE

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.

susanf

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

Roxy Roller

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.

justflyingin

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.