Maybe they just meant the "drop" . . . ?

Oh, what a gang (gaggle?) of rebels we are! LOL We throw caution to the wind and make our borders any size we see fit. No one is going to stiffle our creativity. United we stand.

I love Susan Garman's patterns and she generally uses more than one border and the last one is 8" or more. Since she is recognized internationally, I lean toward her thinking.

I could not have said it better!

RST[/quote]

This is the direction in which I tend to lean also. Another reason for a border, or a combination of borders, is to create a frame which will highlight the piecing, or make it pop. Color is an important consideration, as well as the width.

Think of a quilt as a fine art painting. Some artists paint the sides of the canvas. No frame needed because the art sinks into the wall. Other paintings, such as a portrait, are finished with only a frame. Without a frame, the portrait appears unfinished.

A more complex painting may have a mat, or a pair of mats. The first is a "stop action" mat, called a reveal. It is designed to keep the painting on the canvas. Otherwise the mind of the viewer will try to complete the painting by allowing the sky, grass, river, or some other known aspect of scenery or action, to drift off of the canvas. (The mind does play tricks on us.) The first frame stops the action, and contains known scenes. it can be fairly narrow. Some quilters refer to the narrow, stop action border, as a sparkle. It can be flat, pipping, or tab-like.

The wider mat on the picture will add considerably to the richness of the presentation. The color choice will either bring the painting into the foreground, or tie it into the room.

When applying borders to quilts. The first question to answer is probably going to be about the size, and if you still have room for a border. (In the design phaise - do you want to make room for a border.) The next question is “What statement do I want my quilt to make?” The second question is, “What mood should this quilt provide?” Is the quilt about color, movement, tranquility, rhythm, joy, or . . . ? Inner and outer borders will make or break the statement or mood with width and color.

Different viewers will have different perspectives, so it all boils down to the designer. YOU. In your eyes, what looks best? Lay the top against different widths and colors of fabric to get the feel for each, and how they effect the piecing. This is one of the fun parts, without rules.

Concepts of size and color theory play a roll, but I believe that it started with some bloke who studied hundreds of quilts and wanted to know why the quilts looked so good. He then determined that sizes and color made a difference, told others about his revelation, and someone thought they were “rules” set in stone. (They are really just “rules of thumb.”

Have FUN.[/quote]

Some people are just so funny. There are no rules to quilting. Do what makes you happy. If someone else doesn't like it then it is their problem not yours. I have never made a quilt to a pattern. I always make it "my way". Would a painter follow rules? No they follow their heart and their vision. I think quiters are as much artists as painters are.

I eye ball my quilts as to what I think it needs, and go from there. Never heard of the six inch thing.

I hope that person doesn't bring her tape measure to my house and measure my quilt borders.

necessary??? That IS the quilt police LOL!! not in my book. You can do what you want :)

Who said THAT? Come on out into the light and say that into my face. Yeah, to me. Oh, you and what army of quilt police??

Hey, it's YOUR quilt, if you want a border 10 inches wide, go for it. If you want a border the quilt police would have to see with a microscope, go for it. It's your quilt, make it fun and pretty. If you aren't having fun making these lovely works of art, then you won't be working at your best.

I vote for your quilt, your time, your money do it your way !!