Quilt Border Sizes
10-13-2017, 04:31 PM
#11
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,664
I agree with Battle Axe. Smallest border inside with borders getting bigger as you go to the outside is most pleasing to the eye. . However it's your quilt, Do what you like. There are always exceptions to the rule. I would put it up on a design wall if I had one available.
10-13-2017, 06:39 PM
#12
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,571
I think as long as a single border width is no larger than your block size it will look proportional with no issues. I'm also of the belief that if you start with your smallest width border and work your way out it would be the most pleasing to the eye.
When I shop for fabrics for a project at the LQS, I usually try to line up the bolts of fabric for the borders in the (rough) widths that I'm planning to sew. If you have various fabrics that you are considering using, fold them to the various widths you are thinking..line them up with your top and see if they are pleasing to your eye. You might need to adjust some colors/widths but folding and lining up with the top might save lots of sewing/ripping. Just a thought.
When I shop for fabrics for a project at the LQS, I usually try to line up the bolts of fabric for the borders in the (rough) widths that I'm planning to sew. If you have various fabrics that you are considering using, fold them to the various widths you are thinking..line them up with your top and see if they are pleasing to your eye. You might need to adjust some colors/widths but folding and lining up with the top might save lots of sewing/ripping. Just a thought.
10-13-2017, 07:30 PM
#13
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Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4,688
When I got back into quilting in 2000 I read a lot of books to learn how folks approached quilt design. Several of the books I read talked about borders and the information was interesting (though I do not pretend that I have adhered to the advice at all times). Here are some of the things that I picked up:
-- what is the purpose of the border -- is it to simply enlarge the size of the top, is it to draw the eye out of the quilt or into the center, or is it to stop the pattern so you can maybe do a patterned border as well
-- If the quilt has pieced blocks, no individual border should be as large as the block
-- if there are multiple borders, it is most pleasing to have the narrowest toward the center
-- In planning for multiple borders, and odd numbers are better than even
-- better no border than the wrong border
-- for medallion quilts it is most pleasing to alternate pieced and solid borders so the eye has a place to rest -- alternating the size of the borders is good too.
-- some designers tell you that if the blocks of the quilt are large, the total size of all borders should not exceed the size of the blocks.
Since there are no quilt police, I use these concepts as guidelines then do my own thing.
-- what is the purpose of the border -- is it to simply enlarge the size of the top, is it to draw the eye out of the quilt or into the center, or is it to stop the pattern so you can maybe do a patterned border as well
-- If the quilt has pieced blocks, no individual border should be as large as the block
-- if there are multiple borders, it is most pleasing to have the narrowest toward the center
-- In planning for multiple borders, and odd numbers are better than even
-- better no border than the wrong border
-- for medallion quilts it is most pleasing to alternate pieced and solid borders so the eye has a place to rest -- alternating the size of the borders is good too.
-- some designers tell you that if the blocks of the quilt are large, the total size of all borders should not exceed the size of the blocks.
Since there are no quilt police, I use these concepts as guidelines then do my own thing.
10-14-2017, 04:54 AM
#14
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Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Kansas
Posts: 4,459
Those are very interesting points, Quiltnlady. I'll try to remember some of them.
For myself, I like to use two borders. The first one I like to make a narrow 1" border and the second I like to make about 4"-5", depending on the design. The quilt I am working on now has a 6" border. It's feels a bit big, so I am quilting feathers in it to make it look better, like it has less "negative space" as some people say. (But how space is negative is still beyond me!
)
For myself, I like to use two borders. The first one I like to make a narrow 1" border and the second I like to make about 4"-5", depending on the design. The quilt I am working on now has a 6" border. It's feels a bit big, so I am quilting feathers in it to make it look better, like it has less "negative space" as some people say. (But how space is negative is still beyond me!
)
10-14-2017, 05:35 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 490
Until fairly recently, I rarely used borders on my quilts, but I have been adding one border recently. I now want to expand to adding two and up to three borders of varying sizes (e.g., 3"/2"/3"). I am a bit (well, a lot) confused about what the Total width (one border, two borders combined, or three borders) of the borders should be. I read that a border should be no larger than the largest block in one's quilt, and preferably smaller. Is this correct? (To be specific, I have a quilt top that I want to add an inner border of 3", a middle border of 2", and the outer border of 3", (finished) but this comes to 8 inches, and the largest block is only 6 inches finished.
I hope this question isn't too confusing; I'm confused enough myself!
Thanks for any advice you may offer!
I hope this question isn't too confusing; I'm confused enough myself!
Thanks for any advice you may offer!
Try different sizes on your quilt by laying the fabric in the width that you want next to the finished top. I like quilts with borders because it frames your work like a frame frames a picture. Our quilts are works of art, so they need a frame.
10-14-2017, 06:10 AM
#16
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,857
There are quilts with very wide borders all the way to no borders - it is what you prefer. My suggestion is to lay the top out on the bed (folded in the middle) and audition border widths on both sides. Leave it there and each time you enter the room note which side is more pleasing to you.
10-14-2017, 06:36 AM
#17
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Northeastern Indiana
Posts: 2,800
[ATTACH=CONFIG]582237[/ATTACH]Here is one I'm currently working on. The little squares are black and so is the narrow framing border, then a beige scroll fabric to show high contrast to the black and then a darker honeystone fabric to tie it all together. I tried to pin those pieces to show approximate proportion. What do you think?
Marcia
Marcia
10-14-2017, 10:02 AM
#18
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
That is a stunning quilt, battle axe. I also prefer the borders to go up in width, but I have seen some where a narrower border is in the center of the border. It would add more interest imo if each border strip was a different width with the outermost being the widest. If the first two borders are relatively narrow 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 (for example) then the last border could be wider 4" (for example) and I don't think it would overpower the 6" block.
When I get to the border stage, I lay out the fabrics and fold and smoosh until it feels right to me. It is generally an intuitive process.
When I get to the border stage, I lay out the fabrics and fold and smoosh until it feels right to me. It is generally an intuitive process.
10-14-2017, 02:48 PM
#20
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,148
I have used a 1/2 or 1" flange on several of my quilts. It adds a small pop of color without adding a actual border. I have even put a flange on both sides of a inner border and pressed it so it is facing in toward the inner broder. It is your quilt and there are no quilt police!
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