I plan to add borders--about 6" wide--on all sides which will make it about 48" x 54". I don't think I can do a busy border -- no stripes, no large prints, not a pieced border, and probably not a scrappy border -- because the quilt is already busy without adding a border that draws the eyes in another direction.
I laid several red fabrics along the edge of the quilt today, just to see.
My first impression is that with the fabrics above as a border the quilt is no longer "in the red range" but becomes a red quilt. Definitely red. The reds look stronger in person that they do in this photo.
Giving myself another option, I tried a red and white plaid fabric. That fabric forms a U on the sides nearest the camera. On the right far end is another red and white plaid with a little less white.
I know it's not really reasonable to choose a border when there's not enough fabric to go all the way around the quilt but I don't want to cut fabric just to audition a border. So I'll choose the borders with sample pieces around the edges.
Since the quilt is so scrappy probably any of the fabrics would be just fine.
I'll have to put off cutting and sewing the border till next week. My oldest aunt's funeral is this Thursday and my daughter and her three little ones are coming to stay for a few days and to go with us to the funeral. I must put up scissors, pins, needles, rotary cutters, rulers, etc., and do some cleaning.
I'm linking this post to One Monthly Goal-February Goal Finish Link-up at Elm Street Quilts. Thanks for hosting, Patty.
I'm also linking to
> Linky Tuesday February 28 at Freemotion by the River
> Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework
Thanks for hosting, ladies.
--Nancy.
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Sounds like you don't want a "red" quilt, but babies like red, don't they? : )
ReplyDeleteI'm drawn to the dark red on the right in the first photo, but if you want this as a baby quilt you probably want something not so dark.
Oh, yes, I do want a red quilt, Janet. Red is one of my favorite colors. And yes, I think babies love red. I know lots of people think pastels are the only colors for babies but I'm of a mind that brights are better. This Buckeye Beauty has been much more fun to make than the green/blue one. I was leaning toward that dark red, too. I like how it sets off the center and almost makes the center look lower than the border. On the other hand, I think the lighter red in the second photo makes the center float to the top. Or maybe that's just my eyes....
DeleteAs a matter of interest, I read that the pastel color cones are the last to develop in a baby's eyes. Red is one of the first. That may be why they are attracted to it - they actually SEE it. =)
DeleteThe quilt is lovely, I think I would go for a pieced border, fairly plain using big blocks of the red fabrics used in the centre blocks. As long as you are not using lots of small pieces, which would be overkill, it will be fine.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion, Kate. I'll try it and see what I think.
DeleteFun quilt top! Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and congrats on your finish!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Patty.
DeleteCongrats for reaching your OMG! My favorite border is the medium dark one in the right upper corner. But you are right, any of them would work nicely. Sorry about your aunt. Enjoy your family visiting.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jennie. It is sad that cousins often only get together at weddings and funerals. I enjoyed seeing family I don't often get to see as well as having both daughters and our grandchildren here.
DeleteThanks for your thoughts on the border. I've just put the quilt out on the floor again today and will lay out the borders tomorrow.
If it were me, I would use a variety of reds in the border. I have used a variety of fabrics in borders in the past and often join then with a 45 degree angle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion, Karen. I'll try it and see how it looks.
DeleteI LOVE it! Love the red, love the blocks, love it all!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sherrill. I appreciate the comment.
DeleteLove your scrappy buckeyes! What if you did a narrow inner border with the darkest color and then a scrappy border (perhaps piano keys) using all the other fabrics? Looking forward to seeing what you decide!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion, Karen. I had thought about a narrow inner border and, at the time, nixed the idea, probably because I was in hurry to get the quilt done. It might do more justice to the quilt to give it a little more consideration, huh? I just put the quilt back down today and will play with borders tomorrow.
DeleteI agree that the second photo makes the quilt look pinker. In the top photo, yes, probably any would be okay, but I like the one on the top right best, and then then one on the bottom. They are definite reds. The darker one is also good, but will make the whole quilt seem darker by pulling out the dark colors from the center. If that's what you want, it would be great. Whatever you choose, the final quilt will be lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your observations and thoughts in such great detail, Susan. I appreciate it. Thanks, too, for the information about babies' vision and colors. I'm pleased to know I'm not on the wrong track for choosing brights for baby and not ruining anyone's vision!
DeleteYou will make a decision often for me anyway, one that I'd not even considered! I think I would like to make a buckeye beauty quilt - yours is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jayne. Considering we're both from the Buckeye state it makes sense we might both like this quilt. Imagine it in tans and browns for real buckeyes, or if you're a fan, in OSU's scarlet and grey.
DeletePretty quilt!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kris.
DeleteI like the dark red.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your opinion, Missy.
DeletePersonally, I LOVE ALL of the different reds pieced as the border! Why not do that! It is visually stunning and interesting! It's a great scrappy quilt any way you look at it though!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your enthusiastic comment, Kevin. I just got the quilt out again today and hope to choose and sew a border tomorrow.
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