The beginning of this top, posted on May 4th. I have the blocks together now. There is still plaid left and I could make it bigger, but I'm quite happy with this size. It's 39" square. When I showed you on the 4th, the top row had a block with both a bright turquoise and a fairly bright red. Seeing it on the computer screen, I realized I didn't like those two pieces jumping out like that, and removed that block. After that I pretty much skipped over the blocks that had one outstanding square, taking the ones that were more muted. Now the question is: WHAT do I need for border/borders?? I'm thinking it needs to be something that falls between dark and medium, probably narrow, followed by a slightly wider outer border....but I need help!!!! Suggestions, please!!!!!!! That funny little yellow piece in the upper left has the size of the top written on it,(I find it helpful to measure and make a note before laying it aside) forgot to take it off for the picture.
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17 comments:
Looking good!My suggestion would be to add 3 borders. A dark one, one of the plaid, then another of the same dark. IF you have enough of the plaid. You asked for opinions, so I thought I'd share mine! :o)
Hmmm...how about a narrow red/red-orange strip incorporated with the border (could be a stripe printed in the fabric) OR as a 1/2" or less wide binding?
I like it alot, Finn! I like that nothing jumps up and waves hello! Good choice. Now lets see. I think the first smaller border needs to be something in the medium to darker range. I've heard "quilters" say it stops the action of the quilt and defines the space. SO that would help to define all the 9 patches.
What about using the plaid for the wider border with corners made from 4 more four patches? Just a thought. I'd say pull out some fabrcis and start laying them against the quilt and snap a pic. Sometimes you can see it better in a picture. That will show you what each selection will look like.
Really looks good. I'd probably just make it bigger and forget the border but that is because I never know what to do about borders. I'm waiting to see what you come up with.
Finn ... I don't see color well enough to know with certainty the colors in the plaid. I might take the two dominant colors from that and either narrow plaid between or even ivory between. Then again, you know that I am new to finishing and make the guy at the quilt shop help me! (But i have a lotttt of great starts/ centers)
Best wishes,
Cindy
a dark red...like a wine color followed by a dark blue/navy?? now you know I am not going to suggest brown :-) I do like the idea of the final four corners being more of that plaid however.
The quilt is great. I think simple patterns have the most impact.
I like the idea of a narrow border of something like a barn red or a burnt orange. It will frame the quilt and stop the pattern. Then maybe a row of squares light and dark like the 9-patches all the way around. Then finish with the plaid. Just my 2 cents.
I'd be tempted to extend that diagonal dark line from the nine patches into the first border somehow.
Or do you have more of the plaid? It might be neat to extend the plaid out into the first border, a block the size of your nine patch blocks, centered in the middle of every space where the plaid touches the border.
I tend to like pieced borders, partly because that way I avoid the whole thing about the quilt police saying "cut your borders before you begin the quilt so you have long pieces and no seams in the border" :)
You asked for opinions and boy are you getting a bunch of different ones. My start for measurements would be the nine-patch. An inner border the same width as one square of the nine-patch, followed by an outer border the same width as the whole nine-patch. I'd love to see a deep or true red in one of those borders. No more plaid. That's my two cents. Oh, and I forgot to mention: it looks great!
Is is possible for you to pull two colors from the plaid squares for your border colors. Looks like gold and maybe small inner border of black? My thoughts. I know whatever you do will be great, as all your quilts are.
Ok - and here's MY two cents worth, too and it's for free!
I like Tonya's suggestion the best - it needs something to stop it, and a burnt orange/red would really make the other colors sing!
Sunch a simple quilt, but oh so wonderful, too!
It looks great Finn - but I always get stumped on the borders. So take whatever suggestions others have given you - I'm hopeless right now for that!
To me it is asking for a narrow (the width of one square in the 9-patch) inner dark border, a plaid border (if you have enough) & dark binding...
I like the way the plaid looks for those squares. Great idea!!
I'd vote for a darker inner border and the plaid for an outer border, too.
Great story on Justin's quilt. You should be proud that you made it through and came out stronger on the other end. I wasn't a quilter when I went through those tough times, so most of my quilts don't have good stories that come with them!
i sure like the look of the quilts you make. How about playing with some fabric till it looks pleasing to YOUR eye. You know let it take on a life of its own that fits you and the quilt.
nine patches in the corners as corner blocks?? Maybe something on the order of triple rail fence between them??
Okay, maybe that won't work and I just have it on the brain from helping someone figure out a quilt kit that was cut out that way at our meeting yesterday.
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