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Monday, June 22, 2015

To Border or Not to Border. That is the Question.


I finished my Sister's Choice in Civil War reproductions top...or have I ?????


The blocks are 10 inches so as you can see..my top is now 60 x 80. 



But the more I looked at it the more I heard little voices calling...border, border, border.   I'm not a border person so either those little voices in my head are turning against me or trying to teach me new tricks.  BUT, I thought I read somewhere that civil war quilts were rarely bordered.  Or did I just imagine I read that? 

Anyway...should I add a border? If so what should it look like? I have an idea but not sure I actually like it enough (or am ambitious enough) to make it. 

Obviously I don't have a design wall.  I just randomly sewed blocks together. I don't think design walls were a thing back in the civil war days so I guess I'm really reproducing with my reproductions. 

for those who may or may not have design walls. 

August update:
To get this finished (borders or not) is my August goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes!

17 comments:

  1. I usually add borders of some kind, but I like this one just as it is. Can't wait to see what YOU decide to do with it.

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  2. You are correct they are often without borders. I say no border I love it the way it is.

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  3. If you are questioning it maybe you answered yourself that maybe you shouldn't. Lay it on the bed with border fabric pinned to it and see if you like it. somethings just need to be finished and no borders. Chris

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  4. I so rarely put borders on my quilt 'cause I get horribly lazy by the end and just want my quilts tops DONE! That said, I can totally see this lovely quilt top with a 4-patch border...

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  5. I vote no border. It looks great as is.

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  6. I'm voting no borders also. I love it!

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  7. I'm old school so I always think quilts need borders. (To me, borderless quilts look unfinished. Just naked and forlorn and abandoned. Like orphan puppies. Big-eyed orphan puppies. In the rain.)
    I'd put some kind of frame on it, even if it's just a plain dark 4-6" border.
    But don't mind me. I'm ancient.

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  8. I really like it the way it is - and it is a perfect size right now ;-)

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  9. A "no border" vote from me, too. This is a beautiful quilt.

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  10. Being a no border person, I'll say "no border". I just like the look. Listening to your gut feeling is okay too.

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  11. If that can help you, I just finished a Civil war quilt. The pattern didn't have a border. But I finally add one. Good luck with your choice. http://courtepointemoi.blogspot.ca/2015/06/40-ans-de-mon-frere-my-brothers-40th.html

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  12. I like it w/o a border, but it's not big enough in my opinion :) I would personally probably use a 3-strip border (like cream/red/cream) and then do a 9 patch (with red corners and center) in the corner to tie them together.

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  13. Love your quilt top! The colors are so vintage looking they just make me want curl up with your quilt.:) I'd probably add a pieced border because that's the way my brain works, but I am very curious to see what you end up with!

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  14. I love it! I do agree that it could be a little bigger which is a nice reason to add a frame. Just on looks, it is great as it is! What do you wanna do?

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  15. I love it! I reproduce with my reproductions without a design wall too :0) I'd audition a fairly narrow red border I think - or maybe just red binding. Anyway you decide this will be a lovely quilt!

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  16. Not a complicated border but yes, I think it needs a frame. A cream TOT then a solid and another cream with a dark binding. JMHO Stew on it for a while, don't rush your decision.

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  17. One of my older quilts was hanging in there, except for the binding. It was falling apart, all frayed. Because the quilt had a border, it made it easy to cut off the old binding and replace it. Gave the quilt new life for a few more years I think. But that doesn't mean I always add a border to every quilt. I could go either way with this one. What did you end up doing?

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Thank you for your vist and your time. I enjoy your comments and try to respond to them all although sometimes it might take me awhile!