Pages

▼

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!

at

17 comments:

  1. sophieJune 22, 2015 at 6:06 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Carla A Few Of My Favorite ThingsJune 22, 2015 at 6:21 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sewing JunkieJune 22, 2015 at 6:50 PM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  4. TriciaJune 22, 2015 at 7:01 PM

    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...

    ReplyDelete
  5. MarianneJune 22, 2015 at 7:40 PM

    I vote no border. It looks great as is.

    ReplyDelete
  6. FabricandFlowersJune 22, 2015 at 8:22 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  7. gayleJune 22, 2015 at 8:34 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Alycia~QuiltygirlJune 22, 2015 at 11:22 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  9. RamonaJune 23, 2015 at 6:15 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  10. dianeJune 23, 2015 at 7:07 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  11. Chantal ThibodeauJune 23, 2015 at 7:42 AM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  12. Cascade QuiltsJune 23, 2015 at 10:22 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  13. audreyJune 23, 2015 at 1:24 PM

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Vic in NHJune 24, 2015 at 6:54 AM

    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?

    ReplyDelete
  15. JanetJune 24, 2015 at 11:48 AM

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wonky GirlJune 25, 2015 at 1:24 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  17. joe tulipsJune 30, 2015 at 6:03 AM

    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?

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your time. I enjoy comments and try to respond to them all.