Puzzling Over Borders ~

 

 

 

 

 

There are reasons my quilts don't often have borders.  First and foremost, my quilt style doesn't require borders.  I've heard quilt makers say they add borders to enlarge the quilt, but oftentimes I find a border takes away from the beauty of what's within. 

Secondly, a very definite reason I don't always add borders, is that I agonize over what fabric might make just the right border.....case in point:

I volunteered to do a table technique (one of five)  for our July guild meeting and decided to demonstrate cutting and sewing circles.  Since I always like to have a quilt sampler ready to show, I made this little ditty out of some orphan blocks that were on hand.....but it just needed more.  It wasn't talking to me:  not much, anyway. 

I started pulling fabric for borders late one afternoon and finally made my final decision late the next day.  My head hurts just from thinking about how much I agonized over what should have been a minor addition to my quilt sampler. 

 

While I loved this indigo blue (designer unknown) with the aqua inner border, it came across just a tad too dark and detracted from my circles which are suppose to be the focal point. 

 

 

and the same was true for this Kaffe Fassett from his

Striped Heraldic collection.   Brilliant design that enhanced my quirky little sampler perfectly....

but the surround sound came in too loud. 

 

 

 

This Rifle Paper Co. with peach inner border lightened the look up slightly,

 but I'm still hedging for less.

 

Cotton and Steel is always my go-to-fabric, but this one is in the wrong shade of gray.  I  continue to dig in my fabric bin.

 

 
 
 

This Heather Bailey floral would make a great border, but not on this quilt!

 

 

Oh my goodness, oh my gosh....I'm so excited to have this Rifle Paper Co. in my stash and will use it soon.....but now I'm going too light.  Is there a happy medium somewhere?

 

Now, we're cooking.  Let's find a lighter inner border.

 

The perfect orange inner border to compliment this Brandon Mably 'Pebble Mosaic'.   Yes and Yea!

 
 

 

It finished at 50" by 62" 

Life is good

and

so is my little circle sampler