Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Border Wars

Back before the 'time of great cleaning', last month, I was working on a quilt.


This quilt.

I had the blocks sewn together and one border cut and pieced together when things were packed up and put away in the name of de-cluttering.

And so, remembering my resolve to finish the current project before the next one is begun, today I got it down from the shelf in the closet and put the border on. Then, I remembered that I had intended to have an inner border... So, I took the first border off. After cutting the inner border, I remembered from my class that if more than one border is to be mitred, they should be sewn together and mitred at the same time.

So that was the plan. Except with the inner border added, the outer border was just a bit short of long enough to mitre. Which I didn't figure out until I was mid-mitre.

Well, then. I would not mitre the corners. Un-doing and re-doing was much harder than you would think. Or that I would think. And it is a pretty big quilt top, so there was much wrestling of fabric. I had to stop after three corners. And to illustrate how taxing to my brain, the whole 'figuring out' process was, I thought I had stopped after two corners!

I finished it up this evening after my yoga class restored my mind/body connection.

This is what it looks like with the borders. (After taking down the ugly valance and re-arranging the furniture, my 'design wall' is not quite as effective as it was...)


I am not sure I am completely in love with the effect. I think that maybe the inner border should have been narrower. Or maybe it needs another border - maybe a yellow one - added to the outside. Or maybe binding it with the yellow is just what it needs.

I don't think I have it in me to take off the borders and try something different. I might change my mind after a day (or ten) away from the project, I suppose. At this point, I think I will leave it as is and use the yellow for the binding.

But, if anyone has any suggestions, I am open...

11 comments:

Allie said...

It's GLORIOUSLY happy!!!!!!! I love this quilt! Leave the borders and bind with yellow - that will be the perfect touch. GLORIOUS!!!!!!!!

Lynne said...

I love it! Please leave the borders, they are perfect! I agree, bind with the yellow for that extra touch!

GORGEOUS.

Iron Needles said...

I was going to say what A & L said before I saw they said it. Narrow binding with a bit of yellow and it is perfect as it is.

Haha. Yoga and restoring your mind/body connection....

I mean...I am sure that it happened just like that...

Gaynell said...

I think that some time away from the project will let you see it as the rest of us do..a happy, lovely quilt!

Paula, the quilter said...

Leave the borders and bind with the yellow. Just a note: you didn't really have to miter the corners since there are no miters inside. How kewl would it have been to make the borders as wonky as the strips in the blocks? Hindsight, ya know.

Anonymous said...

Looks great to me.
Wrapper

Martha said...

I agree with everyone -- the borders looks wonderful and a yellow binding will be just right. I really like it -- it's very cheerful and sort of whimsical too. Have you decided what you're going to use for the back?

jan said...

Thanks, everyone for the lovely comments! I am liking it better, already. I think I just had to step away...

Sarah or Semmy said...

Like the Bright Springtime yellow a lot. But if you do think you need something a little extra, I would say add a small black piece between the yellow and the first border.But like I said the the way it is is outstanding.

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

Personally, I love it. And the undoing thing was the undoing of my sewing. I cannot stand to backtrack but, then, neither am I patient enough to get it right the first time. Bad combination! C

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

As a non-crafty person I have no good advice though I hope someday I can get to LV and see all of your gorgeous goodies, up close and personal. I see these pics and I desperately need the tactile sensation of these pretty designs.

Happy Easter!