Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Opinions please!

I've got limited options here because I only have little bits of fabric left. The dark blue is gone except I have just enough for the binding.

So do I just stop now?? Or do I take the scraps and do a pieced border and end with the dark binding? The size will be OK whether I add a border or not.

Please click on the photo to enlarge. Thanks!



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56 comments:

Mary said...

I like the scrappy border. How big does it need to be? Add another of the lighter blue to separate the scrappy border from the center of the quilt?

Anonymous said...

I like the border too. very pretty quilt. I will have to make one now. geesh!
Dawn in MA

Ruth's Place said...

I like the border as well.

Kristine said...

I like the scrappy border, but I also like the idea of the light blue inner border or maybe an outside border of light blue so the eye can rest.

Becky said...

Mary,
I really like the pieced border with your scraps. It adds another element to your quilt. Good luck!

Cheryl in CT said...

I like the scrappy too! I guess it really depends on how much time you have - the scrappy border is sure alot of piecing - maybe even more than the whole quilt!

Dayna said...

I like the border too!

Marianne said...

I vote for the pieced border using the scraps. It really adds a zing to the quilt, which turned out nice! You do sleep sometimes, right?

Anonymous said...

I've been following your blog for quite a while now and I am so impressed by your output. I just wanted to say that!

I love the twisty turny look and I think that border is so cool. Can't wait to see the finished piece.

Debbie

Anonymous said...

I'm with everyone else, I like the scrappy border also!!

Looking good so far, can not wait to see what you do with it.

Kelly Ann said...

The scrappy border is perfect, go with it...

Beth said...

I really like the scrappy pieced border. I think it'll look great even though it's more work.

Also, I wanted to let you know that I just finished a baby quilt yesterday using your happy blocks pattern. There's a picture on my blog http://mdquilter73.blogspot.com

Heidi said...

definitely the scrappy border. And I just love this quilt. And I'm wondering about the sleep thing too :-)
Heidi

Missy Ann said...

Love the scrappy border, and I agree with the other comments about adding an inner border too.

Vicki W said...

Ditto! Get to sewing those little scraps together!

marilyn said...

I think it looks great without the border. I guess I'm the oddball here. I think the border distracts from the main quilt. My eye is immediately drawn to the border, instead of to the middle of the quilt, where it should be. If you had to make it bigger, I would go with a light blue, plain border so as not to distract from the middle.

swooze said...

I like it either way. The border just adds to the fun of it all!

Deborah Levy said...

definitely the border

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I like your layout with the scrappy border.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/

Christina said...

Yep, boarder. This is beautiful!

Deb said...

Absolutely YES!!! to the pieced border. It LOOKS great and adds such interest to the whole quilt; makes it "jazzier". And, that's a good thing!!

Kristin said...

Love the border!

Anonymous said...

Yes to the scrappy border, looks great.

Kim said...

The scappy border idea is a good one, but I think it belongs on another quilt. I'd like a solid lighter border with corner blocks (perhaps the same pattern only smaller, or a four patch) I'm not sure I can explain why. The blocks are orderly and their tilted setting makes them fun. The border takes the quilt in a different direction.
Whatever you choose will be great, I'm sure! Have fun!

Treasa said...

I vote scrappy also. Love the blocks.

♪♪Melody♪♪ and Puddin said...

guess you don't need me to say it looks great. You might want to put a tiny inner border the color of that long pinkish color. The second block in the second row. I like to put in the strip of fabric that is folded and then hangs loose. A fake border.

SandyQuilts said...

How sweet. I vote just the binding.

Julia said...

wow, tough decision. I like both ideas actually. If you have enough of something for a small containment border and then the scrappy border, that might be a way to go. Either way it is going to look great. I love the way that you have tilted the blocks.

YankeeQuilter said...

See what happens when you ask for an opinion! Yikes!

I really like the border but I also know that it will take a lot of work. The quilt looks fine without the border too. So I guess: Is this a quilt you are keeping or giving away? Would you learn by making the border? Would you have any use for those fabrics if you didn't use them in this border?

So many questions...who ever said quilting was easy!

Denise in PA said...

Hi Mary- I LOVE how those blocks have come out since you've done the twist and turn to them. Takes them to a whole other place. I'll have to keep that technique in mind! I'd probably go with just a plain border or just the binding so your eye just focuses on those twisty blocks (but that's just me -seems the scrappy border is the winner per the comments!)

QuiltinLibraryLady said...

I like the scrappy border. It brings the prints to the outside of the quilt & adds a nice finish.

Jessica said...

I guess I'm an oddball with marilyn ~ I'd go without the border. I think the border is a great idea, but I'd save it for another quilt. I'm afraid it draws the eye outward and gives you no place to rest. But that's just my .02

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

As if you need another opinion...(lots already)...I also think the scrappy border with navy binding would be a perfect finish for your lovely blue quilt.
You do awesome work.

LizA. said...

I too really like the scrappy border but agree that it needs an inner, light border. Just a little one.

bingo~bonnie said...

hummm... to boarder or not to boarder? depends on how soon you want it finished if you ask me.

I love what you have going there... maybe even add a thin 1" purpleish pink strip before the pieced?? I love that 1 block withhot pink thrown in there ;)

honestly, I've never seen a quilt with boarders and thought - why didn't thye leave them off? where as I have seen several quilts and thought - too bad they didn't add a boarder before finishing ;)

hope that helps. Love from Texas! ~bonnie

Sallie Gayle said...

I like the border too. I think it adds some depth. A little thin light border would be good but fine without it too. Show us when it is done!!!

Anonymous said...

I like it with out the border.For me it becomes to busy with the added border. But I am sure it will be great either way

Anonymous said...

I like it either way but first preference would be WITH the border ... extra work, I know but it does really "excite" the entire quilt. I agree with perhaps a "thin" inner border ... easy for me to say when someone else is doing the work, right? LOL

Flatlander (Linda)

Ann said...

My initial reaction was without the border. I love the starkness of the black, and the border tones it down so much. Another alternative would be to extend the black as the border.

KateKwiltz said...

I like the idea of an inner border to break it up, LOVE the scrappiness of what you have going. Does it HAVE to be on all four sides? Or could it be offset on two sides by something solid?

Just a thought. Love the colors!

Heather said...

I like the scrappy border as well, but I do think you still need to add something in between your blocks and the scrappy border.

Is it possible to turn those pieces of dark blue you have set aside for binding into a small border to break up the blocks from the scrappy border and then use some of any of the other colors to create a binding. I think the binding could really be any of the blues if you decide to go with the scrappy border and it would free up just a little dark blue to add a thin border where your eyes can rest and appreciate both the blocks and scrappy border!

JMO.

Karen said...

I would love a plain border before the pieced border. You know, whatever you do will be fine and the receiver will love it. Quilts are such a hug from our hearts.

Quiltgranny said...

#43 adds her 2 cents which is like the others! I like the idea of a "popper" border between the main and the pieced border - maybe something in a purple or a turquoise? And the pieced border is FABULOUS!

meggie said...

Looks like it is scrappy border in a landslide! Love those colours!

Susan D said...

I do like the scrappy border. Then reading the comments-- yes, a think inner border for the eye to rest would look just right.
Mary's blog-- my daily inspiration.

InfinityQuilter/Knitter said...

I like the scrappy border also!

Carol E. said...

Border!

Laurie said...

I LOVE the scrappy border and dark binding! It just seems to finish it!
laurie

Linda said...

Scrappy border YES!!
I love this one Mary and that border will really finish it off.

jan said...

Hi Mary, give yourself a break, just put a plain border on this one, we need to rest our eyes sometimes!!!!! The gorgeous border can go on another quilt I am sure. Jan in UK

Lisa said...

I like no border... I think it distracts from the wonder-ful-ness that is that quilt itself!

Anonymous said...

I like the border too.
I love your blog!!!!!

Francesca - Italy

Donna said...

If you are going to use the pieced border, I agree that a narrow plain border first would be nice.

Conversely, my thought would be to maybe just bind it or perhaps do a pieced binding with some of the scraps you have, and no borders at all.

Anonymous said...

hi mary

something FINALLY occurred to me ... I've been pondering your dilemma since you first posted about it ..

My first thought was see if you could use the half square rectangles (HSR??) interspersed around the quilt - scrappy like with another blending fabric - you know how I did the stars in kyle's spinner quilt .. well maybe something like that ..

if you didn't want to do that, then maybe a neutral fabric from your stash - do a 2" frame of sorts and then bind it .. I think that having some sort of 'frame' would be just the ticket to offset these beautiful blocks .. just to make them pop more3 .. maybe a yellow? light orange?? Pink even??

either of those would work well - but it's your choice ..

HUGS!! n good luck with this one

g

Christina said...

Did you decide on this, I look forward to seeing it done.

Anonymous said...

Glad to see this..great!!!

I like this blog..

Thanks for sharing...
___________________
Andrew
The Best PRICE for the BEST ENTERTAINMENT