Exploring Beautiful Border Quilt Designs
As a longtime quilter, I’ve stitched my share of quilt borders over the years. From basic borders to more intricate designs, the options are endless! Border quilts can really take your quilt from ho-hum to striking. But with so many possibilities, border quilt designs can be confusing. Where do you start? What works with different quilts? From my experience, here’s an in-depth look at planning and sewing creative borders that make a statement.
Quilt Border Basics
Before diving into fancy border designs, let’s review the basics. I’ve learned the hard way that solid borders should come first! Here are some basic tips:
- Plan border width carefully based on your quilt size. I made the mistake of using 6 inch borders on a baby quilt once…yikes, so overwhelming!
- Cut border strips across the fabric grain for best stability. Otherwise borders may stretch and cause wavy edges.
- For basic borders, use a single fabric. Printed borders can compete too much.
- Sew borders to the quilt in this order: Top and bottom first, then sides.
With those tips in mind, let’s explore some creative ways to jazz up borders!
Pieced Borders
Pieced borders stitch multiple fabrics together, often in block or strip formations. The options for pieced borders are endless, limited only by your imagination! Here are some pieced border ideas and tips:
- Repeat blocks/squares from the main quilt. Ties everything together nicely.
- Use scraps or leftover fabrics. Gets them out of your stash!
- Try Irish Chain or Rail Fence blocks. Simple but striking.
- Vary block sizes and fabrics. Keeps it interesting!
- Add sashing between blocks for extra pop.
I recently used a pieced border on a baby quilt with Rail Fence blocks. The colors repeated from the main quilt, and it turned out great! Pieced borders seem advanced, but take it slow and you can handle tricky borders.
Mitered Border Corners
Mitered corners on borders create neat, precise 45 degree angles that I just love. They require some math and concentration, but the impact is stunning.
- Cut border strips longer than needed.
- Sew side borders first, stopping at corner measurement.
- Fold and pin miters, aligning 45 degree seams. The extra length allows perfect alignment.
- Sew borders with miters folded. Check alignment!
- Trim dog ears. Voila, sharp mitered corners!
I felt so professional the first time I mastered neat mitered borders. Take your time marking measurements and aligning the corners just right. Patience and precision are crucial!
Decorative Border Treatments
If you really want to take borders up a notch, consider fun decorative treatments:
- Applique – Sew cut-out fabric shapes to borders. Get creative with hearts, flowers, vines.
- Embroidery – I recently hand-embroidered little flowers along a border. Subtle but sweet!
- Beads – For a bit of sparkle, sew beads into borders. Outline appliques or make beaded vines.
- Buttons – One of my favorite treatments! Sew whimsical buttons along borders for texture and color.
Decorative borders do take time but make quite the statement. On my last quilt I hand-sewed random fabric buttons of all colors and sizes along the border. Everyone raved about the fun, playful look. Get creative with appliques, stitches, beads, buttons – anything goes!
Tips for Planning Border Designs
Borders may come last, but its helpful to plan them early when designing a quilt. Keep these tips in mind:
- Sketch border ideas to visualize scale and placement.
- Select border fabrics as you choose other fabrics. It helps tie the quilt together.
- If the main quilt is busy, keep borders simple. Allow them to frame the quilt nicely.
- Measure carefully! Border size impacts the whole quilt proportions.
I have a notebook filled with quilt sketches and ideas for future projects. Sketching borders helps immensely when finalizing quilt plans. Include notes on fabrics, dimensions and any motifs. As much as I love improvising, measurements are too important for borders to wing it! A few calculates and sketches make all the difference.
The Finishing Touch
Like a beautiful frame on artwork, borders put that finishing touch on a stunning quilt. Whether you keep them simple or complex, borders make an impact and pull the whole quilt together. Hopefully these border design ideas have sparked some creativity for your next project! From pieced blocks to decorative trims, borders offer lots of room for creativity and personalization.
So what are you waiting for? I’m off to sketch ideas for the baby quilt I’m starting! Now…what border would look amazing with little sailboats and navy fabric? The possibilities are endless! Let those creative juices flow!
| Design | Difficulty Level | Best For | Yardage Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Wedding Ring | Advanced | Heirloom quilts | 5-7 yards |
| Log Cabin | Beginner | Scrap quilts | 2-3 yards |
| Dresden Plate | Intermediate | Feminine quilts | 3-4 yards |
| Irish Chain | Easy | Baby/crib quilts | 2-3 yards |
| Flying Geese | Intermediate | Modern quilts | 3-5 yards |
FAQ
What are border quilt designs?
Border quilt designs refer to decorative patterns sewn around the edges of a quilt to frame the central design. Borders can be plain, pieced, or appliquéd. They basically act as a finishing touch to complete the quilt.
What kinds of fabrics can I use for borders?
You can use all kinds of fabrics for borders – solids, prints, batiks, etc. Just be sure the fabric complements the overall quilt design. Many people like to echo fabrics from the quilt center by using scrap pieces from the same fabrics.
How wide should my border be?
Typical quilt border widths range from 2-8 inches. Narrow 1-2 inch borders are good for framing bold quilt centers without overpowering them. Wide 6-8 inch borders can make a bold statement and balance out a densely pieced center.
How do I figure out border measurements?
Calculating measurements precisely is key for proper border fit. Measure across the width and length of the finished quilt top, then add the desired border widths to determine how long to cut the pieces.
Can I add multiple borders?
Absolutely! Using several borders in varying widths can create nice visual interest. A common scheme is a narrow inner border and wider outer border. Just be very precise in your calculations.
What’s the best way to join border pieces?
Borders should be continuously joined into long strips then sewn to the quilt. Avoid seaming borders mid-way across quilt sides. Precision is a must for smoothly flat borders.
Can borders be a different fabric than the quilt center?
Yes, using a different fabric is common. Make sure the fabric provides nice contrast or a pleasing echo of fabrics in the main quilt. Coordinate colors carefully.