Creative Quilt Border Ideas to Finish Your Quilt

Creative Ideas for Quilt Borders

Adding a border to a quilt might seem like a small detail, but it can have a big impact on the overall look and feel. As a quilter with over 10 years of experience creating quilts for clients, friends, and family, I’ve tried out many border styles and designs. From my experience, the border should complement the quilt design and enhance the main pattern.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Quilt Borders

Before jumping into specific quilt border ideas, here are some key considerations as you plan:

• Quilt size – Make sure to measure properly so the border fits.
• Border width – A wider border can frame a focal center. A narrower one can sharpen the focus.
• Color scheme – Coordinate or contrast the colors with the blocks.
• Style – Match the border intricacy to the main pattern.

Keeping these factors in mind will help narrow down border options and pinpoint one that perfection frames your quilt.

7 Creative Ideas for Quilt Borders

Here are my top seven go-to ideas for eye-catching quilt borders:

1. Pieced borders – Piece together patchwork units using scraps or coordinated prints for a tailored frame. You can echo shapes or colors from the main quilt or introduce something new.
2. Prairie points – These folded triangles add nice texture and motion along the edges. They pair well with both traditional and modern styles.
3. Ruffled border – For a soft, feminine feel, attach gathered strips of fabric along the sides. It’s easy to sew and makes a big decorative statement.
4. Scalloped border – Cut curving wave edges out of fabric then join them into a long border strip. The swooping lines add whimsy.
5. Asymmetric border – Get creative by having each side or corner feature a unique border pattern for an energetic asymmetrical style.
6. Split borders – Use different prints or colors on the inner and outer border for a tailored two-tone look.
7. Mitered corners – Cut border strips on the bias, then angle the edges. It builds drama through strong diagonal lines.

From my experience with client quilts over the years, I’ve faced situations where I was stuck between two or three border options. What has worked for me is to layout a test border with safety pins first to get a feel for each look.

Creative Materials for One-of-a-Kind Borders

While most quilt borders use traditional cotton fabrics, I really like to get creative with unique materials for borders with wow-factor. Here are some ideas to try:

• Lace, embroidered trim, or beaded fringe
• Leather or suede strips
• Ribbon in various widths and textures
• Vintage scarf or necktie remnants
• Upcycled pieces from worn out jeans or sweaters

One time I even used some neckties from my dad’s old collection to create a vibrant memory border on a gift quilt for him. The sentimental value made it extra special.

So don’t be afraid to experiment with unconventional materials – you never know what will work until you try! At the very least you’ll end up with a creative one-of-a-kind statement piece.

Finishing Touches for Polished Borders

After sewing on border strips, here are some tips for polished edges:

• Iron seam allowances towards border so edges lie flat
• Check corners for precise 90 degree angles so the border doesn’t pull
• Topstitch borders down on both sides for a tailored look
• Add hanging sleeve to back for clean display

Taking these extra finishing steps makes a huge difference in creating neat fully framed quilt borders ready for showcasing.

Perhaps you’re wondering at this point – is it worth investing so much time on just the borders? For me, the answer is absolutely yes! Elegant borders not only enhance the overall beauty of your quilt, but they also reflect advanced skill as a quilter.

So as you plan out your next quilting project, I hope these creative ideas have sparked inspiration for distinctive borders. From classically pieced to whimsically ruffled, the possibilities are wide open. And don’t forget, have fun experimenting with different looks along the way – that’s part of the creativity process! Let me know in the comments if you have any other border styles I missed. I’m always looking for new ideas too. Happy quilting!

FAQ

What are some good ideas for quilt borders?

1. A fun idea is to use bold prints or even conversational prints to make the border pop. This can be a great way to showcase some of your favorite fabrics.
2. You could also try a scalloped border or a border with gentle curves sort of for a wavy effect. This adds nice movement and visual interest.
3. I like the idea of kind of echoing colors from the quilt body itself into the border. This helps tie everything together.
4. If you’re feeling adventurous, mixing multiple border prints can make a dynamic statement. But make sure there’s some cohesion still in the color scheme.
5. For traditional quilt borders, you can’t go wrong with basic straight borders in coordinating solids or tone-on-tone prints. Simple but elegant.
6. Adding prairie points or little cornerstones in contrasting colors along the borders inserts sort of playful accents around the edges.
7. To get sort of an antique look, try a double border with a narrow darker inner border and wider lighter outer border with some space between them.

What width should quilt borders be?

8. There aren’t any hard and fast rules, but a good guideline is to cut border strips the width of the finished blocks or units in the quilt center. This helps balance things out.
9. Narrow borders tend to make the quilt appear larger overall, while wide borders have more of a framing effect around the quilt.
10. For large bed-sized quilts, borders around 6-8 inches wide are pretty common. But play around and see what proportions look best to your eye.