Adding Interesting Borders to Your Pieced Quilts
As an avid quilter for over 20 years, I’ve made my fair share of pieced quilt tops. However, I used to struggle with figuring out creative borders to frame them. The borders of a quilt really define the overall look and help pull together the pieced design on the inside. From my experience, choosing the wrong border can make an otherwise gorgeous quilt look underwhelming.
Key Considerations for Pieced Quilt Borders
- Purpose – Think about what role you want the border to play. Do you want it to complement or contrast the colors and patterns used in the main quilt? Should it provide a subtle frame or really stand out?
- Scale – Make sure the scale and complexity of the border matches the body of the quilt. A very intricate border can overwhelm a simple quilt, and vice versa.
- Continuity – There should be some continuity between the border and the pieced center of the quilt. Using similar colors, shapes or motifs can achieve this cohesion.
I’ve made some not-so-great choices over the years when it came to borders. Like the time I surrounded a vibrant Irish chain quilt with a very sedate piano key borderātalk about a mismatch! The poor quilt looked so confused. So from hard-learned experience, keeping those considerations in mind is key.
Techniques for Piecing Creative Quilt Borders
Now onto the fun part – techniques for adding fabulous pieced borders to your quilt! Here are some of my personal favorite methods and designs:
Extended Pieced Border
Basically, you’re continuing elements from the main quilt out into the border area. This helps makes the border feel like an integral part of the overall composition. Maybe you expand the patchwork pattern, enlarge the motifs, or echo the colors. I used this to great effect on a Lone Star quilt by echoing the star points alternately in my border pieces.
Framed Panels
This border showcases smaller quilt blocks or panel segments between vertical strips for the side borders, and horizontal strips on the top and bottom. The framed panels can pick up colors from the main quilt or provide delightful contrast. It creates a nice framework effect around your pieced center.
Mitered Borders
By cutting border pieces on the bias grain, you can create neat angled corners on your border. This works best with piano key or simple striped borders. I love the tidy finished effect of neat 45 degree angles turning the corners. It’s a bit more complex to piece, but so worth the effort!
Piano Key Border
Nothing says classy like a piano key border! Just like the black and white keys on a keyboard, elongated rectangles form a clean geometric frame. I like to get creative by using three or more fabric colors instead of just black and white. It’s an understated yet striking choice.
Scrappy Kaleidoscope Border
This festive border uses wedges of fabric forming kaleidoscope shapes running the entire perimeter. By using scraps from the main quilt, it pulls the whole look together. Plus, cutting curves and working with bias grain keeps things interesting! Get creative with wedge sizes and angles.
I could go on and on, but essentially the possibilities for pieced borders are endless! From zig zags and flying geese to checkerboards and tessellations – let your imagination run wild. And don’t be afraid to try out new patterns and combinations. After all, borders present the perfect opportunity for embellishment.
Tips for Measuring and Cutting Border Pieces Accurately
Even with the most creative plan, if your border pieces donāt fit precisely, the results can be wonky. Iāll never forget the time I ended up with a weird scalloped edge because my border strips were cut inconsistently! Here are some measuring tips Iāve picked up along the way:
- Always measure each side of the quilt through the center to account for any slight distortion.
- Mark measurements clearly in pencil and add 1/4 inch seam allowances.
- Use an acrylic ruler and rotary cutter for neat, straight edges.
- Cut pieces methodically for maximum accuracy.
Also be scrupulous about pinning and easing in fullness evenly. Match seam intersections carefully as you join border units. Taking a bit of extra time during cutting and assembly really pays off for smooth borders!
And if perfection is not achieved, there are always creative ways to disguise small mistakes in the borders. Hey, some of my best personal growth moments have come from mess-ups and imperfections! At the end of the day, borders are the perfect chance to add your own flair and style.
Final Thoughts
I hope these pieced quilt border ideas and tips have sparked some inspiration! Whether you prefer whimsical and scrappy, bold geometrics, or classic framing, the only limit is your creativity. Remember to choose designs and fabrics that enhance the existing focal quilt. Pay attention to scale, continuity of design, and purpose so that your borders complete a cohesive finished project. And have fun experimenting with dazzling new combinations that make your pieced quilt truly one-of-a-kind!
Now Iād love to hear from you, dear reader! What unconventional border have you always wanted to try on a future quilting project? For me, I think an interlocking circle border would look amazing on the double wedding ring quilt Iām planning next. But who knows, I may get distracted and take things in a totally different direction. As master quiltmaker Libby Lehman once said, āBorders present limitless opportunities for embroidery, creative inhibition, improvisation and personal expression.ā So true! Now quick, Iām off to the fabric store for some border brainstorming inspiration!
| Border Type | Width Recommendations | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Single border | 2-8 inches | Simple framing around quilt center |
| Double border | Narrow inner border, wider outer border | Added visual interest |
| Repeating border | Consistent widths | Cohesive look when using a single fabric |
| Mitered corners | Typically 2-3 inches | Clean angular borders on geometric quilts |
| Piano key border | 2-5 inch pieces | Whimsical or playful look |
FAQ
What are some tips for choosing fabric for a pieced quilt border?
When selecting fabric for a pieced quilt border, it’s best to complement the colors and patterns used in the quilt top. You may want to pull one or two colors from the main quilt and use prints or solids for the border. Using too many colors or busy prints can make the border compete with the quilt itself.
Should the fabric for a pieced border match the quilt back?
It’s not essential, but it can give the quilt a more finished look if the pieced border and quilt back fabrics are compatible. Consider subtle prints or solids for the back that pick up one or two colors from the pieced border. A cohesive color scheme throughout the layers can really make the quilt pop!
What’s the best way to calculate yardage needed for a pieced quilt border?
Determine the finished dimensions of your quilt, then calculate the perimeter. Divide this number by 40-42 inches, which is average width of fabric, and round up to estimate the border yardage needed. Remember to purchase extra fabric to allow for fussy cutting of prints or dealing with flawed areas of fabric.
How wide should pieced quilt border strips be cut?
There’s no set rule, but wider strips (4-5 inches) can minimize awkward seams and create interesting patterns. Just ensure the finished border width complements the quilt’s overall size. Much wider and a border can look overbearing.
What’s the best joining method for pieced border strips?
Using diagonal seams rather than straight seams gives the border more stability and avoids stretching or distortion. Pin matching seams carefully, then sew with a 1ā4 inch seam allowance for best results.