This morning I finished the binding and hanging sleeve on the church quilters' Underground Railroad Quilt.
I've been working on the borders on my own Underground Railroad, but I'm having a difficult time deciding exactly how I want to handle them. I have enough borders made of blue squares set on diagonal to go all the way around, and I like them. They will go next to the original brown/blue stripe border I've already shown. My dilemma comes from deciding what border to put next, for the outside border.
My original plan was to turn the stripe fabric the other direction, like piano keys, with a narrow blue strip next to the blue squares, as shown on the left in the picture below. I will barely have enough of the stripe for only a 5" wide border, if indeed I do have enough; I'm sure I'll have to come up with corner blocks rather than mitering the stripes. I'm not sure I would like the look of the vertical stripes, especially with the paisley cut in half. (I should have covered the stripe at 5" for a true look.)
I really want the quilt to be more blue. So I folded the stripe to show like on the right side of the picture, with the blue fabric like the cornerstones for the outside border. I have enough striped fabric for just the narrow blue/brown/blue stripe as folded, but not enough to make it the same width as the first border already sewn on the top. I do like the blue for the outer border, and would have enough to make it a little wider, thus having my "blue" quilt ---- well, to some degree.
So which side of the picture should I go with? Help me solve this dilemma.
Just for the record, we are still suffering from 100+ degree days (56 days now), with at least another week of the same. I hate it, but I guess it's better than the hurricane heading for the East Coast! Hope everyone there stays safe!
---"Love"
P.S. See my comment below Liri's.
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That's a tough decision! Though the blue border on the right looks more traditional to me, that paisley would make a great border as well. The blue border would lighten the quilt considerably (looking at it as a whole, it's definitely on the dark side of coloring) and the paisley would keep it darker. I don't know which I'd choose if it were my quilt, so I can't really help! But either choice will be beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI like the blue border example on the right hand side. Love that beautiful blue fabric! Both quilts are gorgeous! I hope it cools down there soon. Fall is right around the corner.
ReplyDeleteOK, you lost me, but I do so love that blue!
ReplyDeleteLiri
Okay, Liri, (and others), on the last picture, pretend it is two pictures --- divided vertically where the paisley stripe and the other more solid blue meet. Which side looks better? At this point, it really isn't going to matter. I've measured and calculated again, and I cannot do the "piano key" border with the stripe; don't have enough fabric. I've looked everywhere online and can't find it. Even the mfgr. Marcus Bros, does not even show they ever made it, but it has their name on it! So the blue it will be! I really think I like it best anyway. ---"Love"
ReplyDeleteGood thing that you had had enough of one of the fabrics because I do not know how would choose. I am a blue girl myself, so blue will almost always be my choice. ;)
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is going to be so beautiful. Glad that you had a chance to quilt a little bit on the bindings and sleeve.
Hope you are enjoying a bit of free time. Maybe the heat will break soon too.
Isn't it nice that the only option that will work out after all is the one you were leaning to? I love it when things turn out that way. It's so much better than the alternative! The blue will go nicely with the rest. I'm sure you'll be pleased with your finish. It's a lovely quilt.
ReplyDeleteI liked both together. What if you were to make the piano keys 3" or 4" wide, and then put the blue? Would you have enogh then? And make the blue 3" or 4". It will make your quilt a bit bigger. If you were to drag the blue to the left... hmmm... you probably dont' have the fabric laid out anymore. LOL.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to see what the final result will be
-Alice
I'm glad you got that figured out! I love both of the quilts, but love your colors best! BTW, at my high school reunion, one of my best friends was there and she told me that a house across the street from the house she grew up in was a stop on the underground railroad!! This is in Lombard, IL. I thought that was amazing. We will be in Arkansas with our DIL & 2 grandsons until Labor day. Hopefully the 100 degree weather will be gone by then - but I'm not counting on it. DS is in NJ for 3 weeks for some special training before leaving for Iraq and the place he's at is in line for the hurricane! What next?
ReplyDeleteThere's no doubt about you Love - you always manage to figure out the best solution for these quilting quandries. Folding the fabric to highlight the bluse was very clever! Ann :-)
ReplyDeleteI have always like the sailboat block. I know there are some different versions. Yours looks good.
ReplyDelete