So as my SV quilt progressed, I naturally started thinking I needed a bold or dark border to "tone it down" a bit. But I don't have a big stash of solids and every dark print I held up just added more to the chaos. And I began to wonder if I could make the whites in the centers of the A block pop a bit more if I used a "white" border.. This off white mushroom print that I brought back from Japan in '07 (yes, I still have most of that fabric horded..) went perfectly with the blues in the A block, so I decided to go for it.
Once the borders were on, I had a breakthrough-- the white border actually made the entire quilt look brighter. And I couldn't believe I almost darkened the whole thing with a colored border. Who would have guessed? I always opt for a dark border. I think this may be a breakthrough..
I'm still going to put a pieced outer border on to make it twin size, but I am very happy with it so far.
Reading what you wrote made me realize, I am a "let's wing it", type of quilter. but it gets me in trouble. I'm winging the piecing of a backing without doing any math. I have about 12" at the top and bottom to do something with, but only about four inches on either side (to make it big enough for the quilt top). So now I'm stuck and not sure how to make it work. Going to have to get a second opinion next time I lay them out with the pieced backing on top of the top, if that all makes sense!
ReplyDeleteOh, and after all that wordiness in my above comment, I forgot to say how much I'm loving your SV quilt top!!! The border looks perfect, and you are so right about the brightness aspect.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm just likely to go with whatever I fancy in the moment but once I've decided something I usually stick to it. I reallly LOVE the border you chose! I'm terrified of white but have used it more and more doing QALS and bees and now totally appreciate it. It's going to be a gorgeous quilt :)
ReplyDeleteI am definitely a "wing it" kind of girl. No planning, no math, and that usually gets me to think outside the box! Ha! Love your SV quilt. The "white" is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes start with a plan but eventually I just let the fabric "speak" to me and I dive in.
ReplyDeleteI love the white in your quilt...
hugs
beebee
Wonderful quilt!! I love the lightening of it with your border and the white squares. This one is on my list to make.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. I have started using more white (actually cream) and it does become "addicting". It seems so much more calm that going darker. Your quilt made me smile!
ReplyDeleteI always have a plan, but it's more of a whisper than a shout and I never, ever tell myself "you can't do that because it wasn't your intention." Which is why I hate hate hate and never ever buy kits of any kind (and almost always make my own patterns).
ReplyDeleteOh I am so a plan plan plan! BUT I also flex as I go because I understand that even the best laid plans don't always work!
ReplyDeleteYou are always amazing me with your ideas....keep on winging!
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