Tuesday, November 19, 2013

A Work In Progress

I got a String X quilt top put together last week, and now I'm stumped as to what to use for the border.  Nothing I have seems to "go" very well.

please excuse the crummy photo

I've been working on these blocks off and on for a few years, then finally decided that A. I was tired of working with these strings, as I've been using these for years and B. I had enough blocks to make a charity quilt the size that my guild likes.  It does need some border to bring it up to the right size.  I'd like to get this finished before too long.  I'm debating whether or not to do a simple pieced border.  (I still  have some more squares of the background fabric that I could use.)

If anyone has any suggestions for border ideas, I'd really appreciate it!  Thanks!

14 comments:

Sue SA said...

A piano keys border? I think a bright yellow narrow strip first would also help if you just wanted to add a plain border. Its a great quilt, love scrappy strings!

Julierose said...

Hi Sharon--when I am stumped for a border I tend to gravitate to a black and white print--that seems to go with everything. I like your "X" quilt a lot...nice work, hugs, Julierose

Joanie's Trendy Quilts said...

I have seen this pattern floating around in blogoshpere. Yours is quite lovely! I think a plain border of a color of your choice would set the off the pattern. I would pull a predominate color used in the quilt.

Brenda said...

Sharon, do you have some big scale print in those colours? sometimes big and bold is the way to go.

Sheila said...

Great blocks.
I know what you mean about borders. When stumped, I'll go with a blue on blue small print or a black and white print.

Jeanne said...

The bright golden yellow in your blocks would be nice as a border. Then maybe your bright medium blue as binding?

Nifty Quilts said...

Love it! I agree with all above. Or you could spend the next few years do a hand-applique flower vine.
; >

Quiltdivajulie said...

Since you are essentially tired of this project (which is LOVELY, by the way), there's no need to complicate your life further!

I say go with a skinny stop border (I like the yellow idea suggested earlier) and a simple outer border using something from your stash (You;ll know which one when you lay it up next to the center).

Don't ponder too hard - choose and stitch so you can move on and this beauty can become a much loved charity/comfort quilt.

Dorothy Matheson said...

Lovely quilt top as is. To make it slightly bigger pick a print of color and place as a border. I like animal prints or cartoon prints for this kind of quilt.

Sharon said...

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions, everyone! I so appreciate it. They're all great ideas, except maybe the applique flower vine! LOL

Lots to ponder here - I'll post what I come up with!

Kucki68 said...

I think a piano key boarder and maybe a small red zinger would look great.

Taos Sunflower said...

My first reaction is to do a piano key border, but keys that are longer than the strings in your blocks.

Millie said...

Lovely string quilt and good luck with the border. :)

Carol E. said...

I was going to say exactly what your FIRST commenter said.. one thin solid border, then scrappy piano keys.