How my borders grow

No this isn't a gardening post...this is how I can make what started out as a quick and easy border into a week-long angst session.

Started out with a plan to finish up some leftover Baltimore Album blocks. A quick finish to start off my quilting year. First there was the squaring up disaster - I trimmed one side of a block 1/2 inch too short (duhhhhh.) Fortunately I had extra leftovers so I just put the too-small block into the orphan bag and called in the first substitute. I figure in the end only I (and now you) will know.

The blocks went together fine. I was even able to find the fabric I bought for the border over 13 years ago! (that number 13 foreshadows what is to come....) I laid it out on the dining room table with the single wide wild dark paisley border to show my DH. He just said yuck. Then it hit me...that is why this has been a UFO for so long. My blocks started out sort of muddy and dark then I added more and more clear colors. The clear colored blocks made it into my first album quilt while these darker blocks racked up frequent-flyer miles in a pretty white box that has moved across down the east coast and twice across the Atlantic. I made my mind up that I didn't want yuck...so back to the fabric stash.

First I cut a ribbon strip from a medium red fabric that there is a bit of in the quilt. (yes, I have fabric that old in my stash...this is housed in the applique cabinet where fabric doesn't turn very quickly! - pun intended!) It did brighten up the paisley a lot. But it gave the whole thing a very formal feeling. I'm just not like that anymore.
So out came this plaid from the same time period - brighter and less formal...but also just a bit boring.

Then I remembered the little HST leftovers from the Carolina Christmas quilt (ok from working on the Carolina Christmas...another one to finish this year!) I have a large baggy filled with these in reds and shirtings.

They make it all a bit scrappy. Sort of a mulit-generational quilt feel...someone found their grandmothers UFO applique blocks then added some HST and a border. I like it...I think...what do you think? Do the HST need another border like with this dark green? or should I pull in a bit of the gold/cheddar? This is definately more fun looking...oh ya, and a lot more work....

So this is my conundrum for the week. Fortunately DH is out of town on business for a couple of nights so I can leave all these good ideas draped around the living room as I make up my mind!

MS Day 3 and In defense of boring borders...

I'm putting this little announcement on the top of each of my posts this week...I am doing a week-long MS awareness posting thingy...if you play along and comment or even better comment with a hint on an easier way of quilting, sewing or crafting you will be put in for some drawings...cool no?

MS Factoid for today: There is no cure for MS. There are a variety of treatments for symptoms and there are some treatments which mitigate, reduce and/or slow the progression.

My take on this: Sometimes I feel like treating MS is as much art as science. Initially my neurologist and I did a lot of try it and see. There were a lot of unintended consequences...the first med she gave me for spasms made my fatigue worse...the first for fatigue worked soooo good I went out to dinner after work, then shopping then did some housework only to not be able to move my legs the next morning. (She said it kept you from feeling tired not from doing stupid things....nice aye! She doesn't cut you a lot of slack....) It took a few years but I've got a combination that works pretty well most of the time. I have a few I rely on daily but most importantly I have a couple of heavy hitters that I can call in if I have to do something very strenuous (like pack up all of my household goods and move overseas....) or have an episode at an inconvienient time...not that there is ever a convienient time, but say losing feeling in your leg when you are driving down I-20 at 11:00 at night that is inconvienient....

Now on to boring borders....there is a place for them in my quilting world. I often "overthink" my border choices. I have to remember they are a frame...I know a great border can often save a blah quilt (though if a quilt is blah it is most likely still in pieces packed in a plastic bag at the bottom of my closet....) On quilts that already have a lot going on then boring is the right choice...so I went very subdued on my Double delight. I used a Jenny Beyers Brownish Gold stripe on the inner border and a Civil War Repro on the edge. I purposely did not miter my border...I have lots of antique quilts and not one has a mitered border. I like squared off borders. This always gets commented on by quilt judges. When did all this love affair with Mitering start? I think it should be a design choice. For instance I think a mitered border on a log cabin quilt looks silly. That is just my opinion. However on a pineapple log cabin I may consider it...am I making sense or am I simply justifying my general dislike of mitering? (just remembered a time I love miters...with stripes!)

With my DD I could have gone either way. In the end I squared the corners because I didn't like how the miter was going the opposite way of the corner triangle...I wanted the eye to rest/stop at the border and the miter line didn't seem to do that for me. (are you starting to get the picture about my over-thinking things!)A book recommendation to anyone taking up applique - Applique! Applique!! Applique!!! the complete guide to hand Applique by Laurene Sinema. I have this out to bring to a new guild member. It has a nice heart sampler that uses nine different techniques/styles (mola, celtic, running stitch, Broderie Perse, shadow, Hawaiian, button hole stitch, Pa ndu, and stained glass) and since it is small it will not take months (or years) to finish. The instructions are clear and the drawings good. It has been around for awhile (1992) but if you get a chance to pick one up it is a great addition to your quilt library.

Border dilemna...

No this isn't a political discussion about Texas and out southern neighbors (sorry Lou Dobbs...though he might like this quilt?!) I've posted about my border-phobia...I love them - think all quilts should have them - have a really tough time selecting them. A significant number of my "almost finished" quilts just lack that last step...
So I'm working on the dreaded RWB...the question is to add the woven border or just stop at the red...what do you think?A quick disclaimer/tip...I love the way woven plaids look, but I usually advise new quilters to steer clear of them. I always wash them first (usually hand rinse and them delicate cycle in the machine) and almost half of them never make it into a quilt. The problems: so much shrinkage the fabric becomes too rough; so much fraying I worry it will not hold a seam; so much dye lost or shift it no longer has the colors I originally loved. I did wash this RWB plaid. I then ironed it with a bit of sizing. When I iron I follow the lines of the plaid to keep them straight...think of it as if you are ironing a quilt top and want to keep it square. I also only cut these looser fabric with scissors. (If it is a wonky quilt then I use rotary cutters, but on this one I want it to be more controlled...remember this is going to a guy who presses his cotton T-shirts!)
Spring is really here today....lots of sun. We have some bluebirds and cardinals living near us. The colors are wonderful! Here is one photo...I so need to get a better lense for my camera....