Julie reminded me of Susan McCord string pieced leaves border on Barbara Brackman's blog. Love the graceful way she incorporated the leaves and vine. Sue Nickel's New York State of Mind has three different borders. There's another I've been considering that combines zig zag and applique borders. I thought it was Freddy Moran's quilt but can't find it online or in my books.
I measured then measured again but no more fabric appeared. With the narrow chartreuse inner border the quilt now measures 63" by 75". Because there are two different birds, the toile cut into two 6.5" borders: the first is 84" {two strips} while the other is 124" {three strips.} They will fill one short and one long side.
The blue gingham could be cut into three 10" strips but only 129" or four 7" strips that are 172". The final choice was four strips because it's the only way to fit the final two sides.
Here's what it looks like laid on the kitchen floor. Quieter than I realized.
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| Spiderweb quilt with blue borders |
Next is to decide which border extends to the edges - the applique or the toile.
As usual lately, this is not the most improvisational quilt. However, I had visions for the border but didn't have enough fabric to carry it through. On to Plan B which is turning out better than the original idea. That's my bit of improv.
With the bird toile attached, I'm considering appliqued birds on the blue gingham. Another adjustment since my first idea was vine with leaves. Second was adding flowers. I'm working much more slowly than normal because of the holidays, diffidence about my applique abilities, or actually thinking about the results. Not sure what proportion each is playing.
Kaja and I have plans to start quarterly improvisational challenges next year. We hope quarterly will allow more time for all of us to complete other, personal work but frequent enough to see progress on improvisational topics. Check us out next month for all the details!
Enjoy the day, Ann
As usual lately, this is not the most improvisational quilt. However, I had visions for the border but didn't have enough fabric to carry it through. On to Plan B which is turning out better than the original idea. That's my bit of improv.
With the bird toile attached, I'm considering appliqued birds on the blue gingham. Another adjustment since my first idea was vine with leaves. Second was adding flowers. I'm working much more slowly than normal because of the holidays, diffidence about my applique abilities, or actually thinking about the results. Not sure what proportion each is playing.
Kaja and I have plans to start quarterly improvisational challenges next year. We hope quarterly will allow more time for all of us to complete other, personal work but frequent enough to see progress on improvisational topics. Check us out next month for all the details!
InLinkz removed because it was hacked.
24 comments:
My thought is that the applique should extend to one edge and the toile to the other ... Enjoy the process aas you ponder the many options.
I love your string web blocks so much--so cheerful and fun! Do you need to make the quilt bigger? Personally, I wouldn't put a border on the quilt at all--it looks great as is!
I keep looking at this and wondering what in my stash would work. Not excited by the blue border. It pulls your eye there where the birds seem to blend in to the spiders. I wonder if you could carry the spider motif into the blue borders some how.
Ooh, I really like this 'quieter' border and the contrast between the two different border fabrics. I am envisioning a quiet but distinctive applique on the check with tiny little pops of color. It really is beautiful how the spiderwebs sparkle in the surrounding color. Looking forward to the next year of AHIQ with you and Kaja!
That's what I think, too, Julie but I'm scared to make a mistake. For now it's sewed as if I'll miter the corner. Then however the appliqué turns out I can "fix" the corner. I think.
I like them, too, but I want a larger quilt and think I might like these borders. Haven't made any in a while. It should be fun to try again.
I'm not excited about the blue now either but think it will make a good background. I hope to pick up some of the spider colors in the leaves.
Quiet but distinctive. Love it. I look at loads of border. Many are quite elaborate. Beyond my ability and fortunately, won't look good on this quilt either. I do think the blue will be a great background. The vines and leaves could pop. Maybe berries?
Once again no advice from me...I'm not good at pondering especially when it comes to borders but do enjoy reading about what others do. If I was going to put a border on my spider web quilt it would be a spider web!
I had a tutorial bookmarked for those string pieced leaves/vines ala Susan McCord at http://quiltsalott.blogspot.com/p/trailing-vines.html. If I ever do any leaves and vines that will be the way I want to do it.
Anyway...good luck on the border. And I'll be looking forward to the challenge and hopefully not just looking but participate!
But you're so prolific and your quilts have their own style, Cathy. I like reading about other styles, too. Even when, or especially when, I'll never work that way.
I've been trying to email you but keep getting failure messages saying "user is over quota." Any ideas?
Do not be afraid! No mistakes, just opportunities. :D
Oooh...I really like the idea of appliqueing birds onto the blue gingham borders! Will make for a lovely addition!!
Thanks, Mel. I've started sketching some. Just need to KISS. ;-)
Your thoughtful decision making process is proving very fruitful Ann, as I knew it would! Audrey really is the master of applique borders and I think I'm going to be looking to her work for a border I plan to put on a hexie quilt this year. I like your idea of the narrow inner border too, I hadn't thought of that but you've made it look so effective I might have to borrow the idea! I really look forward to seeing how your applique develops over the coming weeks :) x
Love your 'spiderweb' quilt, so colourful & scrappy! Will pop back soonish to see just what you decide with the borders.
I wasn't planning that narrow border but the value of the border fabric is too close to the interior background and it seemed to need some separation. Linda (a no-reply blogger) suggested yellow for the border which would probably have been a better choice. This was the best I could do. C'est la vie.
Hexies are difficult to border. Either you cut the block or have a very uneven edge. You'll have something fabulous, I'm sure. It's always fun to see what you're doing and I'm glad you're finding more time for sewing.
Wishing you and Kim a brighter new year.
Thanks, Linda. It's good to have it out again although I'm finding many excuses to delay actually cutting applique pieces.
As an absolute beginner at borders I am finding this decision-making extremely helpful and interesting. I like the little inner border - just the right pause in all the blue for me.
I can understand your hesitation/delay on doing the border...I do the same thing! But I think applique would look great. I do think you need to somehow pull out some of the brighter colors into the applique, but only small pops of color so as not to overwhelm, because the toile is pretty quiet. Whatever you decide, I'm sure it will be great!
Well, I'm hoping I may still do some AHIQ in the next 5 days. But reading through the links so far, I see two exercises that I'd like to try. 1. Patty's two yellow triangles - can I piece something with an equivalent degree of restraint? 2. Stephie's B&W bag - it's a challenge to give life to something with no colour, but Stephie sure did it. Could I?
It's so nice to see the positive feedback continuing here at AHIQ!
That's a good phrase: the right pause. I would say you have borders on many of your quilts. They just don't extend all the way around.
Exactly, Sharon. Little bits of color on a quieter field. I don't want it to compete with the spiderwebs and do want it to complement the toile. Thanks for writing.
Yellow triangles seem right up your alley. And Stephie's bag is practically perfect for more than a grocery tote. The longer handles seem very useful.
Ann, I am looking forward to seeing the applique when it comes. I am chuckling, because I saw a comment you made on someone else's post about needing to consider more neutrals in your work. It is exactly BECAUSE your quilts are so full of bright saturated colors that they appeal to me! I have the same tendency. I'm looking forward to a new iteration of AHIQ this year, with somewhat 'relaxed' time frames. It's been a fun group to participate in and I get lots of inspiration from it. Happy New Year!
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