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I am making this quilt to be auctioned at our church's annual bazaar. I do this each year to raise money for our charity quilting group. I have gotten this far, and need to add a final border. It will be a 6 1/2" border to make it a queen size quilt. I need suggestions as to what color to use. I know what my personal preferences would be, but want to make this something MOST people would like. Thanks in advance for your help.

The pattern is called Urban Cabin.

What about a piano key border using the same fabrics and mimicing the stripped piece part of your quilt? Which I love BTW!

I'd use a dark color to "frame" it. Any of the ones in the quilt would do.

I'd use the same background fabric to keep that modern urban look,don't think it needs any competition or color...

First off I love this quilt! Both the design and the colors. I like both ideas of piano keys and using the light background fabric. If you use the background fabric you could get some really nice quilting done on it. sandy

light background fabric, same as the other and then a blue or dark blue narrow binding. Or binding the same as the border and background.

Very pretty! I love it!

Oh, that's a lovely quilt! I normally like darker borders, but it might work to put the same background color and let the quilting shine there instead of a color. If you do that, I'd also go with that same color for the binding.

First thing that popped into my head was a darker border (one of the colors in the quilt) with "bits and pieces" randomly put on the dark background...not a lot just a few here and there ...you could even do an artsy kind of leaf and applique it on the border.

Any of the suggestions would be very nice, please show us the finished masterpiece...it truly is lovely.

I love the quilt it is so pretty! I too like the idea of the solid background border or piano border. I think either would look great.looking forward to seeing what you decide

I think I would put a very narrow colored border (maybe a dark blue) next to the one you already have & then put the 6 1/2" outer border in the same color as your border that is already on the quilt & then bind it in the same color as the narrow border.

That' a beautiful quilt & should bring in a lot of money for your charity.

I'm thinking a really narrow border, multi-colored stripes cut on a bias, 1/2" finished. And then go back to the background fabric you've already used. I'd blanket turn it, no binding.

That is a knock down, dead gorgeous quilt!!!!

..... I love what you are showing there Paus ... that is downright gorgeous quilt ... for a minute I thought that was the finished look and was about to say WOW Perfect!
Or if need to do a binding use the background color .. i think a 2nd row like that bias one is kind of cool - but might tend to gaudy.
Well I'm obviously no help - I'll just stick to admiring, I do that almost flawlessly

I like Paus' idea for a border but I also like the idea of a binding of the very same. That looks so "modern". My VERY first thought was also of the piano keys, but then, that is a lot more work.

Went looking for the pattern and stopped to look at some photos of this quilt that others made. Quite the sampling of variations. Most had a solid color border on them. There was one that had a piano keys border.

... that urban thing is nice, and the piano keys are nice .. but I think you r idea for this brighter one is better ...
taking A and heading to bed ... goodnight ..

I guess I was thinking the quilt looks so open why close it up with other colors? After looking at the pattern and the images on the Internet, I think a solid color border kind of diminishes the quilt itself; boxes it in.

And looking at the piano keys border above, my feeling is the uniqueness of the quilt pattern is lost because of the sameness of the border pattern.

I'm telling ya, I'm in love with this quilt. Wish I had the money to bid on it!!!!

The option that Paus showed with the fine narrow border is the one that strikes me most. It really sets off the center design. I would use a same fabric binding as the last border. It will help finish it well but not jump out at you. It will also help the strength of the edge and help it hang well for display.

How were you planning to quilt it? the border could have some curved spikey design on the outer borders, sid around the colored trim border, or if you wanted piano key quilting could be used. I hope that the time and finances will allow for more custom quilting than an overall. The design deserves to be enhanced, not blended.

Great work on this.

Oh wow that is gorgeous! My first inclination was a dark border in a solid- purple being my favorite - but I can see a narrow dark border and a wider light border, maybe with blocks of the darker ones interspersed along the border. Not piano key, but more like chunks of color. Clear as mud?

Lisa

Paus I love that idea....that gets my vote!!!!

I think you should use the light background color to keep it modern.

Paus, I love your first idea with the very narrow border. The quilt is beautiful and you should be very proud to present it to the group. I vote for no piano border. Pat

Paus, I really like your idea. I have a problem though -- I bought the rest of the bolt, and only have about 10 inches left. Think I will see if it is possible for her to order another bolt, and hopefully it will all work out. I had also thought about using a multicolored batik, but not sure about that either.

It's really great to be able to come here and get so many peoples opinions. Thanks again!

KSKaren, what is the background fabric? Are you able to find one that blends well with it and can be the outside border? I do like the colors of that quilt.

KS, forgive my interjections.

I did look at the pattern, did look at quilts made by others and your's is without a doubt the most beautiful interpretation of that pattern. Period. The fabric colors are absolutely perfect and perfectly done. I look at it and say it is perfect. That quilt needs nothing more than to be framed and enlarged to the size you want.

If you cannot use the same fabric on an outer border, find something very close to it. Have them check another store.

I cannot recall ever being so taken by a quilt. And you know we see some extremely well done, beautifully done quilts on this board and at shows we attend.

Good luck with your decision.

Beautiful quilt!

I vote for Paus' interpretation. The piano border is too heavy and would detract instead of enhance. I love all the colors. Great job on this one!

Pam

Beautiful quilt.

Thank you ladies for your kind words and opinions. Paus, thank you for your praise of my quilt. I've never had another quilter speak so highly of something I've done.

I went to the store yesterday (I work at our little quilt shop, part time.) I had remembered picking this background fabric up at our distributor's warehouse in OH over a year ago. The good news is, it is a blender, and they still carry it. We couldn't tell for sure from the pictures on the computer between 2 different ones, so my boss is ordering both of them in. Even if the dye lots are different, by adding the little striped border, I should be fine. Whew!!

As for the quilting, I will be doing it myself. Will probably end up doing an all over design, unless I can come up with something else that I am able to do. I'm not a beginner, but I am still learning!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your help!

...moving up so others can see this beautiful quilt ...

KS Karen, I'm glad you like my interpretation. It is only my opinion of what I think will capture the beauty of that quilt. I only hope that when it goes up for auction, the bidders will appreciate it's uniqueness.

I don't know if you're going to give the striped inset a go or not but I wanted to explain what I saw/drew. I pictured the stripes being elongated, not a 45 degree cut. Something that would maximize the colors in the stripes. Sixty degrees maybe?????

And they say the highest form of tribute is copying what someone else has done. I can't match yours but here's what I came up with. Hope you think it's ok.

Oh, gosh. Forgot.

I'm glad to see you found more fabric. How lucky is that????

I love this quilt!!! That should bring a nice chunk for the charity. You do beautiful work!

Pause, your interpretation looks great! I like the different sizes of strips. Could make it a string quilt.

My extra border fabric came in yesterday. Need to take a swatch down and make sure it matches, then decide how much I need. I haven't decided on the stripe yet. May take several with me to sew day on Saturday so the gals there can help me decide.

Once again, thanks for your compliments and help.

That is great that you have the fabric already. I really can't wait to see how you decide to finish the quilt.

I've mentioned here several times that when I started re-organizing my stash I came up with bunches of strings and strips. I keep looking for ways to use them. Right now this is on the top of the list. So easy to do. Thank you for the inspiration.