Saturday 20 December 2014

RSC 14: week 51 - advice please!

Thanks everyone for your input last week. Your overwhelming advice was that the piano keys border would be too busy. I need to make up the size with a border but it will be plain off-white. But now I'm about to ask for advice again.

This, my friends is as far as I've got:



By Wednesday three quarters of my scrappy rainbow quilt top was joined together in three sections The fourth quarter (bottom left, above) was waiting for two pink blocks, but they're going to have to wait until I can buy more pale pink fabric.

Then on Thursday I laid everything out and decided to make an extra row. That extra row still needs one purple and three black blocks. The section lower right in the photo should be finished this week (the three black blocks).

I am going to quilt this in four sections and then join together afterwards. But now here comes the

BIG QUESTION:

when would you advise me to add the borders?

As I see it there are two options:

  1. Before I quilt the centre sections. Sew the borders onto each quarter and quilt the section and the border pieces together - the border will have joins in the middle of each side and at the corners; there will be just four pieces of wadding to join.
  2. After I've quilted and joined the centre sections. Join the for sections of the top centre (as in the photo) Sandwich and quilt four border sections separately and then add them to the top. Then, as last, join the border sections in the corners. - the borders could have not properly lined up quilting in the corners (knowing me, that's highly likely); there will be eight pieces of wadding to be joined.
Just writing it out has helped me a lot! But I would really appreciate your advice as I'm sure there's a pitfall somewhere I've overlooked.

I'm linking up to:

Soscrppy

so call in there today and look over the rainbow.



Happy sewing

Marly.

11 comments:

scraphappy said...

It sounds like you have already made your decision on the borders. Your quilt is looking great! Congratulations.

Deb A said...

Love how your sampler is coming along. I'd go with whatever seems easier for you on the borders. Looking forward to seeing how this works for you... I'd love to try it sometime.

Teresa in Music City said...

It's coming along beautifully! I'd tend to do the method that involves the least number of joins - I'm lazy that way :)

Sheila said...

Your blocks look great. Coming together wonderfully. I put a border on mine because I didn't want to deal with all those seams. Also wanted to make my quilt a bit longer by making the top and bottom borders wider than the side borders. So many ways to finish a quilt. I look forward to seeing what you decide. Merry Christmas, dear.

Sally Trude said...

Your quilt looks wonderful. It's amazing how long it takes to get all the sashing on. I'm sure a brilliant plan for your borders will occur to you when you least expect it.

Kate said...

Sounds like you have a plan. Your scrappy rainbow sampler is turning out beautifully.

Quiltdivajulie said...

I am of little help on the quilting in quarters - have not done that.

Your sampler is beautiful ....

Cathy said...

Beautiful sampler. I didn't make one but it has been great fun seeing all the different ways everyone is putting it all together. You'll have to blog more about your method and what you decide.

Ruth said...

Love how this looks laid out like that already - going to be a gorgeous quilt!

Judy@Quilt Paradigm said...

Absolutely in love with this top!! It has been so much fun watching this one come together. As for borders, I am currently contemplating the exact question... I think I am going to do them after my blocks have all been joined. I think it will look more cohesive that way. I will say that it is probably not the easiest route to go...:)

Cathy Tomm said...

Great looking Sampler. I am jealous that you are so close to being done. I have not do the quilt as you go because I quilt on a long arm so I have no advice for you today. I am sure you will know in a few days, maybe after the busy holiday season.