Stumped
Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 12:52PM ;)
I finished the top and bottom borders with the applique yesterday. At the moment I’m stumped on how to proceed. The borders are too large for the center, and rather overwhelm it. Do I add two more, with some type of twelve inch corner blocks?
Or make it a long quilt instead of square, and add a few thin borders? I’m going to have to look at this for awhile. It may be that it’s simply unbalanced and there’s no saving it, other than to make it just another ho hum quilt, but I’m hoping I can get some artistic juices flowing, now that my stomach has returned to normal, and make it shine.
Some things are just easier! Like blackberry pie! I picked and froze another several gallons of blackberries this ;)
morning, but set some aside for pie.
;)
I don’t know why but as the blackberries come towards the end of their cycle, I always think they are so much better! The first couple of pickings, I’d just as soon feed those to the squirrels, but halfway through their cycle and on… my oh my!
They get all plump and sweet and are just wonderful!
Any of my readers from Arkansas, if you’ve visited the “French Seam” down in Stuttgart, I would love to hear about the shop. I’d like to take a trip out that way soon, it’s about two hours or so from my home.
Created by CJ
I think I’m going to unstitch the ends of the applique borders, and “box” them in like here in the picture.;)
That will make it a really nice size for a little girl, or a large crib quilt. Unless anyone has a better idea? Without any more of the interior fabric, I’m stuck I think.
Reader Comments (9)
Heather Mulder Peterson has done lots of quilts with applique. I think you bought Anka's Treasures. ..seems like you mentioned that around the time I bought mine. If you have that - look on page 31. If you could add applique sides like she shows & angle the corners somehow maybe you could get a similar look to her design. Assuming you have the fabric to do it. Just an idea
Another idea. Look at this picture from Heather's Flickr Album.. The pillow case has the big ric rac. That would be cute along the side of your quilt -- maybe in the pink. Then just a white border to get it wider? Ric/Rac just on the sides with the white border may help balance out the applique on the ends and give it the extra width you are looking for.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39935644@N03/4440969454/in/photostream/
I don't know what to tell you if you have no more fabric, CJ. It's really looking pretty, but I do think it needs a narrow border along the sides -- not enough to make it square, but just for balance. If you had more fabric, I'd suggest a smaller appliqué pattern -- though I don't do much appliqué myself. ;) Good luck!
OMGSH!! It is BEAUTIFUL!! I have something similar to this that I am working on. What I did was make the other two sides narrower. LOVE IT!!
Hey CJ, I think the sides need boarders the same size as the top and bottom.
The French Seam is a very nice shop. Karen French is a lovely woman. I buy a lot of my thread there and have my machine serviced there as well.
You'll enjoy the road trip - get off of I-40 onto, (like you were going to the LR Airport) I-440 and take the England exit. A really beautiful drive - only way to get to Humnoak after all!
Once again, I love this forum. Thanks so much for sharing your life.
Carol Ann
I like your solution. Are you going to add an outer border? The applique looks great.
There's the pie!! Oh my, it's beautiful and I just know it tastes totally delicious! I sure hope you ate that piece for me! (And since it was for me, none of the calories applied to you!!!!)
I absolutely love this quilt. I do like the added dark pink borders to the applique part. I think I'd try your idea of more applique borders with big corner blocks. Even if you can't get any more of that fabric, there should be something you could use for the corners that will blend nicely.
Love the look of the boxed in border! I think too often we don't let ourselves "color outside the lines" on borders and the ones that accidentally happen are sometimes some of the most interesting. Good for you for coming up with a plan.
Just glancing at it - to the very untrained eye, it looks (1st pic)like an unfinished twin quilt. The "top section" for over the pillow. The bottom section to hang over the end of the bed and it needs "sides" to hang over the edge of the bed. I would add yet another border around the whole thing and maybe a scalloped edge. JMO
As usual your work is beautiful, CJ!