I am still working on the graduation quilt. I actually am almost ready to figure out some border fabric. I have one more panel to do…so far, I am loving it!
The pattern is Bargello in Plaid (made from recycled shirts). You can find the pattern in Bonnie Hunter’s book, Scraps & Shirttails: Reuse, Re-pupose, Recycle! The Art of “Quilting Green”
While I was sewing that, I’ve been sewing my Granny Square blocks as leaders and enders. They are coming along GREAT! In fact, 25 blocks and done and sewn together. It’s time to make some border decisions on this one…want to help?
I am wanting to use up fabric I have and not purchase anything so…here’s some choice. I have yellow so yellow inner border it is. For outer border I have…this purple light print…
I have this orange print…
I have this red print too. I like the red best but, some of the reds in the blocks clash with the border shade of red.
What do you think?
If you are looking for the Granny Square block pattern, you can find it here. Please note that my blocks were not made with 2.5″ squares as the pattern calls for. I make mine with 2″ squares. I trimmed my blocks down to 7″ square. I made 25 blocks and put them in a 5 x 5 setting with no sashing. I am cutting 1.5″ strips for the inner border and outer will be 3″…It will be real close to 40″ square when it is finished…Perfect for a baby.
To see what others are working one, check out Patchwork Times.
I love both quilts. For the Granny Square, I recommend the purple fabric. It seems to pick up the blues and purples in the squares. The orange doesn’t seem to add much, and the red is not the best, as you mentioned. Although I like the idea of a red border, unless you dig up something that coordinates a little better, I would go with purple. Have a great day!
I’m taking the opposite stance. I don’t like the lavender because it looks washed out. Perhaps changing the inner border might help. I really like the red — it’s nice and strong. But if the red clashes too much, I’d go for the orange. It’s stronger than the lavender and doesn’t clash with anything.
I like the first set of borders. The yellow is a definite inner border. It pulls so many of the yellows already in the quilt. I think the second two (orange and especially red) draw your eye too harshly from the center of the quilt.
I would go with the red – it just seems to pop and as it’s a scrappy quilt I don’t see the “clashing” of the reds as a bad thing.
I love the orange!
If you want 30s feel go lavender or orange. The red makes it more modern scrappy.
I prefer the orange
The red makes the quilt sing!
Orange gets my vote.
I like the orange – but would substitute the yellow inner border with a darker colour – blue or turquoise
I love, love the Bargello in Plaid quilt top! As for your granny square quilt, I prefer the purple.
I think the purple is too light and the red is too intense, as reds are wont to be. By process of elimination, orange gets my vote, and I usually avoid orange at all costs. Go figure.
Hi. I love the orange too. I don’t know why but it makes me think of ice-cream. I also like the idea of maybe auditioning other colors for the inner border but whatever way appeals to you will be a winner.
Even before I saw your pictures of the border choices I thought “orange”. So, I would suggest the orange. :)
Judy
If the Granny Square quilt was mine I would go with the red. The other colors don’t seem to “finish” the quilt whereas the red is a darker, bolder fabric that really looks like a frame to “end” the piece.
I like your bargello quilt top also. I did a Scrappy Trips Around the World quilt from Quiltville.com and it came out really well — even though I have tons of fabrics that I would not have usually put together.
Good luck with your decisions.
Gosh these are both too darling! I like the purple for the granny blocks. The red was too dark and the orange … it was just okay, which surprised me, because I have really tended to be drawn to oranges lately. Can’t wait to see it finished!! :)
Absolutely love both quilts. I have never seen a bargello done this way…amazing. I would have to say that the red really makes the quilt shine, not a fan of the peach or purple. Really want to make a granny square quilt, reminds me of the granny square afghans that my Granny used to make.
All these colours are probably a different tone in “real life”, but, as seen on the screen – for me, the blue seems to “dull” the quilt, the red is too “loud”, and the orange works best. Have you anything else at all that, if it has white in it, it is the same tone of white that is in your granny square backgrounds? That’s what I would be looking for. All the best.
I’m normally a “purple person” but I have to say, I’d go with the orange. It brings the yellow together with the colors in the blocks. Which ever you choose will look good.
The purple looks best on my screen. The orange, wash out, and red, too much and the wrong red. Could see a very think red border, yellow , another thin red, then purple. Both quilts are winners.
I vote purple. The red is TOO MUCH, very overpowering. The orange is a little bright, it takes over. The purple just pulls it together without demanding attention.
My vote is orange – the lavender is too pale on screen at least and the red is too off :-) It is a great quilt!
I think the orange. The granny square is an old fashioned looking pattern, whether crocheted or pieced. The orange looks 30’s-ish. Lavender is too washed out and red definitely too strong. I guess it depends on the look you’re going for. The yellow inner border is good but you do see it first. My vote is orange.
p.s. the purple DOES pull the blues and purples together and that was my first vote but going back and forth between them I think the orange helps along the orange in the squares. Either one…but not the red!
Have you shown the Granny Squares before? I don’t remember seeing them. They’re gorgeous. Love the bargello too! :-)
I like the orange for the border.
Two awesome quilts. The graduation quilt tuened out very nice. As for the granny squares I’d go for the purple or the orange border.
I saw an old thirties piece in your granny quilt that was one of my all-time favorite fabrics. The one that looks like life-savers. I see it in blue in your quilt but it also came in red and yellow plus the blue. I bet I don’t have a single scrap of that left, but it sure showed up in lots of quilts. Love yours.
Nice bargello! I am an orange print lover myself. It brings out all the hot colors of this quilt. thanks for the link to the granny square block. I am going to try it.
P.S. Who would have guessed but I like the orange and yellow for borders for the granny quilt. I can probably say I don’t own any piece of orange fabric (although I have lots of peach.) But, it looks good on your quilt and I see smatterings of orange over the quilt.
Bonnie Hunter has talked about red as a good border color for multi-scrap color quilts because it unites; maybe for your bargello quilt. How fun to pick colors for somebody else’s quilt. Enjoy your stitching….
I’m going to vote for the orange. The red seems a bit overpowering and the purple too subtle for the blocks in the quilt. Sounds like you’re in the last lap of your graduation quilt project. Hope time is still on your side with this one. Sandi
I love the lavender myself – next would be orange. Looking forward to hearing of your choice and seeing the finished product!
Go for Orange! It gives the quilt an even more vintage granny look!
I like the orange for the granny square border.
The bargello plaid is outstanding. U go girl!!
Sew on,
Barb
The purple is too light, I think. The orange pulls the 30’s feel clear through the quilt, but the red says, “HEY! LOOK AT ME!!!!” I don’t know if this helps you at all, and as someone said, in actuality is different than in virtuality. I think it is adorable, and I can’t wait to get a few more UFOs done up, so I can start on some of these want to make it quilts!
I think the red is too dark and overpowering….it takes away from the center. It might be better as a framing inner border (making the center pop) and something else (such as the purple) for the outter. Everyone has their own preferences so go with whatever makes you happy!
Guess I’ll chime in here with my vote. I like the purple border, especially since quite a few blocks have purple/lavender in them. On my computer, the red looks too strong and the orange too pale.
It’s a pretty quilt with any of the border choices, though.
Well, so far the voting seems to be not for the red, but I like it the best. The orange & purple seem too washed out. The red gives a bold stopping point & it not matching does not disturb my eye, as it is so scrappy.
I look forward to seeing what you choose. And the bargello is gorgeous!
I always jump in when I can vote for “orange.” But I really do like it best.
Really love both of these! I prefer the purple on the granny squares. I’ve seen so many of these lately that I’m going to have to start one!
Hi – Lavender or orange – depends on what ‘feel’ you want – restful or zingy. The red demands far too much attention.
I like the red, but not with the other reds in the quilt. I think the purple makes it look pretty and feminine. I usually LOVE orange, but, for once, not with that quilt. Plus the purple will be nice with that yellow border fabric I have a four year old daughter, and this would be a good quilt for a girl, from baby to older. Just my two cents!
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You just inspired me to make a granny square baby quilt with the same setting as yours (without the sashing shown in the original tutorial). Here’s a link to my finished quilt top:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25070585@N06/7213206978/
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