Friday, August 17, 2012

Border Wars

No, this is not a political post. :) Just an attempt to chronicle the chaos that is my mind. I have so enjoyed piecing this Scrap Jar Star top and really, it has been a wonderful journey. Especially since Staci and I teamed up and stitched together. So the top is complete and we come to the borders. It is then that Staci and I both come to an impasse. What to do? Well that is a good question. I'll let you hop over and read about her experience here. As for me, I just suddenly became completely unable to make a decision of any kind. Initially I wanted to make it JUST like Amber's because the minute I saw it, I fell madly in love and didn't think of changing a thing.

Then Staci asked, "What are you going to do for the borders?"

 Staci then showed me this one , from Lizzie, and being a scrappy girl at heart, I decided to add a similar border.

Well then Carol posted her amazing Butterscotch Fall quilt and I thought, "That looks gorgeous! I should add a border like that!"

So I ended up with too many options and each day I would settle on one and then the next day, I would   change my mind...again and again. I felt like  a puppy chasing his tail. Honestly, Why do we do this to ourselves? In the big scheme of things, this is NOT a big deal. So then why do I toss and turn and fret? I DO have a mind of my own...just unsure of where it is at the moment.

I finally decided against the scrappy border because that would mean that I would have to rip out the little colored squares along the border in order to balance everything and that made my head hurt just thinking about it.

I was just about to hang it out to dry...figuratively:


I didn't add a gorgeous border like Carol because that would mean I would have to hunt for more fabric and although that generally is cause for celebration, the huge amount of fabric I already own, made me come to my senses. And look how she completed her nine patches...I love that.

So after all of the fuss and worry, I just decided on a simple 3" border using the background fabric.


 I know. That was my initial plan. Not very exciting, but I am THRILLED to have made a decision and I think a scrappy binding will be just the ticket. (Yes the grass look odd. I had just mowed the day before and  I do not clean up grass clippings...or weed clippings to be precise.)

Now to find something for the back. Yes, I just lamented the fact that I had enough fabric, but I don't have enough of anything for the back. I sure hope this won't be a repeat of my border  dilemma, but I really want to get this to Jackie. I don't want to wrestle with a quilt this big. One of these days I am going to start making smaller quilts. Stop laughing. :)

11 comments:

Kristie said...

I think it looks beautiful! I love the border that you decided on. I am soooo bad at borders. Most of the time by the time I get the blocks all sewn together I am ready to just sew a plain border on and call it finished, that is why you never see me do pieced borders. LOL! Sooooo whatcha working on next???

Have a wonderful and Blessed day
Kristie

Carol said...

It is beautiful...I absolutely LOVE it!

Staci said...

Seriously? You expect us to stop laughing? Did you not tell us that Jackie told you to bring a CRANE to pick up that last quilt? LOL~!

I think big quilts is what prompted me putting together that baby quilt on afternoon on a whim. I needed a fast finish, and something I could actually finish up myself.

We'll have to do another quilt together one day! I so enjoyed this process and I know I'll miss the interaction with you. Maybe later in the fall? Put on your thinking cap!

Doniene said...

It is perfect!!! It would be fun to do a quilt together with ya'll - keep me in the loop!

Gwynette in NW Arkansas said...

It IS perfect. Sometimes, simple is best!!! When I 'quilt' up a few loose ends, I am making me some stars!!

We had an amazing storm last evening... howling wind, flashing lightning, crashing thunder and 4.06 inches of rain within 2 hours. So, you know most of the rain ran off the hills and into the creeks, but we'll take what did soak in!! Wishing the same for you, only over a couple of days for soaking in!

JoyceLM said...

Love your quilt. I think the plain border with a scrappy binding will make the stars shine. Thanks for the sharing the pics.

Wonky Girl said...

Oh yes, the plain narrow border is perfect. I'm thinking a pieced border would take away from the stars. I have not looked at the other quilts you mentioned but prefer a plain border with dark binding. Cannot remember the last time I pieced a border.
That said i bet you could find a backing at Connecting Threads. They have some Quilters Candy star prints in a great red and some wonderful blues. I just ordered some to border a patriotic quilt I'm working on.

Pokey said...

It is quite wonderful just as it is! My honey says why make a quilt that doesn't fit the (queen) bed? I tend to agree, so most generally mine are large, too ~
:-}pokey

Denise :) said...

OH! I meant to tell you, I made an oversized Scrap Jar Star block for a doll quilt swap...and I *completely* forgot to take a pic of it before I sent it off. UGH! It was a fun block to make ... I think I want one for me, now, too!! :)

Darlene said...

Look at your fabulous quilt with it's beautiful border. I LOVE it. I have to admit, however, that I did laugh at you. LOL

I'm glad you went with the plain white border. :-)

Jo said...

It looks great. Just give it a little red and white stripped binding.

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