Workshop Wednesday: Designing borders

I absolutely LOVE applique borders even though they are a pain to design and sew. Here is my probably over cumbersome way of doing it just in case you want to design your own some day.

First off, I make copies of all the things I think I might want and cut out a full size piece of graph paper (any paper will do but I'm kinda addicted to graph paper).

Then I doodle and make notes and get a good first pass. I found at this point it's important to start making applique shapes so I can see how it looks with actual fabric.

Once I get about of 1/4 of the pieces on I baste it and have a look. The thing I noticed here is that I think it needs some of the light blue and since ladybugs solved my color problem last time I decided to try butterflies this time...I'm sensing a bug theme here.

Here I have jazzed up the corner with a bow and added some butterflies.

Now that this is all together I photograph it again and so some Photoshop gymnastics to see how it's all playing together...so far so good. I'm not terrible thrilled with the white space in the middle of those edges but I have enough to get started...this has me thinking about what to add there too.

Comments

[Debbie Short]

Lovely Erin! 💕

[Leslie Adams McSorley]

Thanks for the guide on laying out borders. The quilt is great and has me thinking of digging out a UFO that "hit a wall" when I reached that point.

Personally, I think that open space in the center of the edges would be a perfect place to feature some fancy quilting. Maybe something that works with whatever is in the setting squares and triangles. I confess... I do love fancy quilting that shows off applique.

[Jeanette Silvey]

I love this border so far! Are you going to share the pattern for the flowers? That would be so wonderful. Also are there template patterns for the petal and flower shapes to download? Thanks so much for what you have shared with us

Jeanette

[laurie]

Yes I too like some of the features but also thought the border would be a good place for quilting to mimic the flowers...or do the appliqued bunches in each corner. what i love about your designs are they are easy enough to make our own. just a simple color change or a little different placement...nothing is wrong..Yes will the border be available. also are the blocks just a reverse of 1 thru 4? or will you actually post blocks 5 through 8? thank you again for inspiring us...Im loving how my home again bom is coming along.