Need opinions on sashing and borders

I found this block in quilterscache and although they show it with sashing and borders in the light fabric, I'm wondering if it will make it too light. I could use one of the other colors--the red, green, or blue. What do you think?

Either way would work. Sometimes they do light borders so the quilting will show up. Depends what kind of effect you want.

How many blocks and what are you planning on making with it? The tan colour in the centre could look nice as a border, as could the other colours. My advice initially - lay that block onto each of the co-ordinating fabrics and take a photo of it, including laying it on a light fabric like the pattern shows. Then look at each photo - you'd be amazed how often one just leaps out at you screaming to be used and another will just make your block look poorly. You could always post the various pics here for us to vote on too if you wanted. My camera is my most valuabl tool in choosing fabrics to go with stuff, its like seeing it with somene elses eyes and it doesnt cost to do!

Oh and Jill, I love the block, its really pretty and your fabric choices are wonderful

Lovely block! My choice would be to set the blocks off with the gold color and then use the blue or red for border. Gimpy's suggestion of using your camera is spot-on, though. It's really quite amazing to me how much better I can see and decide when I look at pictures.

Sometimes when you use a light sashing that matches the backgroud fabric, it makes the blocks "float" which can be a wonderful effect.

Here's a picture of the quilt that was on the quilterscache site.

That looks good as a picture Jill but notice that the background colours don't butt up against each other as they would in reality With it being drawn there is a dark line between each white piece . In reality wouldn't the block pieces and the sashing/borders just disappear into each other ? Have you tried laying your block against the fabric you have used as the light ? I do like the look of the quilt in the picture but as I said it would not look like that in reality

I really like that background in the light fabric. I was all set to schedule the gold for sashing and the blue for cornerstones, but a picture is worth 1,000 words.

I would have to go for color just because that is who I am.

I like the way the sashing looks with the thin dark edges, but like HP said the dark edges won't separate the sashing . . . well, unless you do 1/8" borders on the sashing. I guess I'm like the other Mary Ann- - -I'd have to do color.

I tend to go with pictures because I'm not talented in changing colors around. I am tempted to do a 1/4" dark green edge and the light sashing. At first I was going to use the red for the sashing and border, but thought that would probably be a bit too much.

Jill wrote:

I tend to go with pictures because I'm not talented in changing colors around. I am tempted to do a 1/4" dark green edge and the light sashing. At first I was going to use the red for the sashing and border, but thought that would probably be a bit too much.

I think that would be lovely, Jill!!

But then too Jill, if you went with a gold for the sashing and the red or green for the border it would make a nice Xmas quilt !

Take photos of your block sitting on each of the fabrics, that way you will see what looks best border wise

Other thoughts are putting cornerstones inside with the sashing. I really like to do this. It adds a little oomph to it.

I drew up several versions and posted them on quiltingboard.com

After looking at them together, I think I like my on-point idea best, but I'm not wild about any of them, even though I like the block. Good luck.

Anita M. wrote:

Other thoughts are putting cornerstones inside with the sashing. I really like to do this. It adds a little oomph to it.

Thanks for your suggestion, think I'll try that and see how it looks.


Jill