Do borders and bindings need to match?

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03-01-2012, 05:24 AM

#41

margee

Senior Member

Join Date: Nov 2011

Location: Illinois

Posts: 957

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fabaddict

the only rule in Quilting is - It is YOUR quilt, do it YOUR way. However, my favorite binding is scrappy -all the pieces left over from other bindings.

A teacher a my LQS told me this after I had gotten serious about trying to learn to quilt again. I showed her a couple tops I had made and what I thought I might want for quilting( even tho the quilt police wouldn't have approved.) She told me "It's your quilt. Do what you want to do." It's made it much more enjoyable for me and the "pressure" is gone. Anyway, I use bindings & borders that "fit my quilt."

03-01-2012, 05:50 AM

#42

anita211

Senior Member

Join Date: Jan 2007

Location: Northfield, MN

Posts: 339

Is there enough leftover fabric to sew together into a strip? That is an option also...

Anita in Northfield, MN

03-01-2012, 05:54 AM

#43

Patchwork Pam

Senior Member

Join Date: Dec 2009

Posts: 345

No police qult here. If u find one, lets us know. We will tar and feather them. lol. Just go with what feels right.

03-01-2012, 06:23 AM

#44

SandyQuilter

Junior Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Posts: 221

Usually they shouldn't match. The main object of the binding is to enclose the quilt's raw edges, but it's second job is to stop the eye from falling off the quilt. If they match, there is no subtle signal that says, "Stop! This is the edge, you don't go any farther." Try a contrasting color that coordinates with the quilt's interior.
SandyQuilter

03-01-2012, 06:34 AM

#45

May in Jersey

Super Member

Join Date: Oct 2008

Location: NJ

Posts: 2,521

I have no set rules but use what goes best with the quilt. If I have enough border fabric left I might use it for the binding, if not I use something that sort of matches the quilt. One of the best looking bindings I've made was 18" pieces of the quilts fabrics pieced together as the binding. Backings are usually all one fabric that in some way relates to the front. I've pieced many backings, usually pieces of different creams and beiges and a few times used leftover blocks to create a design on the back. So you see I'm flexible about what I use and encourage you to do the same. No, the Quilt Police won't be knocking on your door, LOL! .

Last edited by May in Jersey; 03-01-2012 at 06:37 AM.

03-01-2012, 06:45 AM

#46

sewnbug

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: Mid MIchigan

Posts: 575

You make your own rules. They can change with each quilt if you want. That's the beauty of quilting. :-)

03-01-2012, 06:50 AM

#47

stchenfool

Senior Member

Join Date: Jun 2009

Location: Wisconsin

Posts: 527

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudyMN

I am making a quilt and did not buy enough fabric for the binding! Do the borders and bindings need to match? What about the backing? I usually have borders, bindings and backing match. What are the rules or recommendations for a lap quilt?

Just think of it this way, if you put a quilt away for let's say 5 years 'cause you were sick of working on it, you'd have to go & get fabric that would work with what you have - so, no they don't have to match - beauty runs quilt deep!!!

03-01-2012, 07:00 AM

#48

Elaine433

Senior Member

Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: Southern Tier, NY

Posts: 529

Rarely do I match the binding with the border. The only time I do that is when I just can't find something that will work with the border and the backing. Mostly, I go with a contrasting fabric.

03-01-2012, 09:00 AM

#49

IdahoSandy

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2011

Posts: 781

Some times when I don't have enough border material left for binding, I mix other fabrics in the quilt, with what border fabric I have and that works or a solid color that would go with the border.