A quilt may have a single border or multiple borders of any width you choose. Interrupted or pieced borders add interest and can repeat a design in the quilt although probably, depending on the design, not necessarily the vivid part of the quilts' patterns in the border.



1. Single Borders

The Single Border is a strip of fabric of any width, which stitches to the edges of the pieced design. For me, provided that the main design/pattern does not get too close to the edge of the quilt, then the single border can be the main pattern provided it is not too vivid. Measure your quilt top carefully, preferably through the middle, to get the proper length for your borders. Add two sides first, like the right and left, and then add the top and bottom.

2. Multiple Border

Multiple quilt borders are made up of usually two or three strips of the same fabric as in the Quilt. If the main pattern of your quilt is close to the edge then the inner strip should be take from the more plain material and a patterned border on the outer. There is obviously no rules to this, try various combinations before finalising the design and stitching the borders in position. Measure your quilt top carefully, preferably through the middle, to get the proper length for your borders. As above, add two sides first, like the right and left, and then add the top and bottom.

3. Pieced border

By far the most difficult is the pieced border which I would suggest is not for the leaner, complete a few quilts first with the simpler single or multiple borders. I would make the pieced border from a maximum of 3 different pieces of the quilt fabric pattern and repeating on both sides and ends. Here it is even more important to measure the length and width of your quilt very accurately and dividing it up into equal lengths for each piece.

I hope these tips will help you to decide on the best border for your Quilt.

Bye for now...

Rose King - Author and Quilter