Friday, June 7, 2013

Please - help me decide by leaving a comment. Thanks!

I should have known better - when I'm on a roll I can't drop a project just to use triangles as leader-enders.  So I sewed all my half-square triangle squares.  I had to use two background colors as I didn't have enough of either one for all the squares I needed.

Originally these were going to make a border directly outside the teal-turquoise border.  No matter how I placed the triangles it was just too busy.  Alternating the two backgrounds was too spotty.  I couldn't seem to make random work either.  And the number per side was 13, so they all had to go in the same direction.  So I've added another "coping border".  First the dark green, which was too dark, then the pink.  That gave me 14 squares per side, so I was able to arrange the triangles going outward from the center of each side.  The outside border was still way too busy next to the triangles so I added the green "stopper" there.


Now I think the border overwhelms the center.  and I still don't like the triangles with two different background colors.

Would it be better to just forget the triangles, toss them into the 2 1/2" triangle square box, and go with simple?  This border certainly doesn't overwhelm the center.  It is also very plain.  But maybe that's what I want, as I think the border on the pattern picture's quilt is too busy. The border is subdued due to the more lively center - I never thought I'd call this print subdued! - but maybe that's what the quilt needs.

What do you think? 

Do you like either of these better than the other?

Can you think of a different way to include the triangles in the border?

Thanks ahead of time for your input.

9 comments:

Julierose said...

Boy, Patti--this is a tough one. Of the two choices, I like the one w/o the triangles and just the blue border(oohh all that work!). But...Then, maybe something less busy for the border--man, these decisions can drive you crazee! Good luck, Julierose

Raewyn said...

It really is very pretty but I can see your dilemma but not quite sure what I would do? Maybe as Julierose suggests, try a different border - maybe the eye needs somewhere to rest? I'm kinda wondering if the solids in the triangles hit me too much when I look at it,taking my eye away fron those yummy centre blocks... to be honest, you got to do what is right for you!! Perhaps hang it up where you can see it for a few days and let your brain mull over it a bit. As I said it really is a very pretty piece.

Kelly said...

This is a tough choice! Have you thought about stopping at the green border? I really like your border fabric, but, after looking at the piece without any borders, I like the triangles without the border fabric. It's a great piece!

Teresa said...

I agree that it looks better without the triangles, in my humble opinion. The triangles are nice though, maybe make pillow shams or pillows with the to go with the quilt?

Vivian said...

I think either border option is fine and I like the triangles in the mix. What's "too busy" for me is the randomness of how they're placed. What would calm them down would be to use them in a repeating pattern blue/yellow/blue/yellow or blue/blue/yellow/blue/blue or blue/blue/yellow/yellow---what ever you have enough of to do.

With that I think the other borders wherever you want to place them will fall naturally into place. Keep playing, it'll come together!

cityquilter grace said...

since you asked.....how about making border corner squares out of the HSTs but using the print for the rest of the border, that might tone it down a bit. just an idea without having to make more HSTs or buy another border fabric....

regan said...

I would keep the teal inside border and then the border fabric. The triangles so close to the center pattern looks so busy.....but maybe they could be used outside of the border fabric, as the last round? Or in the bin for the next project! lol I do like just the single coping border.....if too many of those are stacked up.....it tends to look like too many frames, pulls your eye, and takes the focus away from that great center!

good luck!

Annie said...

Go with the blue and dark pink border, then the multi color(love this) border and skip the triangles on this one. Lovely quilt

Joanne said...

I like the plain border without the triangles -- brings out the colors within the quilt without being too busy.