Sunday, August 08, 2010

Tackling Borders

I did a job yesterday that I had procrastinated for 4 years...can you guess what I did?!
Yep...put borders on a quilt!
It's so ridiculous that I didn't finish it 4 years ago after I sewed the blocks together (click here to see that post).  I found this UFO in a box in the closet recently and later I found the fabric I had purchased for the borders,  and just decided it was way past time to finish it up.
BTW...If you want some ideas about where to hide store fabric so that you too are unable to find the border fabric you need for 4+ years, click here and watch this video.

This is not a good photo of the quilt, but you get the idea.
I remember why I got discouraged when I was working on it...the white sashing fabric doesn't quite match the slightly off white fabric in the blocks and I searched every quilt store I went to for a couple of years to find the exact fabric to match but never found it. And now that the fabric has aged 4 years, either the fabrics have become more similar or I have stopped caring about that!!!?!
My new motto - "Finished is better than perfect"!
And while putting on the borders, I was feeling inspired about the quilting pattern, so I went ahead and made up the binding, assuming that I would be finishing this one imminently.
The problem is that now I have 3 quilts lined up with their backings and bindings ready to go.
No more sleeping for me!!

19 comments:

Yvette said...

Now that looks great!!!

I am in your boat! I have 3 quilts ready to be quilted and another almost ready. I guess the piecing will have to stop soon to get these done.

Unknown said...

Kathy - I feel your pain with the white/off-white issue, but from what I can see from the photo, there really isn't that much contrast and the whiter border frames it well! Great job!

Judy D in WA said...

You are on a roll getting those UFOs finished or near finished. Let me know when you need more to work on. ;) The video is hilarious! Did you put a note on the quilts with the quilting pattern you decided on--you know, just in case!!!

Unknown said...

That's my motto too! If I wait for perfect nothing will ever be finished lol.
It looks good to me!

Darlene said...

Way to go, Kathy! Applause, applause! Sometimes 'finished is better than perfect' - LOL

You're always busy and overflowing with inspiration. :-)

scraphappy said...

Even if they aren't done yet, you've gotten a ton done on your UFO's. I guess all things will happen in time. Good luck with the quilting.

Aunt Spicy said...

I am right there with you! I have quilts that need binding that are just sitting there!

Millie said...

Kathy, if I have to wait to get the perfect colors my quilts will be in a box for many more years.
Good luck with the machine quiling.

Diane said...

OH gosh good for you! That's terrific that you got the ufo done-it looks great. I made binding for 2 quilts today too...got scared thought I had used the fabric for something else and when I didn't thought better do it now so as not risk using it!
maybe just get a little sleep. ;)

Toni said...

Who needs sleep??? :)

I love how you store you bindings! And your long UFO is beautiful too! Sound like a very productive weekend!

Susan said...

You are so right about borders. For some reason I seem to stop there too.

I did manage to get some borders on a quilt today.

I will confess that I am enjoying finishing some of the long forgotten UFO's. I hope you are too.

Lorraine said...

Funny how we get over things with time .....! I am sure the difference in the fabric wasn't enough to render the quilt "unfinishable" (not sure if that's even a word!)...and now look..you have three ready to finish! ...and I LOVE the block in your last post.....looking forward to the big reveal!

Carole said...

Isn't it funny how a quilt will just sit there, undone! Glad you picked it back up! It's a great feeling to finish something! Cheers!

Jeanne said...

Good for you! Why do we do that do a quilt? It's comforting to know that this 'flaw' is widespread in the quilting world. :-) The quilt looks great and having a line-up of tops ready to be finished is a good problem.

Helen in the UK said...

Huge congrats on getting this one to flimsey stage. My sticking point is usually the basting stage unless I plough right into it! All 3 quilts look great, so I look forward to seeing them done :)

Marla said...

It is always borders that stop me. ALWAYS! I wish I could find a way to enjoy that process!! It's a great feeling when they are done, right! Good for you.

Gina said...

Best of luck.
I've got a quilt that is about 10 years old that needs borders. I've been putting it off as the borders are pieced and the pattern is a nightmare to do. I'll get there one day I suppose.

Love and hugs Gina xxx

Rose Marie said...

When I cleaned up my studio, I unearthed some projects that are so close to being finished .... yep, hate doing borders too!

So far, there are 7 tops with backings (no bindings made) in a battered old trunk just waiting and waiting to be quilted up. Can't wait for some cooler weather to start working on them. It will be nice to have some new quilts for the beds this coming winter.

Gari in AL said...

So, instead of a quilting bee you will be having a binding bee. But how nice to have three almost completed quilts. I have tops but not almost completed. There is still quilting to do.