Project Simplify - Day 41
July 13, 2011 I have a confession to make 'cause I'm feeling a little guilty about this quilt. I sort of cheated and ... well ... I didn't add the outer border.
But can I defend myself before you bring out the pitchforks & torches?
Thanks.
Defense #1: This project is getting a wee bit on the expensive side - especially for batting. And I had a piece of batting that was big enough for this quilt ... without the border.
Defense #2: I only had two (ok ok, three) prints that would look good and I'm just not ready to part with them yet. They are my all time favorite Japanese prints. (I know that's so lame, but I just couldn't do it!)
I'm really sorry.
But I will argue that if you never saw the original quilt, you'd never know it was missing a border. And plus, I think excluding a border can be a solution for other problems too. So maybe if you're a quilter that fears deviating from a pattern, I've now given you permission to alter any design to suit you, no matter the reason.
So at the end of the day, I really love how this quilt looks - even without a border.
Am I forgiven? ;)
Project Simplify 
Reader Comments (17)
Change your pattern to make it work for you? Hey, I do this all the time because sometimes the quilt would be too big or too small or you just don´t have enough fabric ... happens to me all the time. So I forgive you;-)
Hildy
I had to look really really hard at the photo in the book to see the border.....my eyes kept thinking that the blue checkered pattern was something that Camille had put behind the quilt to take the photo! LOL Maybe I need to get my glasses checked? Anywhooo.....there is no such thing as the quilt police so it is your quilt and you can do what you want to do......we all give you permission! As if you needed it.....
Of course I will let you off - I don't think I have ever kept exactly to a quilting pattern!
Totally forgiven! I made my first borderless quilt top this summer, and it was like a breath of fresh air. I didn't realize how much I dreaded borders until I decided not to add them to that quilt.
From what I can see, it looks better without the border.
I love it without the border. It looks fab!
Dang it! I haven't had a chance to use my pitchfork in AGES. I've put it away because the quilt is just beautiful. I LOVE the deep gray. Tell you what, you send that quilt to me and I will protect you from the mob. ;0 Well, it was worth a try.
I love your quilt! I can’t believe you pebble quilted it, you are so awesome *high five!* First of all, I like to add or subtract borders too, so I won’t judge you. Have you ever pieced your batting? I do all of the time, and it saves me big bucks, quilts are spendy to make aren’t they? What kind of batting are you using?
...and yet again, I learn something! :)
Thanks for the sneak peek.....I can't wait to see the rest of this "borderless" quilt!
I can't wait to see the whole quilt...the colors look so relaxing...maybe you could stash that one in the mail along with my Ruby pillow cover? It has been a rough last few weeks...work just gets in the way of life :)
Thanks for making each day brighter with your blog, Lisa in Texas
I love it too....and even more SEW to know you follow your own heart when making a quilt. Isn't that what we are ALL supposed to do???? XXX
Ok I forgive you, especially since the colours are so lovely!
Vivienne x
I made a quilt recently w/o a border and it's great. Sometimes I add if the quilt is small. Some rules shouldn't be rules. Your quilt is beautiful and the quilting is so pretty no border is needed. Wonderful quilt!
love it too!
Oh my dear, when you get to my age (wrong side of 60) you realise that you really don't have to do what other people expect, just do what pleases you and it will be the right thing. The quilt looks perfectly fine without the border.
After quilting all those stones, I think we could forgive you just about anything :)