First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

[Jillybean]

Hi everyone, I started my first quilt two days ago. I am doing a block quilt with 6 x 6" squares. I wanted to keep the color predominately yellow but the lady at JoAnns picked out a bolt of fabric for my border that I'm not sure I want to use. I've started to lay out my blocks and was wondering if things looked good so far. Also, I am thinking of doing a 4 inch plain white border around the edge instead. The first picture shows my layout and the second shows the orangey fabric. image.jpg
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[easyquilts]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

Is the orangey fabric for the border? If it is, I don't think I'd use it... Your idea of using white is better...or a pretty print....with white as the background....

Congratulations on making your first quilt!

[kensington]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

I like the Gold fabric for the border. I'd add a small... 2-3 inch wide border of white, and then a 4-5 inch border in the Gold. It's a very sunny quilt with yellows and gold, so I think with the white inner border and the print outer border it will settle down a bit and look nice.

I never do just a white border. I like using the white for the inner border to set the colors and frame the body of the quilt. Then a print that is in the quilt for the outer border. In this case the Gold.

[Snip Snip]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

I like that orangey-gold, too. I would use it. Kensington's idea of a small white border, then the orangey fabric for a larger border sounds good to me.

[Midge]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

I agree with Sandy. I wouldn't use that print for the border. On my iPad your yellows have green in them and the orange print for the border is more toward reddish. I would look for a yellow print that falls toward the yellow green of your other small prints. Perhaps you can find something in a larger scale print or as Sandy suggests, with a white background and a larger scale yellow print. Forgive me if you already know this, but since you are just starting out try taking your photo of the blocks and using your phone or computer to change them to black and white. Then you can see the relative values of the colors and balance the block layout. And those photos are lifesaving if you get mixed up at any point.

[Jillybean]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

Yes, the orange fabric was picked for the border initially. I'm just thinking it turns the color of the quilt from mainly yellow more towards orange.

Thanks for the congrats! Fingers crossed it turns out!

[Irene221b]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

Hi, don't forget, if you decide not to use the orangey color for the border, you can always use the fabric as part of the back of the quilt.

[KarenC]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

I like the idea of a different yellow for the border with a small white inner border.

[Old Newbie]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

Yes congratulations on 1st quilt. I am impressed by your work in two days. I an with snip snip on this. White inner border and then I think border fabric will look less dominant .

[songbird857]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

I like the orange, but it's your quilt, so go with your gut. I agree with kensington - a one inch white border before a wider border in your color choice will look great. Congrats on your first quilt

[auntiemern]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

I would use it the way Kensington said. Some of your blocks look kind of orange to me anyway.

[jjkaiser]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

Yay for you, great job on your first quilt so far! I really like the color orange but not for your border, it really detracts from the yellow and white you have going. The clerk at Jo Anns pointed you in the wrong direction. Go with your gut instincts here, if you are having doubts or second thoughts about this before turning your orange into a border then you will be kicking yourself every time you look at it. You want to love that quilt when it is done!!

[peepers613]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

Go with your gut instincts and don't over think it, or you'll go crazy! When in doubt, use a fabric in the quilt blocks for the border. I wouldn't use the orange for the reason you said. It will over-power the yellow.
Congratulations on your first quilt! Just relax and sew! We all have, and will still make, quilts that didn't turn out quite as we expected. For me, those are now my favorites, because I use them as every day quilts and they've been washed so many times they're the softest, coziest quilts in my home.

[Bubby]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

Welcome to the forum, Jillybean. Your first quilt is really sweet. Glad you joined us!

I agree with Kensington (above).

[DramaMama]

Re: First time quilter - layout and color help needed!

Yes, the orange fabric was picked for the border initially. I'm just thinking it turns the color of the quilt from mainly yellow more towards orange.

Thanks for the congrats! Fingers crossed it turns out!

While I like the orange border (as there seems to be "orange" in the quilt itself), you are right -- the color of the border so goes the color of the quilt. Check this out: 5 Steps for Selecting Fabric: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv6RjF-Xi7U

Therefore, if you want this quilt to be "yellow" -- consider a white inner border (small) and a yellow outer border.