Ok--here is what I have done. When I made the center of the quilt I thought I would really like to do some thread painting of pine branches. I chickened out and did the applique. For the March border, I thought I would finally give in and do the pine branches in thread. Where the flowers are on Sue's I put appliqued Christmas ornaments. I love this border. The problem is that it looks very delicate and the rest of the quilt does not. So, my thought is--since I haven't really been happy with the center--that if I did a wreath made of the same pine branches that I might like it a lot better. So here is the plan, I am going to cut a new center, make a pine wreath, maybe put some holly leaves in there or a pointsettia on the wreath and see if I like it better. If I do, I will take the center out of what I have done now and put the new one in. If not, I will take the bigger leaves off the applique that is in the center now and put on smaller leaves.

Ritzy, I just looked at your 2/26 picture in the gallery, and your quilt is LOVELY...are you sure that you want to abandon it? In my quilting group each of us always struggles with being our own worst critic, and it helps to have someone to talk you down from the ledge. In the end, of course, you need to please yourself, but please know that your work is valued by others.

Naw--I just have to bite the bullet and do it.

ritzy wrote:
Anything we can do to help?

Thank you Margo............I think I understand now.

You girls are not going to believe this! I made my scalloped border--not once but twice and then decided that it doesn't work with the center of my quilt. I may be doing the whole center over. I love the scalloped border I made and I have not been completely happy with my center so this will be the third center I have made for this quilt. Maybe, I should just bury it with my UFOs and pretend it isn't taunting me.

Margo many thanks I was looking for the width of the stips.......gee why didnt I think to word it that way as soooo easier to understand.......you have no idea of how many times I looked on Sue's pattern and could not see the 3" you just mentioned......sometimes I just wonder about my mind I can tell you....

Bertwood wrote:
Actually I do have two floaters, (red and green) but they are the same value so they visually appear to be one. If you like the look of one wide border, just wait until you have assembled the basket border so you will know what your dimensions need to be. Make it however you want it!!

I'm thinking you will have to complete all of your basket blocks, which won't happen until November, before you will know the size of the next floater. Unless yours turn out the perfect size!

Margo, question please. I hope I am able to explain this clear enough. If I look at YOUR quilt for this month..... and I look at Sue's quilt for this month.....the very last floating border on your quilt is much wider than what Sue says to put on. I know that next month, Sue starts out with a blue floating border. Did you incorporate those two borders, giving you one, wider border? I like your wider border better than two thinner ones. I think your wider border shows up better, and frames the quilt better. If this is true, then I will just wait until next month to see what dimensions I need to match. I hope I explained this clear enough. I know what I am thinking, I am just not sure I said it correctly....

THANK YOU!

Patchworkjill wrote:
I'm not sure what "diamond" shape you are talking about Jill, but on page 6 of Sue's directions she says:

The shorter 4-patch borders should be 45 inches long; the longer 4-patch strips should be 50 inches long;
(unfinished sizes). They should all be 3 inches wide (unfinished size).
Before you add the four-patch border units to the quilt center, you need to add floaters.

Is that the info you need?

MARGO one question please, I am sewing my diamond border differently than Sue's pattern as I feel it's the easy way to go for me (re TQS Show 703 with Rachel D.K. Clark) what I need to know is the finished size between the diamond point and the edge of the thin floater border please.

Thanking you in advance for your help.

Wow this is going to be one fantastic mini quilt

You are a BRAVE WOMAN!! :shock: