Basic Quilt Layouts-Square with Borders

Today’s Topic:  Basic Quilt Layouts-Square with BordersWelcome to Lesson  10 of our 2021 Quilt-a-Long,  Even Better Machine QuiltingThis FREE multi-week tutorial is based on my books available in my Etsy shop:  LoriKennedyShop

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Find the 2021 QAL links HERE

Find the 2020 (25 Week) QAL links HERE

Good Morning, Quilters!

Have you ever–or perhaps a better question–how often–have you looked at a finished quilt top and wondered, how should I quilt this?

Basic Quilt Layouts are a great way to break down quilt design into manageable recipes.  Doodle and stitch a few small “vase” quilts, then use the designs in your big quilts.  Once you work out the proportions, motif combinations and thread-it’s just a matter of plugging that into your next quilt!

Today, we will take a closer look at The Square with Borders Layout.

But before we get started…

Back to Teaching Live!!!

Thank you to all the quilters who came to my first live demo in more than one year!  It was really fun to meet so many quilters who had an opportunity to test drive the beautiful BERNINA Q20 sit-down longarms!  Truly a breath of fresh air to be in-person at Quilter’s Haven.  In fact, it was so much fun–we are planning to offer several full and half day classes in the store this fall.  Please let me know if you are interested!

The Square with Borders

The Sunny Medallion Quilt (see 2020 QAL for all the directions) is a great example of a Square with Borders layout.

Mark the central square and add one or more borders around the center.

There are an infinite number of ways to fill this–but the best way is usually something simple–fill the center with a large focus motif like a flower or sun, then look for border motifs to add around the edges.

Design Tips

Let’s look at the Sunny Day Medallion Quilt.  In this quilt,  I repeated the spiral element from the inner border in the corners of the outer border.  This helps unify the design.

I used bright yellow thread for the sun and repeated in the outer border–this also helps to create a more cohesive design.

The spirals in the inner border are stitched in a similar, but different thread from the adjacent border (Slightly different shades of yellow).  This adds to visual texture and helps to provide some contrast between the layers.

The outer border is stitched with a variegated thread which blends with the background fabric to provide an interesting texture. This thread is used again in the background fill around the central motif.

How to Use the Square with Borders Layout in YOUR Quilts

After you’ve created a small quilt design, use the individual elements in your next quilt. You know the motif combination and thread choices work well together!

If the block you need to fill is six inches–use the central motif.

If the block is larger, add the additional borders.

Perhaps your quilt has a pieced, square block with sashing–skip the central motif and use one or more of your borders.–Don’t forget, a wide border can always be subdivided into smaller widths!

What about YOU?

Did YOU make the Sunny Day Medallion Quilt?

Have YOU tried your own variation of central blocks and border motifs?

How did YOU use thread to add to your design?

Is there a quilt top in YOUR collection which could be quilted with a Square with Border Layout?

Do YOU have a quilt with a wide border? Could you divide it into two or more borders?

Are YOU interested in quilting class at Quilter’s Haven?

Is it difficult to be inside to quilt on a Sunny Day?

We’d LOVE to hear!

YOUR Minnesota (subtext-summers are short, winters are long) Quilter,

Lori

 

PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only.  Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ.  For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com.  Thank you!

Visit my Etsy shop: LoriKennedyShop for all of my books!  They are ALL bestsellers!