I have been putting off quilting my Scarlet Stars mini quilt because it just didn't seem finished to me. The pattern is a terrific one designed by Kim Diehl as a part of her Simple What Nots Club. This is what I had when I finished the pattern:
However, I felt that it needed something more--a border. I had more of one of the red fabrics used in the blocks, so I cut three inch strips and added a border. I think it completed the quilt, and I liked it much better with the addition. The quilt now finishes at 21" square, and is the perfect size for a lamp table, or to place a plant or candle arrangement on top of.
After adding the border, I quilted it with a half inch cross hatch design. I was worried that the quilting was too close together, but maybe there isn't any such thing. I saw in a You Tube tutorial by Jacquie Gehring that the closer your quilting lines the more forgiving they are. It is counter intuitive, for sure, but it seems to be true. I used my walking foot and checked my lines for half inch accuracy every four or five lines to even things up and it seemed to work great. It came out satisfyingly straight.
I was very pleased with the result, and have added one more red and white quilt to my February decorating scheme. Time to start planning some green projects for March, right?
You are so right. It looks better! That is really a cute combo of blocks. Nice job!
Mary
Posted by: Mary Kastner | February 06, 2018 at 05:29 AM
I love your Scarlet Stars with the 3" border too. I need to finish four big quilts and then I plan to make some more mini quilts for my tables too. Right now a Patriotic Table topper I made is on my Dining Room table.
Posted by: Jane | February 06, 2018 at 06:11 AM
Very nice! The wide border really does finish the quilt beautifully. Love the heart runner you posted yesterday, too. You are well and truly ready for this month's hearty celebrations.
Posted by: Debbie R. | February 06, 2018 at 06:28 AM
I agree that the additional border gave this delightful little quilt a more "finished" look. Well done!
Hugs!
Posted by: Barbara Anne | February 06, 2018 at 07:27 AM
Great finish. Stars never cease to look great in projects.
Posted by: pam hansen | February 06, 2018 at 07:31 AM
Oh, I love this! The border was just what it needed.
Posted by: Kathleen Gentile | February 06, 2018 at 08:05 AM
Love it! What size are the blocks?
Posted by: Jean | February 06, 2018 at 08:42 AM
Cute table topper! I love the addition of the border it's a great idea:-)
Posted by: Hildy | February 06, 2018 at 09:48 AM
ooohhhh, good advice about quilting lines closer together. I will try that. I have a baby quilt I'm going to baste and quilt this week. ;p
Posted by: ina | February 06, 2018 at 11:04 AM
Very cute!!!
Posted by: Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts | February 06, 2018 at 11:07 AM
I have several unfinished quilt tops that I can't afford to send out to be quilted anymore. I plan to start trying cross-hatching with my walking foot. Seeing how nice your quilt top turned out with your grid quilting inspires me to try finishing more of my own, especially since I really like the look of grid quilting. Thanks.
Posted by: Linda Smith | February 06, 2018 at 11:59 AM
I agree it needed that last border. Cute and better yet, done!
Posted by: Kyle | February 06, 2018 at 12:01 PM
Love the little quilt and it does look better with a nice wide border on it. I also liked the hearts runner on the previous post. I've also been doing cross hatch quilting here lately to finish up some small projects laying around. I love cross hatch and had forgotten how easy it is to quilt.
Posted by: Jody Randall | February 06, 2018 at 12:32 PM
It's a sweet mini! Love the collection on fabrics.
Posted by: Chrisknits | February 07, 2018 at 06:28 AM
That border really finished off the little mini! Great quilting too 😍
Posted by: Anita | February 08, 2018 at 10:22 PM
Very pretty! I think the border idea was spot on!
Posted by: Stephanie L. Davison | February 09, 2018 at 01:09 PM