Layout thoughts and Ideas requested!

Do a Mz Sairey strip! Choose a red [usually I use a darker red that seems a bluish or blackish red] border, just need a narrow one. Never fails to set off the colors real nice, no matter what you used!

Ginger in CA

Why do you think you will have trouble if you have the piano key border on the outside without another border before the binding? I've done that several times without a problem. There is one at the bottom of this page: and some more on this page: (sorry about the missing links on that one -- guess I got carried away deleting photos to free up some space on my website. One of these days, I'll try to fix it.)

Julia > Ok, so I have 12 (3 x 4) beautiful log cabin blocks, sized 12 1/2"

Definitely put a 'resting' border between the blocks and the border, as the border is pieced too. I, too, wonder why you can't have the piano key border right up to the binding? However, if you are worried about all the seam allowances you will encounter that way (or something like that), perhaps you could use the same for the outer border as you have for the inner border - and the binding the same as the outer border?

If you decide against the outer border, you could use the same fabric for the binding for the inner border. I have done that loads of times and really like the effect. . In message , Dannielle writes

Julia,

I figured with all of the extra seams next to the binding it would be difficult for two reasons, sewing over the seams themselves (the added bulk) and the tendency for the ends of those seams to pull and stretch themselves. I don't remember seeing one that had the piano keys all the way to the edge like yours, so now I am way encouraged to do it that way! I like the idea of how it looks in my head!

Thanks for the pics! That really helped.

Dannielle

Mz Sairey strip? I'm interested in hearing about this. But you are pushing the red and that is where I was thinking of going when I started doing this whole thing. Hmmm, maybe my first instincts were right and I just don't have the right shade of red next to it! I'm off to play in the red pile!

Dannielle

Stay-stitching the edge of any quilt helps to keep the edges from stretching when putting on the binding. I do it after quilting. In the case of the piano key border, it might be helpful to also stay-stitch before before quilting to keep all those piano key seams from pulling apart, though I don't remember doing that. (Stay-stitching is simply a line of straight stitching close to the edge; if you keep it less than

Julia > Julia,

Used to be Mz Sairey was a frequent poster here. She had a quilt that she put a narrow red border on, then did her regular border. She was so tickled about the effect. I started doing the same on my pieces, also. Ever since then several of us have called it a Sairey strip. She always used red, but you could use any color, I s'pose ;)

Ginger in CA where it will be raining soon!

Dannielle, if you're worried about bulk in the binding, why don't you press the seams of the piano key border open, rather than to one side? That should minimize the bulk very nicely. :) I think that border would look fantastic!

Just today I was playing with borders for a Log Cabin quilt...My blocks are blues on the dark side, creams on the light, and red in the middle. I just got EQ6 and was experimenting. On the computer, a border of different blue stripes seemed to look good. I wonder if you could do several stripes in the rainbow colors. I, too, have done a piano key border. At the time, I didn't know what it was called, or that it might cause problems. I just wanted to use up a bunch of strips that I had cut the wrong size!!! You can see it on page 3 in "My Quilts" on Webshots. It's the Candy Cane quilt, and I see that I almost cut the border off in the picture. Sorry.

Your quilts are just gorgeous! I love the Candy Cane, along with quite a few others! I hope to achieve a completed quilt collection of photos of my own some day!

Dannielle