Almost any pieced block can have a special border unit evolved from it which harmonizes with the design – triangle borders exactly suit some, others could use alternate color squares or pin wheels and squares; there is an old- fashioned one called “Tile Border” which is really just little “Necktie” blocks with the center square only in dark or contrasting color. “Spools” also makes a clever patchwork border, as does diagonally placed dark squares, filled in to the outer edges with light triangles either side.
One of the most elaborate quilts that I have ever seen, a real museum piece, has no less than ten borders around a gorgeous applique and embroidered center. The owner calls it “Framed Medallion” and surely it is. One border is a double row of light and dark Zig-Zag so placed as to give a dark ric-rac effect on light, another flanks triangles with diamonds, alternating position each time and meeting in four most precise corners of two diamonds each. There are bands of print between pieced borders, one border is even appliqued and the widest one pieced of eight-pointed stars is about seven inches wide.
A pieced border which scallops is given with the “Friendship Ring” pattern.Applique borders are more usual on quilts of their kind than pieced ones are on patchwork. There are the scallops that sometimes add onto a straight edge quilt and sometimes match a cut edge. These may run a sequence of color overlays as green for an outer scallop with rose and pink over it for a rose applique. There is a scallop cutting pattern with “Double Irish Cross” which may be extended to become an exact multiple of your quilt edge. If your quilt is 90 inches long the scallop might be 9, 10, or 15 inches, or even 13, by a trifle of manipulating. The scallop itself is often scalloped into little unevennesses, or may drop in a sort of triple curve. These are apt to be rather heavy, awkward looking additions, rather reminiscent of the funeral hearse when ponderous tassels hang between. Sometimes the tops met in a totally inadequate little tulip looking like a crowned tooth, or other times this join was weighted down with princess plumes or great green oak leaves.
A well proportioned scallop, one in keeping with the quilt pattern in daintiness, color, and curve may be the loveliest possible finish for your quilt. One is suggested with the pattern called “Rose Cross.” Roses, Fleur-de- lis, leaves, plumes and tassels may be used with the applique scallops, but restraint and a feeling for design are cautioned to mix well with them “before taking.”
Most satisfactory of all applique borders, in my opinion, are the running vine types. These may have a stem cut on a continuing “S” shape, or use regulation bias tape which accommodates itself to any curve. On this foundation beautiful borders are builded, with leaves at precise angles, with flowers above the bend or grapes below. Tulips made of three petals and 3 layer roses notched around like a cooky-cutter are favorites in keeping with the antique feeling in appliques. These, with certain buds, big and little, were favorites always.