Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt Top

 

Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt Top

This is the quilt top that I have been sewing for several years, now. 

I first posted about it over 11 years ago, here.

Then, an update the following year.

Plus, this post about a certain kitty "helping" me with the quilt - he was such a helpful kitty and we miss him so much!

I have finally finished sewing all the flowers, with three left over!  I might use those leftover flowers to make cushions or, perhaps, on the back of the quilt.

Now I am wondering how to do the border.  The pattern leaves scalloped edges, especially on the two long sides.

Top/Bottom Edges of Quilt Top

One of the Side Edges

Originally, I had planned to put half flowers in the bigger spaces to make it a straighter edge.  Then, I thought I'll add a second row of solid green hexagons all around and consider that as the border and leave it scalloped.  It would still be difficult to bind.  But, I might need fewer hexagons to sew together.  So, I started to cut out more green hexagons.  I cut out 35 yesterday; I am going to need around 120 hexagons, give or take a few!  At this rate, I will take at least the rest of the year to piece the top!

I also considered the option of sewing rectangles in different hues/shades of red and brown fabric to make "bricks" to edge the quilt, like a brick path around the flower garden.  I do have a long enough piece of a solid red fabric to make a border, but, I don't have enough different hues/shades of red or brown fabric in the stash.  There are fabrics with brick patterns for sale, but, that's cheating and they are not exactly inexpensive!  I will not pay full price for any fabric I buy for a quilt.  

I did consider a quicker alternative, where I'd sew the top down to a wide piece of fabric to make a straight edge and border, and tried out the idea with three different pieces of fabric from my stash:

Red and White Stripes

I like this, I think it brightens the quilt top, but my daughter thinks it looks Christmas-y.

Bright Green

My daughter likes this, but it is too much of green for me.  I could, however, see it as a narrow border or binding for the quilt.  

Lilac with Yellow-Centered White Flowers 

Daughter said the green and purple/lilac combination is very me!  LOL.  She also pointed out how the yellow centers of the flowers on the fabric match the yellow centers of the flowers of the quilt top.

I also looked at leaf patterned fabric, but, again, I am balking at paying full price, especially when I have all the fabric I bought when the fabric store was going out of business, at the end of 2024 and spring 2025.

Fabric Bought in December 2024

Fabric Bought in March 2025
(Spot the red & white striped and the bright green fabric!)

Which option would you choose for the border?  Another row of green hexagons and leave it scalloped?  Half flowers to fill in the scallops to make a straight edge and bind?  Sew down the top to a wide piece of fabric from the stash to end with a stright edge?  Splurge a bit and buy newleaf patterned or brick patterned fabric?