Carolina Patchworks

Skip the Borders Blog Tour

Posted on by in Misc

A short break from my own blog tour going on right now to participate in Miss Julie’s Blog Tour for Skip the Borders! And yes, humorously, today is her day on mine. Hardy har har!

photo 1

Julie‘s Skip the Borders is full of fun, bold and geometric quilts. Top notch, clear and concise step-by-step illustrations fill the book plus easy-to-follow cutting lists plus dynamic photography make this a +1 in my opinion.

Skip the Borders is made up of 15 patterns ranging from beginner to intermediate level and none have borders! It also includes a section on ‘The Structure of a Borderless Quilt” which I love because it talks about looking at the quilt as a whole, rather than focusing on a block and then standing there wondering what in the world do you do with it now!?

And an odd point to make, I love the paper it’s printing on. It has a good feel. Why do I notice these things?? The back cover also rocks. It seems to be a forgotten afterthought on so many books.

Some of my personal favorites…

I love this. And depending on how you look at it, you see different things (think Rorschach test):
Rasp Dessert

There’s something about this quilt. I’m very drawn to it though it’s not something I can seem to put into words, it’s just…
Boxed In

And I must have a thing for Ohio Star-ish type quilts because I love this:
Stars and Stripes

And let’s not forget… this is what quilting is really about. Being happy and snuggling. This gets lost a lot in the everything of today tizzy of life (yes, I meant to type it like that. Far from proper, coherent English …).
julie book_6-9-300dpi

Three questions…

#1. All of the quilts in Skip the Borders are… borderless! Do you skip borders on most of your quilts?

I tend to approach quilt designs from the big picture. I have a large canvas to fill. What is going to fill it? Sometimes things end up with borders (though, still very different than what a traditional quilt border looks like) and often times there are no borders.

#2. In the intro to my book I give you Permission to Break the Rules. Do you break some quilting rules? What is the number one rule you break and why?

I have no formal quilting training so if there are rules about certain things, I never learned them (and I’m ok with that!). I think everyone needs to go about their quilting in a way that works for them rather than what someone somewhere says the *should* do. Do what makes you happy! Ignore the over-opinionated know-it-alls.

#3. It’s no secret that I love binding! In Skip the Borders I included an entire chapter on binding. So the million dollar question, is do you use bias or straight of grain most of the time?

Straight. Unless I’m doing curved edges. And after seeing the binding chapter, I can confirm that Julie really does love binding!

Giveaway!
Your chance to win a free eBook of Skip the Borders!

What kind of binding do you like? We’re not talking straight vs. bias here. I’m talking dots vs. stripes vs. gingham vs. solid vs. tonal print vs. whatever you have enough of vs. whatever you want to get rid of vs. coordinating small print vs. …

Winner will be chosen next Thursday, October 11th.

Visit the other stops on the tour!

Sept. 12th. PS I Quilt
Sept. 14th. Beyond the Reef
Sept. 17th. Pink Chalk Studio
Sept. 19th. Fat Quarter Shop
Sept. 21st. Bijou Lovely
Sept. 24th. Red Pepper Quilts
Sept. 26th. Swatch & Stitch
Sept. 28th. Juicy Bits
Oct. 1st. V and Co
Oct. 10th. Blue is Bleu
Oct. 15th. Quilt Dad
Oct. 17th. Jaybird Quilts
Comments are now closed.
Congrats to … Lyn (ca……@satx.rr.com)!! I’ve passed your info along to Julie.

88 thoughts on “Skip the Borders Blog Tour”

  1. Linda S says:

    i thought that i preferred solid bindings, but i just went to check a pile of quilts & found that i prefer prints!!

  2. Marga says:

    Thanks for the chance to win this lovely book. I am a stripes kind a binding girl. For me that is what has to be they end of finishing a quilt.

    Kind regards from Holland,
    Margaβ™₯

  3. Hueisei says:

    I love dots or florals binding πŸ™‚

  4. Joan says:

    I love prints they look great and stripes do too!
    Thanks for the giveaway!

  5. Sandy D says:

    I love doing striped borders. I like the look you get once the binding is on.I am always on the lookout for striped fabric. Thanks for a chance to win this e book.

  6. Melissa says:

    For me it depends on my quilt – if it’s a busy quilt with lots of print fabrics, I love putting in a strong solid to contrast. And vice-versa, if it is a mellow quilt, I like a bold, stand-out print for the binding. So fun to go through the process of finding just the right fabric! Thank you for the opportunity to win this awesome book!

  7. Kate F. says:

    It depends on the quilt! I like solid bindings on scrappy projects, especially those with lots of white background. I often use tone-on-tone stripes or subtly textured prints. But my favorite quilt-binding combo was a quilt constructed of about 20 different shades of orange and blue-green solids that I bound in a tiny pebble print that picked up a lot of the same colors.

  8. Allison C says:

    I usually do the same print or solid as the back. I haven’t tried mixing it up and doing something bold yet, but I want to.

  9. Megan says:

    Depends on the quilt, but I usually use a pattern for binding. Little stripes are my favorite!

  10. Lizzie says:

    I love scrappy bindings with 8 to 12 inch pieces from the scrappy quilt top! Or, stripe is nice…….or the same print as the border…..i guess it depends on the quilt!

  11. Judy C in Nc says:

    I love stripes when I want to be playful and high contrast when I want to be daring – and multiple scrappy different fabrics/colors when I am thinking outside the box. I love color and thank you for this wonderful opportunity. Judy C

  12. Marcy says:

    Love stripes and dots as well as busy prints for binding. It tends to wake up a sleepy quilt.

  13. Debbie H says:

    I use either solids or small prints. Thanks!

  14. elsa says:

    It really depends ~ making a baby quilt for my new great-niece. It’s got lots of red in the design (pink too) and I’m doing a solid red binding and just realized that it doesn’t have any borders!
    I’ve done all sorts of binding but I especially likes stripes.
    Thanks for the giveaway ~ I’d love to win this book!

  15. SueB says:

    It depends on the quilt. I have used solid and then I have used prints. I love to make them jazz up the quilt. I also love having fun backings to go with the front of my quilts thanks for the chance to win..

  16. Katie Y. says:

    I think that it all really depends on what fabrics that I used for the quilt itself. But I’d probably say that I prefer prints on my binding πŸ™‚

  17. Gina S. says:

    Stripes or dots is my choice if it will work with the quilt. It just seem more fun.

  18. VickiT says:

    I am really drawn to the striped binding on the diagonal. For some reason I really love that look. Of course, that may not work on all quilts so I do also like the solid binding as well on certain quilts.

  19. I prefer to use stripes for bindings.
    This looks like a great book! I hope I win!

  20. Gill says:

    I love striped bindings!

  21. Donna Baker says:

    I’ve only made one quilt with binding so far & it was solid (boring) I want to do diagonal stripes some day or polka dots

  22. Rhonda says:

    I love a striped binding but also use dots a lot; thanks for chance!

  23. Malini says:

    I love using stripes for my binding and that too cut on bias because it adds beautiful graphic to the quilt.

  24. Lynn says:

    I like solid bindings most of the time. Striped are my second choice….but depending on the quilt, they could be dots or scraps!

  25. Carolyn Venne says:

    I love stripes or some kind of small geometric for my binding, as long as it’s not too busy. Such an important piece for the finished look!!

  26. Mary W. says:

    I usually choose one of the fabrics in my quilt for the binding, but I’m thinking of using a bold stripe to bind a quilt made with solids–adds a great graphic element!

  27. Kalynn says:

    I love stipes cut on the bias. I also like solid to add a bold finish

  28. Oh man your kindof right on with binding – Whatever is on hand…but, I really like the looks of stripes! Thanks! great review/interview

  29. Evelyn says:

    Most of my quilts have binding that is the same fabric as the back or a tone-on-tone black. It’s time for me to stretch myself and get more creative with my bindings.

  30. Jenelle Boxberger says:

    Usually I use some kind of fabric that is in the quilt. But many times I will take pieces and join them together to make it a pieced binding. But I would have to say if I have it and it matches the color way I love stripped binding. Thanks for the chance to win. THis was fun.

  31. lindawwww says:

    I usually use a darker fabric for my binding. One that coordinates with the colors I’ve used in the quilt. I need to experiment!

  32. MarciaW says:

    Stripe binding that coordinates with the front and back of the quilt.

  33. Cheryl - MA says:

    I LOVE stripes and plaids for bindings, but definitely cut on the bias. I’ll also use dots if I have them somewhere in the quilt.
    Oh, and the second quilt you showed, I absolutely “LOVE” that quilt too! Anf you’re right it’s just….
    Can’t wait to make it. I think I’m gonna have to push some other projects aside so I can get it done…for ME!
    Thanks for the opportunity to win!

  34. LeAndrea says:

    Stripes or dots are my choice.

  35. Merrie Jo Chamberlain says:

    I like to use stripes on the bias, but also dots and floral and then I will use straight of grain. It really depends on the quilt and fabric used. I have even “rolled” the backing over for a binding.

  36. Susan Jonsson says:

    I tend toward polka dots….I haven’t made many quilts…but it sounds like this book will be an education and an inspiration. Thanks for the chance to win!
    Susan

  37. Cori says:

    I like solid colors that match the prints. Thank you for a chance to win , the borderless quilts are beautiful.

  38. Robin says:

    I love stripes, but don’t use them too often. Mostly I use something tonal that works with or somehow complements what’s going on in the top. Binding is one of my favorite parts of quilting too– so long as I have time to enjoy it. Way too often, I seem to be attaching binding at the last minute! πŸ™‚

  39. jmniffer says:

    I tend to go tonal with a strong contrat to the outer border so it frames the quilt. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book.

  40. ritainalaska says:

    binding are from whatever fabric i have enough of that will compliment or contrast with the quilt face; it can even from one of the same fabrics used.. if i don’t have enough of what i want, i piece it from several of the fabrics that are in the quilt. i am not picky.

  41. Jann says:

    I haven’t finished enough quilts to have a favorite binding yet (“newbie”) but so far dots or small prints have worked well. I’d love to have this book!

  42. Tamie says:

    I have used solids in the past but nevermore…

  43. Sallie says:

    I love stripes cut on the bias! Thanks for the giveaway!

  44. Kathie L says:

    I use something coordinating for binding.

  45. Amy Losordo says:

    I too love stripes for my bindings. It really looks great on quilts.

  46. Ann says:

    You picked some of my favorites too! I love stripes for binding. Sometimes going across, sometimes on the diagonal. I try differnet fabrics and see which is my favorite. Really it can be any style, but I drawn to stripes.

  47. Hilary says:

    I like a darker colour to frame the quilt and I seem to mostly use solids…but I’m going try to be a bit more adventurous from now on!

  48. Linda H. says:

    Definitely prefer striped binding, but mostly only when it’s cut on the bias or is printed on the diagonal. That’s so when it’s sewn to the quilt it looks like a barber pole stripe… if anyone knows what a barber pole looks like anymore! Okay. Better say it’s like a candy cane stripe.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

  49. My favorite has been a stripe but now I like a scrappy binding or one with few little pops

  50. Jennie P. says:

    I think stripes make cool bindings, but I also like checked and swirly designs. I guess it just depends on the quilt though. I’d also consider solids and tonals.

  51. SewLindaAnn says:

    I like thinking of neat things to do with binding for every different one I sew. From floral to stripe and patched up solids.

  52. Amanda says:

    I love using striped fabrics for binding. They really add an interesting finish to a quilt.

  53. Glenda in Florida says:

    Stripes are my favorite, because I always make a bias binding, and I love the little diagonal lines. But, sometimes, I like the border to be invisible, so I use the same fabric as the outer border.

  54. Keri says:

    I like to use Basic Grey’s grunge fabrics for borders as they are solid but distressed. LOVE the look. : ) and THANKS for the chance to win Julie’s book. LOVE her!

  55. Mary Beth says:

    I like a binding that contrasts with the rest of the quilt and forms a frame.

  56. Susan says:

    I love love your Scrap Republic. Already have made a Hover. I would love to have Jaybird’s book. Another modern marvel.

  57. Lauren aka Giddy99 says:

    Dots! I did bind one with deer (from Momo Oh Deer), and it was cute, too! Definitely a two color print for binding (so far).

  58. Paula says:

    Love striped binding!

  59. Marianne says:

    Whatever goes with the quilt but I am partial to plaids!

  60. sharon says:

    I love stripes, then polka dots, then a scrappy look

  61. Becky Greene says:

    My favorite binding so far was a two-tone, whimsical, swirly pattern with many hearts embedded in the design. At first glance you don’t notice the hearts, but then you begin to see them. It was a wedding gift, so it was perfect!

  62. Marcia says:

    I tend to use binding that are from left over fabric! I love scrappy quilts, so it only makes sense that I love scrappy bindings! πŸ™‚

  63. Totally depends on the quilt, but I love to use a fabric I incorporated in the top as the binding as a scrappy binding!
    Thanks!
    -Erin

  64. Beth in TN says:

    I prefer stripes for the extra movement they give, because I do often skip the borders. Also, I like to make my binding a little wide to act more like a border than simple binding.

  65. Katia says:

    I like when it is coordinated with small prints. but when I see stripes binding on quilts I find them just the “final touch”

  66. I love bindings made of left overs, larger dots or stripes!

  67. Cheryl says:

    I like making my quilt bindings from pieces of all the fabrics in the quilt – kind of ties it all together in my opinion.

  68. CJ says:

    I like to use up my scraps from the quilt top, with a solid to fill in the rest. It really depends on the quilt though.

  69. Clara says:

    I love the look of a stripe on the binding, especially if the border I chose is a solid. However, I’ve also used leftovers from the quilt top to create a “jumbled” look to the binding–it brings out the fabrics in the top.

    Thanks for a chance to win a book. I’m interested in the directions for the modern star quilt.

  70. kate brown says:

    I really like stripes or dots but usually end up using fabric from the quilt.

  71. Melissa says:

    That pink diamonds quilt is lovely! I tend to love a striped binding on a quilt but only if it works. I usually let the quilt tell me what it wants.

  72. Mel nunn says:

    I love stripes either straight cut or on the bias. Spots look great too.

  73. Lyn says:

    I tend to go with prints that pretty much read as a solid, and are in one of the main quilt colors…in other words, a pretty quiet, nondescript binding. Perhaps I should change that…

  74. Anita says:

    I really like to use a stripe or piece the binding from the fabrics in the quilt

  75. Christie says:

    love colorful dots with high contrast for binding. the variety in colors make the end result exciting and vibrant to the eye!
    thanks for tr giveaway πŸ™‚

  76. Crystal says:

    Smallish prints or geometrics or solids – something to ‘frame’ the quilt is best in my opinion. Thanks for sharing this lovely book!

  77. Chancy says:

    I love the look of striped bindings.

  78. Jamie says:

    I usually choose stripes or tiny plka dots.

  79. Nancy says:

    I love a striped border with the stripes on an angle. However, I usually use what looks best with the quilt. I like the border to give the quilt a bit of pop

  80. Delores says:

    I like a border to coordinate with the quilt fabrics, either one of the fabrics used in the quilt, or a fabric from the line of fabric I’m using. Definitely the binding is a plan, never an afterthought or a ‘whatever’.
    Love to win the book.

  81. Cecilia says:

    I love to use stripes as boarders. I haven’t tried dots yet, but I will have to try that next.

  82. Ben D says:

    I usually use either solid binding or a coordinated small print.

  83. Anna says:

    I lean toward stripes, but if the quilt is very busy, I go with a solid.

  84. Jenny says:

    I have only made about 5 quilts so far. The first ones I used the backing itself and folded it over (self binding?) the others I have used fabrics from the quilt front, but I really like dotty bindings for fun.

  85. Lisa Marie says:

    I like lots of different kinds of binding. Prints, stripes, dots, whatever the quilt seems to need.

  86. Diann Cornell says:

    Of course it depends on the quilt, but my favorite is stripes.

  87. Jocelyn says:

    I usually like to use a solid color for my binding. Thanks for the giveaway.

  88. I normally bind with a coordinating fabric. Not always a fabric that’s already within the pieced top, but something that pops when coordinated with the other colors, or something that matches with the “theme” of the quilt. πŸ™‚ thank you! Great giveaway!

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