Mar 31, 2021
At Cobwebs and Caviar, we always hope a quilt pattern will be EXACTLY how you want it to end up. But hey, we quilters are creative! We like to make changes. Or we see a twin sized pattern that we would prefer as a queen sized quilt. So you’re finishing up your quilt top but decide you’d like it to be bigger. You’re going to add 2 or 3 borders but what sizes should they be?
TheGolden Ratiowill help you figure that out.
This ratio occurs in nature and is said to be the perfect proportion. It ensures things we look at are pleasing to the eye.
Look at the pictures below and decide which one in each pair is the most pleasing.
Most people would answer A – B – B. Those are the ones created based on the Golden Ratio.
The ratio, in its simplest form, is 1.6 to 1.
So if you are doing 3 quilt borders, each border should be 1.6 times larger than the previous one.
For instance, if you want to add 3 borders totalling 8″ per side, the first border would be 1.5 inches.
The second border would be 2.5 inches (1.5″ x 1.6 =2.4″, then round up).
And the final border would be 4 inches (2.5″ x 1.6 = 4″).
These arefinished measurements so you need to add 1/4″ seam allowances to each side (1/2″ in total). That means you would cut these borders at 2″, 3″, and 4.5 inches respectively.
To get started in your calculations, just do some guesswork. Let’s say you want 2 quilt borders totalling 6 inches. Start with 2″ and see what happens.
2″ x 1.6 = 3″ The two borders would total 2″ + 3″ = 5″ Not quite enough.
2.25″ x 1.6 = 3.5″ The two borders would total 2.25″ + 3.5″ = 5.75″ That could work.
2.5″ x 1.6 = 4″ This time, the borders would total 2.5″ + 4″ = 6.5″. That could work too! So your choice.
Just don’t forget to add those seam allowances!
The diagram is from Jinny Beyer’s blog post on this topic
Prefer a simpler, no math approach? Check out our border fabrics and their matching coordinatesBorder Fabric
Janice Averillon Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 12:50 pm
Thank you so much for writing this article! I apply the golden ratio to everything I design and I have done my best to explain it to my fellow quilters and sometimes our eyes glaze over because it’s a lot to take in from a brief conversation. This is a very well written explanation and I appreciate you having taken the time to create this post and share it with your fellow quilters
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Debon Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 7:39 pm
Thanks for the wonderful feedback, Janice! It can be a complicated idea to explain, can’t it!
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Gretchen Hechton Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 10:25 am
Beautiful explanation!
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Debon Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 10:05 pm
Thank you, Gretchen!
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Alisonon Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 8:43 pm
See Alsolabel, finishing quilts, quilt labels, how to label quilts, labeling quilts, quilt5 Ways to Bind a QuiltFCC: Types of seam finishesEverything You Need to Get Into Quilting, According to QuiltersHeh. I just googled “golden mean quilt” and there you are! Thanks!
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Debon Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 11:30 am
Hey, Alison, glad that was helpful! We now have a “How Do I…?” section on our website with other tips and techniques (more on the way!) so you may want to check those out too 🙂
How Do I …?
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Sister Jeannieon Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 11:49 pm
How much yardage would be needed for two birders on a queen quilt. The first being 2@and the second 3″
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Debon Thursday, July 28, 2022 at 10:55 pm
When you say “queen quilt”, what is the actual width and length?
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Katie Sloneon Sunday, August 14, 2022 at 3:44 pm
Thank you very much
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Debon Monday, August 15, 2022 at 12:14 pm
Glad it was helpful, Katie!
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Diana Dunnon Saturday, September 3, 2022 at 6:39 pm
Diana Dunnon Saturday, September 3, 2022 at 6:40 pm
Thank you. Very helpful information.
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AJ Caveyon Friday, September 9, 2022 at 10:08 am
thanks so much! glad we could help!!!
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Peggyon Monday, December 19, 2022 at 9:20 am
This is exactly what I was looking for – I knew there had to be a rule of thumb for this and sure enough! Thank you!
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Debon Monday, December 19, 2022 at 5:11 pm
That’s great, Peggy! This seems to have been our most popular post!
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Lucyon Friday, March 3, 2023 at 3:52 pm
If you are only adding one border, what width border would you use?
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AJ Caveyon Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 2:36 pm
Hi there! thanks for your question! the border width is going to largely depend on what the pattern is that you are using…for instance if most of your pieces are 2.5 inches then 1.5 times that would make a proportionately appealing border…hope this helps!
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Fran Pechenickon Monday, March 13, 2023 at 9:23 pm
VERY useful information about borders. I was in desperate need of this exact information for my latest quilt. Thank you so much!!
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Lisa A Pratteon Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 6:43 pm
I did an solid inner border of 2″ and a pieced border of 1.75. I want to add an outer border and am not sure what size. I was thinking of another 2″ border. Would that work?
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AJ Caveyon Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 2:03 pm
i would do a 3″ border myself! not a fan of repetition…and 1.75″ x 1.5 is only 2.62 which is awkward and difficult…rounding up to 2.75 or 3 makes more sense to me and is more interesting
thanks for your questionReply
Carol A Losinskeon Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 8:11 am
Very interesting. Thanks. Would you answer Rita Pratts question?
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AJ Caveyon Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 2:03 pm
hi there
I dont see a Rita Pratt-but hopefully have rectified any outstanding questions
AJReply
Puzzledon Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 7:51 am
Can I do 1 inch, 2 inch, and 3 inch borders with 13 inch blocks and still be following the golden ratio?
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AJ Caveyon Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 2:07 pm
hi there
well the golden ratio is when you multiply by 1.5 so that doesnt work but the graduated increase in size still has a very appealing look!Reply
