Submitted by Cindy Cockell
Do you ever wonder what width your borders should be?
I had a friend call me a few weeks ago and ask me the question. She was finishing a UFO from a Patchworks class and couldn’t remember what size the borders should be. So I suggested what sizes to use. Then the other day I got a Jinny Beyer newsletter and she was talking about it (mainly to sell a new tool). So I thought it might be of interest to some of our newer quilters.
There is a Golden Ratio that exists in nature and that is used in quilting to determine proportions. When things are in these proportions they are very pleasing to the eye. Also known as the Fibonacci Scale (or phi). Google either term and you’ll come up with some fascinating info and pictures and the math behind all of this.
In simple terms you can remember 3, 5, 8 as the width of borders on a full size quilt. A lot of times we make our first border 1″ – 1 ½” as well. The numbers are 1.6 times the previously border (rounded up). So 3″ x 1.6 = 4.8 so 5″. 5″ x 1.6 = 8″. (technically it’s 1.618). Or if you go the other way from big to small just multiply the larger number by 60% so 8″ x .6 = 4.8 or 5″.
The other way to figure it out is to choose the 1st and 2nd border. Add those 2 widths to get the width of the 3rd. Add the 2nd + 3rd to get the width of the 4th, etc. So check out some quilts you like and see if they follow this rule within their borders.
The same principle applies to the width and height of a quilt. Width x 1.618 = height or height / 0.6 = width. FYI – your credit card follows the Golden Ratio.
Jinny’s blog has some examples of things that follow the rule and don’t. I found the mariner’s compass comparison interesting.
While both are identical in pieces, the one that follows the Golden Ratio has far more interest and appeal (the one on the right).