A run for the border

In Old Westerns "a run for the border" was an attempt to escape the law.  If you're hungry, it's a stop at Taco Bell.  But for us quilters it means that a quilt top is nearing completion and it's time for a run to the fabric store for more border fabric!

Plans for how to finish my Secret Santa quilt (Temecula Quilt Co. free on line sew-along) have changed a couple of times.  You may recall I had planned to piece a border of Christmas tree blocks.

Secret Santa top - 81- 1/2 inches square

Well, I was digging for green fabrics to use and stumbled across a wonderful green Christmas stripe... with Trees on it already!

Originally purchased with the idea of a Christmas Stack'N'Whack type quilt, it languished in the stash until now.  Out it came, and there was enough!  Could a border really be this easy?  Well, mitering the corners might count as a challenge.

Doesn't that border give the quilt Scandinavian look?  It reminds me of the intricate Norwegian  knitting designs on mittens and hats that you often see here in Minnesota.

A run to JoAnn Fabrics for another yard or so of the brown fabric used in the first border was just what I needed.  On it went!  A pop of red for the binding sounds like a good idea, so I've cut some red strips and and set them aside.

This quilt might be at the head of the line for quilting up this winter.  Now that the holidays are behind us it's time to start quilting up some more tops!