Using SILK YARN in the border Of the CHORAL QUILT

 Many time after the main part of a quilt is finished I ponder the border. The first idea for a border for the choir or CHORAL quilt, came from a photo in the "Quilter's Newsletter Magazine" December 2001, No. 338.  I have collected those magazines for years for reference and ideas.  The piece I admired was called, "Shed a Little Light", by Shelly Burg of Lincoln Nebraska.  I liked how the border emanated from the center piece.  This may represent sound emitting from the choir.  But it turned out looking too casual for the formal choir.  It needed something with a more classical look, with a hint of keyboard.  Then I saw an article in the AQS magazine "American Quilter" September 2011 Vol XXVII No. 5, called Sweeping Bars: Suspension Engineering for Quilts", by Barbara E. Lies.  I was inspired to do a border with a similar look, but using black silk yarn from Scotland instaed of bias tape, as in the article.
  I went to use the Husqvarna/Viking 3 Hole Yarn Foot, which I learned how to use at the Mancuso Quilt Show in West Palm Beach, FL last fall.  The class was taught by Carol Taylor. I loved that class and wanted to put the lesson to work, to help seal it in my memory.  But it turned out that the Viking Foot did not fit in the Janome Machine that was available for my use.  So I needed to buy a new foot.  Searching online I discovered the Creative Feet "Sequins 'N Ribbons" foot and optional yarn guides, that would feed my small silk yarn.  Well it worked wonderfully and I am thrilled I got it, as it will be  useful for many projects, and works on all machines.
  So now the choir quilt  is finished and named, "The Robert Sharon Chorale: Joined in Harmony".  The back of the quilt is not a typical backing, as I fused an applique design of the treble and base clef intertwined into a joined form.
  The quilt really is square (though it may look off), but now I need to learn how to photograph them better.  Will let you know what I learn about that next.

 The photo at the above shows the first design idea I had for the quilt that did not work  seem to work for this design.  Borders are so important, like a good picture frame.  A useful tool is to cut out a piece of paper, to use to view the design.