too obvious

So, this scrap quilt has been giving me trouble. I've really enjoyed making the blocks, especially as I'm switching between favorites like hourglass blocks and sawtooth stars. But up on the design wall the collection has had me stumped. What does it need to look finished?

My design concept was inspired by fairisle sweaters with their rows of distinct designs. I was planning to keep everything tidy in its own row, until my mom prodded me to mix things up. I wondered if a little shuffling of sawtooth stars for hourglass blocks might settle my concerns about the quilt, so I gave it a go.

Nope, that didn't do it.

Last night I started cutting small squares to create a gray and low volume squares border. I was in for a lot more piecing, apparently, to finish this quilt off. Then suddenly it occurred to me that all it needed was a plain, gray border. Yep, just a gray frame. Something simple, but unifying.

Aha! Finished at last!

Now that I've put a 3" Kona Iron border around my patchwork, I can't believe I didn't realize this was what it needed before. Funny how the right solution can be so darn obvious once it arrives!