These three borders are made in the same basic way. They use a rectangle of any size, as long as it is twice as long as it is wide, plus 1/2"  added to its width and length for seam allowances, and two squares half the length of the finished size of the rectangle plus 1/2" for seam allowances. 
Starting with the Herringbone border, you see at left two rectangles and four squares, using reverse colors. Line up a reverse color square with one end of a rectangle, right sides together and all edges aligned. (I show them staggered here just so you can see what I mean) Mark the diagonal in the direction shown, and sew on the diagonal through both layers.* Note that the reverse colored units have this drawn lines in the opposite direction!... Cut off the excess seam allowance, and press the remainder towards the darker fabric. Repeat this with another square on the other end of the rectangle. Depending on which color arrangement you used, you will end up with one or the other of the two pieced rectangles shown at left...
Now to make the Herringbone Border you make rows , all the lt./dk./lt. ones in one row...all the dk./lt./dk. ones in the next row...then join the rows, using a scant 1/4" seam...Here's one that Karlene made!
To Make the Diamonds Border, you follow the same procedure, but use all the same color arrangement rectangle units, and sew the vertically rather than horizontally! Here's one that Karlene made!

To make the Rick Rack Border, use two different base rectangles, one slightly darker than the other, and sew them side to side, as with the Diamonds, but flip every other one...Note that the reverse colored units have the drawn lines in the opposite direction!...Here's one Karlene made!

EXAMPLE: For a  Herringbone border, because it is made up of two rows of rectangles, your finished desired border width needs to be something easily divisible by 2...let's say you want a 4" wide border...your rectangles would be 2 1/2" x 4 1/2", and your squares would be 2 1/2". For a 6" wide border, use a 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangle, and 3 1/2" squares.

EXAMPLE: For a Diamond border any size rectangle that is twice as long as it is wide is appropriate. For a 4" wide border, use a 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangle, and 2 1/2" squares. For a 6" wide border, use a 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangle, and 3 1/2" squares. The Rick Rack Border would have the same examples!
Nov 5 2001 Marcia Hohn