Trying to figure size/shape
 

Im making this hopefully for my mom for Christmas. ( Side note, am having lots of trouble with batiks. Man they're stretchy!) Anyhow. Right now it's 37 x 49. I'll be adding 4 1/2 border. I want this bigger but n doot sure... do I make
3 more for the bottom making it longer, or 4 on the side making it square. I really dont want to do both. Lol


I hope this picture shows up.

By the way, I haven't even started trying to layout the blocks for color, I just threw them up in random order for now.

The shape is good the way it is. Maybe you could do multiple borders, one being pieced from your fabrics from the blocks.

Square would be better than longer. If you google "Golden Rectangle" you'll find info on what proportions are very pleasing to the eye. p.s. Very nice! She'll love it.

If not making it larger with borders, I too, would suggest going for square and making four more blocks. It'll be so nice and cozy to snuggle under!

Beautiful blocks. Your mom is going to love it. I agree with the square idea.

Beautiful! I'd do the four for the side to make it square. If your batiks are stretchy, spritz some starch on, that will really help!

I think I would add some sashing before adding borders - too many borders can detract from the beauty of your quilt blocks and a dark sashing could frame each block like a matte on a piece of art work.

I was thinking about doing sashing, but I sooooooo love the look of the original pattern. I'll make 4 more squares then post more pictures. I kind of like the idea of the square, but it's so different from what I'm familiar with that it feels wrong. Lol. I'm a dork, I know. Lolol

Why not sashing??

Very pretty blocks! I like the idea of adding sashing too. You could do the sashing in the same fabric as the background, which would just put a little more space between the blocks. Then you could add borders. I like the look of at least 2 borders, a small inner border and larger outer border.

I haven't worked with Batiks alot, but my friends have told me to use lots of spray starch to help with it stretching.

No matter how you decide to finish it, it will be beautiful. I love the layout you have now.

You could make one more row (three more blocks) longer and to make it a little wider you could add sashing and corner stones, which I think would be nice and add a little more interest than just sewing the blocks together.

I like ideas to
add to the side or/and add sashing!

New Pics (With Sashing)
 

Ok, I auditioned the sashing. Yes or no? Also did the cornerstones. I've never done sashing, though I imagine it's much like doing a border??? But I canNOT figure out how I would do cornerstones, but I don't know if I like them anyways.

First picture is the original
Second with sashing
Third with cornerstones (I keep wanting to call them bullets. lol)

I don't have an answer for you other to say that your random piecing looks great and the blocks are so pretty! Nice job!

P.S. I kinda like the "bullets"..lol (you must also be a clerical person..lol)

Lol. Not clerical specifically, but a part time teacher assistant. I suppose you you have a point though. Lololol

I like the 3rd pic with sashing and cornerstones. Be careful when ironing batiks, especially when you have points and bias cuts. Using spray water or starch helps. Try not to pull on them too much. It's going to be such a pretty quilt!

I TOTALLY didn't realize that batiks were so temperamental! lol. If I had, I'd have gone with the cotton. BUT it's nearly done so I'll keep on truckin'..... Okay so I WILL do the sashing, but not the cornerstones. I agree that it detracts from the main blocks, which for me are why I picked this pattern. PLUS, I've never done them, and I can't wrap my brain around HOW to add them. I know it can't be hard, but at this point I don't want to attempt it. SO, thanks everyone for the help! I'll post a picture when I'm done!!!! Oh, and I'm thinking.... since all my pieces were 2 1/2"..... should I cut the sashing the same and keep it uniform that way, or should I make it bigger... or smaller? lol

yayaquilts...... My son is in the process of getting divorced (he's 21 and in the Marines... his wife cheated.... story of a military man imo) but anyways..... when he and his wife met she had a 5 month old daughter (who is now 3 1/2). She started calling me YaYa one day and it stuck. LOVE being a YaYa!!!!!! Sad that we lose her now that they're divorcing and she's not my sons daughter, but I hope to stay YaYa when my kids have kids of their own!