Thanks for all your help so far. I plan to back this in fleece with no batting. We are in S. Texas so no need for anything too warm and .. this seems snuggly. It's not too late to tell me I need to go get some cotton instead.
I even thought about pillowcase stitching this - no binding - and sewing around the edge with a decorative stitch. Maybe parallel lines of quilting in the borders?
I'd like to try to hand quilt the panel - echo stitching. The blocks could be stich in the ditch. I've only done diagonal machine quiliting and SID so my experience is limited here.
I may add an occasional decorative button on the panel - not too many.
Now - will any of this work?
For the hand quilting will it work to clamp the quilt to my kitchen table and stitch it there? I don't have a hoop or frame or any such thing. Can I just hold it in my lap to do that? Help me, help me - I'm a baby out here! (trying not to hyperventilate.....) :)