I once used about 42 fat quarters. I'd bought a set of them, I think 36? of Aunt Grace throughout the Year. I added several solids to give the eye a place to rest amid all the patterns. I bordered each one differently. All were loved when gifted. One was a blue border that was piped with red rickrack between teh border and the body, one was with a pink border and gold 1/4" flat piping, another I folded the backing over and made it large enough to serve as a border. Though I could have made a king-size quilt this was vetoed by DH (too retro for his taste). Anyway, I made the blocks in the proportions in the instructions, then just divvied them up into a total of six baby quilts. I guess what I"m saying is it seems anything works but my taste needs a quiet spot for my eye to rest so use a read-as-solid or a solid as one or two or maybe three of the fat quarters