Will you be washing it? I've had that in a few places before and it mostly disappears after washing. I guess there is enough shrinkage to make it less noticeable.
If you are forced to resort to an applique cover up, maybe some kind of a twisting vine with heart shaped flowers all the way around the edge of the stitching would look more planned.
I hope someone has a great idea. It's so painful when your work doesn't come out the way it is in you head.