Both arrangements are very attractive. I'm giving you a third option - I pulled the hearts into towards the center so there is less empty space between them and the center element. To have the same surface area as the original, you would have to make the scale of the blocks larger, which may or may not appeal to you.

I love them both, but if you want my vote, I prefer the first one

I like both, how clever of you to use the SAS pattern for the hearts. I favor the second one, however if she's going to put a plant, or candle or flowers in the center, the first would work better. Looking forward to seeing them finished.

Hmmm they're both really pretty! I think I like the first one because I think the enlarged center design in the second one distracts from the hearts. Unless you make that center design a pale pink, possibly? I also like how a previous poster pulled the hearts in to the center a little bit.

Thanks everyone for your input!! Because I designed it in EQ , I was stuck with the spacing that the layout gave me. I may do as Platyhiker and Peckish suggested- pull then in towards the center a bit. I will post pics when I am done.

If something is going to be placed in the center - leave it plainer -the first version.

If the topper is going to be "going it alone" - use the second version....

I like the first one, both for its simplicity and because the hearts are enough teensy piecing for one project. What finished size are you thinking of? If the triangle-in-a-square units finish at 1.5", the topper will be about 21" on a side. That's some tiny piecing!

bearisgray - those were my thoughts as well. My son is forever buying his new bride flowers - so I expect that something will be in the middle of the runner!! My daughter has a big square table so I expect something will be in the middle of that one as well.

J
Jennifer23 - lol - Yes lots of piecing - The finished blocks will be 5" so the measurements for squaring up the individual parts were all whacky. So ... I printed out the foundation paper in EQ. I estimate that if I put the hearts in the "corners" it will be about 30" -32" square.

I think it's going to be great!