This might help you figure it out ... if not for this quilt, maybe one of your other quilts.

creating a quilting plan ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jwEP...layer_embedded

I'm too new at this but I did do some quilting on placemats and it was on the diagonal,not the same I know. But your colors WOW are absolutely outstanding. Sorry I couldn't give you your answer. I don't know if I would like it quilted in free motion?But I might like it to be done in SID to highlight the blocks.

Cute pattern. What is the name and where did you gr the pattern?

If this is the ToadUSew pattern they put out a few years back it will have a quilting diagram included in the pattern. I've pieced together several of them when I tested for ToadUSew but did not quilt them, however, I received one back after it made a few trunk shows and it is quilted with different size circles overlapping each other.

I like the circles idea (dinner plates and all)... Squares quilted in circles add a lot of movement to the quilt. It could make your squares jump out even more. I'd also lay down different thread colors and evaluate which to use. Probably a color directly from the quilt would be best. It's a neat pattern!

If it were MINE.... I would stitch in the ditch.. easy, and do-able... With this particular pattern, I wouldn't like a 'freehand' working squiggles... Diana O.