I am working on this baby quilt for my sons friend. She is a graduate from LSU and is a huge Tigers fan. She and her husband are expecting their first child "Elle" in about four weeks. Her last day at work however, is two weeks.

I made the center panel and intended to surround it with pinwheels. I had planned to have plain white strips to highlight the quilting between the center and the pinwheels, but the pinwheels fit so perfectly here, I went ahead and attached them. Here's where the problem starts...

I attached them to the top and bottom. Love the way that looks and took it from square to rectangular which I wanted to accomplish somewhere as I progressed. But, I don't like it with the pinwheels down the side - it's now looking way to busy to me and it would return it to square.

I think I'd like to do something different now around the whole thing, then add the remaining pinwheels in a more staggered way. I think some purple/gold floral in there somewhere might even be nice. I can also add some embroidery in there somewhere. My question is this:

What would you do next?????

I'm no good at helping you but I love what you have done :)

i like the pinwheels going down the side- but you could just add a plain border first- then add your additional pinwheels- with a second row of them top and bottom to keep it rectangular. a plain border would frame the center piece nicely and break up the busy-ness you don't care for.

I think once you get the pinwheels on the other side also, it will look more balanced and fabulous!

I think it's beautiful just the way you have it. If you think it's too busy, try alternating the squares with a solid color. I'm not too sure how that would look.
Sue

I've just got to say that is the CUTEST center panel.
Did you design that yourself or was it a pattern?
It fits the occasion perfectly.

I like it best with the pinwheels going down the side but I gotta say, I really like the way it looks with just the 3 sides done!

Your center panel is adorable. See what is drawing your eye, the center or the pinwheels. Could it be the pinwheels are too big?

I would definitely go with the pinwheels along both sides, top and bottom. Doesn't make it too busy to my eye, and it sure is adorable.
:thumbup:

You're right Dee - I thought they were too big too, but I don't think I want to back up that far....

Maybe I could back them off and add them later...

I would run a repeat of the inner border all the way up the sides past the pinwheels on top and bottom, slightly wider, gold blue black then add just black across the top and bottom.

I love the pinwheels down the sides. You can add whatever you want for a border from here and it would look great. Something like repeating the inner border but in reverse - I mean since it is for a baby the black border might not look too babyish. And for what it's worth -- I like a square baby quilt. It's so much easier to wrap up the baby with a square than a rectangle... The whole thing is very cute

Ditto

I think it is amazing with the pinwheels, but Sue had a great idea too, if you think its too busy....anyways, love it!!

Could you maybe add a small sashing around each block so the light color doesn't run all together...kinda like a stained glass effect?

Looks really nice....I like them across the top and bottom ...but look at my avatar and that will say why.

Looks good however you want it.

The center panel looks so small in comparison to those pinwheels and seems to get lost. Maybe another wider inner border, or as someone said above, stagger the pinwheels between a solid block to break it up a bit.

How about down one side, the across the bottom? It would keep it's shape that way, then you could add another border or two around that? Would that work, just a thought? Nice work!

I do like them down the sides too.

I don't like the pinwheels down the sides either...I think top bottom and then border with a thin blue border around all the white and then switch to white along the center black sides. Then a larger border all around...yellow or?

How about putting 3 along each side, just like the top & bottom, and then putting a plain white on each corner, with a design of your choice to be quilted in those corners. That would certainly change the look, I think. Just a thought...

A plain white, narrow border around this, and then onto another border :D:D:D

That center is adorable!!!

The center is adorable.

I also think the pinwheels are overwhelming to the size of the center.

I would leave the pinwheels off the sides, and add plain side borders and do some cute applique if you can.

I like it and I would continue the pinwheels and bind it in black. If you think it's too busy and the eye may need a rest, break it up with one block maybe the second one from the bottom on the right side with a zinger. Maybe a tiger block or your signature block "love from Grandma"
I like putting zingers in my quilts. It make for such interesting conversations.
quilter_kjm

I love the pinwheels on the sides...and then put the strips around that like you said...

I really like what you have done so far on the quilt it is going to be so CUTE. :-P

maybe put a border of gold all around it? It's a darling quilt.

Pinwheels in the corners, with plain blocks between and a centered pinwheel on top and sides.

That is absolutely adorable. What a clever use of a buggy and tiger. I'd do maybe a 2 1/2 inch border and then a 3 1/2 inch border to finish and bind it in the color of the 2 1/2 inch border.

I like it with the pinwheels on top and bottom only best -- maybe add a small white border to the sides to continue the row around the sides -- then add the borders how ever you like.

how cute

I like the pinwheels all around, but have you thought about making the black border wider, and letting the pinwheels be the outside edge?

IMHO I think it looks very balanced with the pin wheels going all around the center. They do not detract form the focal object. It looks great.
peace

It looks really nice.

I just noticed that the pinwheels going down the left side of the panel gets cut off at the bottom. It may be because of how you have the next block layed down. I love your quilt. Whatever you do, it will be treasured.

How about 1/2 pinwheels on the side, butting up to a plain strip, either along the existing sashing or outside edge?

How adorable! Whatever you do, it will be amazing.

I think it's great the way it is, but if you want to break up the pinwheels alternate them with a solid, as someone else suggested,or alternate with a paw square of some sort. I don't think anything floral would go with this theme.

I love the center panel. Nice quilt!

Adorable quilt. I like it better without the pinwheels on the side but depending on how big you want to make it, I would put the border on and put a pinwheel in each of the corners. Do take a picture of the finished project... PLEASE! !

that is just darling. great job. DEB