Can you put all of the dark ones in the center and then blend out medium and then lite on very edges? Then I would sash with a dark color first just to lock in the design area, then a med print for full border.....

Yep...what she said....bring those dark blocks towards the center and see what you come up with.

Try it with a narrow red border, then the border that you planned.

I agree about the red too. Maybe use the red blocks as the quilt center, or throw them out and make a block out of a softer color??? I am sorry if this is not of any help to you.

This was going to be my suggestion, too. The middle somehow looks empty; with the concentration of color there--the red that annoys you--it might look better. But I think it's a lovely quilt and I like any/all the layouts you've posted.

I like this layout the best and after you add borders I think you will be very happy with it

sorry, 3rd picture down

Have you tr ied all the blocks that make a dark square on the border.I see the dark squares as red .I just finished a Jacobs ladder in batiks What a great quilt you have.

I agree that a narrow red border before the pink one would look good, too, but be sure NOT to use the same red as in the quilt because if any of your red pieces touch it, it will look like they are bleeding into the border, not the border framing the quilt center as you had intended. It's very pretty.

I like this layout and agree with you that the border choice does not lift the quilt. Once you have chosen the right border and binding it will look stunning.