Hello Di and welcome from W.A. I haven't seen the panel you're working with but get the general idea from all replies to your dilemma thus far. I can only advise on the borders - apart from chosen width when you organize the full quilt layout, in patchwork sewing it is a general rule to cut side borders from the length of fabric because there is less give in the fabric and the top and bottom borders can be cut either way. Sometimes we don't have a choice but to cut from the width of fabric and we join strips with diagonal seams to make them less obvious. We don't yet know how experienced you are, so forgive me if I'm preaching to the converted. You will find advice in the Quilting Board Articles on the warp and weft of fabrics.
Do check for late replies to your questions because a later reader might just have a better solution or comment worthy of note. Happy quilting.
Last edited by Ada Shiela; 11-06-2016 at 01:22 PM.
Reason: Additional comment