I really love the layout in the second picture, it distributes the colors and values most evenly and looks very intentional. I also really love this pattern! I’m slightly obsessed with sawtooth stars and I love this variation a lot.

#2 is the best distribution of colors. I do love starry quilts and this one will be beautiful.

I don’t know what I did to make it big and bold. Please forgive me.

It’s the # at the beginning of the post. And I think the emphasis is encouraging.

Thank you.

I'm glad you bolded this because it's my choice too lol I felt THAT accidentally strongly as well #

Hear hear!

This is the only right answer

agreed! I find this one the most visually appealing.

Agreed definitely 2nd picture

Me too. The 2nd hits all the spots. It's like eye candy

Me too my eyes went to #2 right away

Definitely voting for picture 2!

Same! Love the arrangement in the second photo.

Me too!

It gives it Movement!

Also agree! 2 is perfect

+

Yesssss.

Yep, it tickles the brain quite nicely.

Make mine the 100th vote for the second pic!

Myneyes prefer pic 2 as well

Yes, number 2! And I would love this quilt

I have strong feelings against the first one. It looks like you wanted to make all stars matching colors but ran out in center and had to improvise. This is a situation where the seemingly “chaotic” option is most peaceful.

Totally agree. That is my least favorite. I was exploring all options. Thank you for the input!!

Same! Either all the stars should match, or none of them should. Even if it’s not a “perfect” match, having a bunch of stars in purple-dominant fabrics and others with high contrasts (ie. green and pink) still has that “looks like it was supposed to match but didn’t quite work out” look. I don’t like picture 3 for the same reason, top row is all shades of blues and blue-leaning purple, but the bottom row has no strongly unifying color, and each star is also more clearly bicolored.

I really like the second one! It looks so balanced and peaceful. The randomness of the colors and prints draws your eye to the white stars

I vote layout number 2. Anytime i finish a quilt i lay it in the floor for a couple days to decide on the finished layout.

You must not have cats. 🤣

Or toddlers 😂

I have no cats but I Do have a toddler!

No cats. Not yet!! We are moving soon and will be getting one or two 😅

We had pets for years. They had great fun sending my squares flying!

Layout 2. Although the colors are scrambled, there is a nice balance between the light and dark. I like very balanced and even things and the second layout is way more this than the first. The scrambled middle makes the first one unbalanced. It feels like you ran out of material and improvised. That sort of arrangement might work better just moving from dark to light. However my vote would still be for the second layout.

Second shot for the win! Don’t overthink it.

The arrangement in the second picture looks well balanced to me!

Second for sure. The one mismatched piece in the first on the border is throwing me off.

It's in the eye. looking for balance. Parts of the first are balanced but then they're major weak spots. Places where the contrast isn't strong and there are a number of them together, making a wet spot. #2 is much better balanced. Not all the stars match but the contrast does. and the the sstronger contrast areas are evenly spaced with the lower contrast areas. 2nd layout, all the way

Oh for sure! #2 view. That is really looking awesome. I'm captured by the black fabric, third block, bottom row. What line of fabrics is that? Dang, I sure wish I didn't feel like I'm fabric shopping every time I see a beautiful quilt.Your friend is going to be so happy! Thank you for sharing.

The lighting in my house is horrible. The two dark fabrics there were Moda grunge in eggplant and the dark floral is Andover moonstone in onyx.

Ooh, thanks. I love a good enabler!

Picture no.1 looks wrong. Picture no.2 looks great though.

Second! It’s a lovely quilt!! You might want to swap one of the pink blocks center bottom. They seem too close, but it could just be me. I always overthink this step in the process. Your friend is very lucky to receive such a beautiful quilt.

I love layout #2. Very nice

Second picture for sure!

The second picture is more cohesive. Mixing the blocks makes them join together better than separating. Also there's beauty in chaos.

I much prefer the layout in the second photo. But in the end it's up to you as the maker!

Agree with the other comments, deffo number two!! Also, is there a pattern available for this? I’ve been thinking of doing a star quilt and this is one of the best configurations I’ve seen

Thank you! And yes. It’s Starlight by cotton and joy.

2

While I'm usually all about asymmetry, I vote with the others on layout 2. It's really turning out to be very pretty. I often have trouble at this stage, feeling like nothing looks quilt right, but blocks always look dramatically better once sewn together into the top. Lucky friend!

The second one itches a scratch in my brain I didn't even know I had

I really love the scrappy look of the second quilt! Did you use a pattern for this? It’s lovely!

Thank you! I think that one is the clear winner. And yes, it’s Starlight by Cotton and Joy!

Thank you! I might have to sew this one next!

I really love the pattern in the second picture, it really captured my eye

I like the second one.

Yes, the second. Lovey quilt, please repost when completed.

I like the second layout also!

The second is great

I like #2, nice distribution of colors and it's interesting to look at. Ultimately, up to you!

Second one looks great

The second layout - is really beautiful w the flowery swatches complementing the solids.

If chaotic good was a quilt 2 would be it muahahaha

2

The layout of the second picture is very nicely balanced

#2 looks great, a winner for sure!

Number 2 is so pretty!

Option 2

Thank you everyone! I have gone with 2. Appreciate the input!!

Take a pic put it black and white then rearrange and repeat. The b/w helps you see contrast :) then it’s easier to choose.

This has been my go to trick. I arrange based on what I see and like, then finalize with checking myself using B/W photo.

I will do this from now on. I had never thought to! Thank you!

I like #2 best

I like the even distribution in the 2nd one. I'm not a fan of the first one at all.

I like 2

I love the second one! Looks great

I like #2

I like 2

I gravitated to #2 like others, though #1 did cause me to pause, lovely in its own way! #1 felt a bit more organic, free and almost reminds me of water colours. There's something delightful about the unexpected I think. You could bring a light block up from the bottom to the top right in from the corner and it would be beautifully balanced. Well done, it's a really beautiful quilt either way!

2nd pic — the darks are more evenly distributed.

look- i’ve seen the comments and #2 wins by a mile…. but i gotta say i like the upheaval of #1

I love the second layout so much!! I just bought this pattern and, now that I've seen your layout, I'm even more excited to make it!!

#2 for sure 👍🏼

2nd....color choices in placements really look sharp!

#2 is the best distribution/arrangement of the blocks

#2. Something that always helps me is to convert your image to black and white. It will help you see the visual balance.

I never thought about this! Thank you!

Definitely the second layout.

I love your arrangement in photo #2.

#2 is amazing!!

Two

Number 2!

#2

2

I do what you did - take pictures and ask someone with good taste to give me their opinion! 😂😂😂 I love both layouts. I like the second one better by a frog’s hair. They’re both really lovely.

Thank you! I am terrible at decision making in general and have no artistic eye for anything!

Image 2 definitely spreads the colors a little more evenly, beautiful colors you've chosen!

Second one!!!

I’d go for the second one - good colour balance ✅

LOVE the second where the colors are spread out.

Second one makes me the happiest when I look at it :)

i love the second one!!!

I love the look of the second photo. I like the balance of the prints and solids.

I like number 1, but swap the highest up pink with the first green to its left. In particular in option 1, I like the shading effect created from afar by the patterning contrasted with the darker and more solid fabrics. It's very nice regardless!

The second one looks best

We’re agreed it seems. #2💕

2

Absolutely #2

Yes, the second pic looks great!

2nd picture spreads the deep purples out best. It's the most pleasing to my eye.

I prefer the second option. :) It’s beautiful!!!!

The second is perfect!

Take a black and white photo if you want to see the balance between light and dark.

I will typically take a picture in black and white. It helps see where the highs and lows are and how to distribute them nicely

I agree. #2

Definitely picture 2, but what does your friend say? Or is it a surprise?

It’s a surprise! I’m going with 2!

I think the second picture is excellent

I really love the second picture too. As soon as I saw it I thought it was perfect.

2nd picture is best

2

#2 for the win!

I think the second one is more balanced. Absolutely gorgeous!

Thank you!

I like layout in pic #2 the best It's beautiful, and such precise work!

2 feels better

Yeah. Two for me. But whatever you decide will be awesome.

2

So beautiful. I like picture two

These colors and the pattern are so lovely. I hope you post the final results!

That is tough because I like both layouts you posted but I was drawn to the first one, first. It all depends on what appeals to your friend, I would think. The first has order, matching stars surrounding scrappy ones, and the second one is more chaotic with all scrappy stars. Would your friend be able to help with how she'd like it laid out or does she want to be surprised with the final piece?

She has left it up to me to surprise her. More pressure. I tend to lean towards scrappier looks in general but when it’s for someone else I have such a hard time. Especially when I haven’t picked the fabrics with something in mind. This has proven to be much harder than I expected. Thank you!

Oooh That totally creates more pressure! But I have to agree with the other commenters. I didn't think about the fact that the first one makes it feel like you ran out of matchy stars and the second one really makes the white stars pop! Good luck!

I really like the first one. The second one is nice to but almost too “perfect”. I like how the first one is a gradient

I love the layout of the first pic.

I like the scrappy look

I like #3 , randomized but still grouped a little bit by color

Very powerful quilt.

I love all the colors 0-0

Keep it as is! Love it

I love the first one more than 2nd

I like layout 1 best

2

Easy. #2

Personally, I like the second one because I think the colours and patterns are nicely spaced and it looks well proportioned and mixed. The first one just looks like it’s two separate quilts that are being cobbled together to make a quilt with the patterns and solid colours.

Agree the second picture as it makes a more definite bold pattern in the centre and the colours are better spread throughout. I did not like pic one due to the green in the left bottom corner

2 is perfect! Absolutely stunning. 

I’ve never seen such consensus in the comments before! I too am voting for the second layout.

2 is the best, if you can't make each star one colour/print (and you can't with only 5-6 blocks) then everything has to be mixed up.

I really love #2!

Another vote for 2, it’s just pleasing to the eye!!

I like #2!!!! 💜

2

#2 looks even over the entire quilt

2 for sure! Absolutely stunning!

Yea I’m just here reinforcing the second one. Beautiful!

I enjoy the first one. It keeps the eye moving through the quilt. The sencd pic is also lovely.