Ok so I have made all my plates that i want to for a quilt. They are approx. 12 inches across. How do I determine the size of the background block? I put it on a piece of the material I'm going to use and then added 5 inches on each side of block and marked with a pin, the total block was then about 23 inches. I thought it made my plate look like a tea saucer-tiny. I re-positioned it and only added 3 inches around which made the total block size about 17 inches and I now wonder if there will be enough area to quilt. those of you who have made blocks that then have to be sewn on to fabric could you please help?

I'm sorry to keep asking all these questions about this one particular quilt but I do want it as perfect as I can get it as it is a gift for a friend who is retiring after thirty yrs of teaching and all of my family who quilts has passed.

thanks so much
kellie