Bad sewers are very creative

That is so-er not su-er. I will explain. I watched "A Year of Schnibbles" from afar, but this year I decided to participate in "Another Year of Schibbles". I said I wanted to improve my piecing skills. 

Right!! The pieces are small. They wiggle and when sewing triangles the corners get chewed up. I started the January pattern, Full House, in January, but finished it today. Well, not quite. I need a second opinion. In my defense I was traveling for half the month of January and half the month of February. I had to skip February for that reason. Even with the leap day I knew I wouldn't be able to get it done. I did order and have received the pattern for March. 

So where do I begin. I learned that 'scant 1/4 inch seam' means not a full 1/4 inch seam. I thought it wouldn't make a difference. Each not a difference added up to a difference. Nothing matched up!!! Edges were hanging off. The points were all off. I was sewing on the edge. I just ploughed through because I just wanted it DONE! The worst bit was my sashing strips. I have no idea what I did but I ended up with two strips that were a good three quarter inch too short. This one I couldn't wiggle out of. So I ripped it out a couple inches and then attached more fabric. Hey, I signed the Process Pledge, so full disclosure. Pictures below. 

I love the fabric and the pattern is cute. Since the pattern is called "Full House" and the fabric is "Flora", I am calling this "Hothouse". I wanted it to look like tropical greenhouses, so the gray is supposed to be steel like.

The pattern calls for a border which would be my gray. I don't want it to be too dull so I haven't sewed it on. Should I put the border on?