Braided rag rug

I came across this tutorial for a braided rag rug. Hers is gorgeous, and I decided that I wanted one too. I have a bucket full of scraps - surely I had enough.

Overall, I'm happy with how mine turned out (I seem to say that a lot . . .). I didn't have a piece large enough to sew it onto, so I just sewed it together with nothing on the bottom. Two problems:
1) the edges curled, not unlike a giant lettuce edge.
2) it turned out a bit skewed - ie. not entirely symetrical

I don't love the colors either, although suppose it is good enough to sit on the floor where I do the dishes (the former rug was awful!!)