I have yet to buy or make a layout spread on cloth--(thought about making a nice wooden one that I could use on my table though)--but I do use the 8x4 + 4, and like many have already posted here, I use that layout because, I also am learning from Rana's book The Essential Lenormand. Plus, like ThtDancerGuy mentioned, I also like the idea of the last 4 cards being the advice/fate cards. I feel it adds a certain specialness to the reading.
I'm also still learning, and haven't really begun doing the 'extra' things such as mirroring or knighting or anything. I want to just get the cards down first before going to that degree. Though I am interested in now incorporating the crowning technique that Rana teaches in her book, as also mentioned by ThtDancerGuy.
I know that Ciro Marchetti offers some GORGEOUS reading cloths from his site here:
http://www.ciromarchetti.com/#!lenormand/c11am
but, they are still a bit pricier then I wanted to spend for a reading cloth. However, they are really gorgeous and I like to go to his site and look at them and dream!
You can find a host of Lenormand reading cloths from pinterest (how I found Ciro's & others too) and some are much more affordable. I haven't yet looked on etsy myself.