Setting an Applique Sampler

I've been putting off setting my applique blocks for last year's Northern Lily/Southern Rose quilt.

At Moda we originally did the pattern for a block of the month in an unpdated color scheme and contemporary set for the Civil War Reunion fabric collection but I did a group of blocks on ivory prints for an old-fashioned look.

Ilyse Moore

Northern Lily/Southern Rose

I was inspired to get the blocks out by Ilyse's quilt, which is now not only sashed but bordered and awaiting closer quilting. The pattern called for 12" blocks. Ilyse made her blocks smaller.

I wanted to use a set that looked authentic to the 19th century so I checked my file of samplers from online auctions. On point---red sashing. I liked it. But it's too late for that. The blocks are designed to go on the square. (Note to self----next sampler think diagonal set!)

I thought about just putting them side by side which can look too chaotic.

Alternating with plain blocks might be too dull.

There's a strong tradition of using red strips as sashing...

...from Baltimore about 1850 till the end of the century.

And then there are green strips.

Jerri McReynolds used green strips on her Northern Lily and it looked great.

I decided on a red stripe, sort of wide. I noticed that mid-century quilters often just ran the stripe like that with no cornerstones to break up the sashing.

I am awaiting not only inspiration but the yardage for my next Civil War reproduction line for a final border.

The pattern is out-of-print and the Civil War Reunion fabric is long gone, but I did find two online sources that still have patterns and kits. You can ask your local shop if they have any of the patterns left.

http://www.somethingtocrowabout.com/catalog.php?category=1&page=3

http://www.farmerscountrystore.com/store/catalog.php?item=1333

The next Civil War collection will be called Metropolitan Fair and I expect to get some yardage right before the May Quilt Market.