I like all of them... for different reasons. no help here...

All the colors in the plate really pop on the dark blue. The darker green is my second choice. Hope this helps.

There all lovely and I would use all of them.
Marie

I like the dark blue!

I like the first one - great contrast.

Although I really like the color of blue in the second picture, I think the first one with the dark blue makes the plate stand out. I have about 1 - 2 yards of the dark blue material myself. I've been saving it for a quilt for a friend. I just need to pick out the other fabrics that I want to go with it. Anyway, I vote for the dark blue in the first picture.

At first I thought the first one was a little busy too, but I still think it is the best color and I don't think red would work at all.
I have a question that I've been wondering about for quite a while. I'm just starting to quilt and am still on basic square patch things. But, I have a pillow my mother made using this pattern and would like to make a quilt sometime using it. I was never sure how to assemble it. Are the "plates" sewn onto squares or a full size backing? It didn't look pieced (other than the "plate").

I also like the first one. The contrast really sets off the design.

I like the second one, the blue. It seems to be in the same color "hue" as the plate. :-)

I like to dark background with the dark center. That dark fabric will make the whole quilt look vintage.