If you are talking about pre-1900, or there about, use shirtings which are white /ecru/natural/ backgrounds with tiny colored prints in them. Any quilt store will know what you mean when asked for them.
Some of the tiny prints in the past decade were actual figures of people/boats/anchors and so forth that would really lend themselves to your quilt pattern.
If you are unfamilira with shirtings, check this site:
http://www.hickoryhillquilts.com/shirtings.htm
Jan in VA