rvsfan… I pulled strings from a tote and tried to keep it random both in color tone and fabric print. Of course when you have used a 42" strip once or twice it's best to move it to a "shorter" strip pile. Mine were 1 1/2 inch strips. This only made a dent in my blue strips and wish I would have had more so the quilt could have been 6 x 6 rows. But Sammy Jo loves it so it must be o.k....LOL Have fun making yours!