If it were mine I would use sashing to frame each block.

Totally agree with others that it needs sashing to set each block in its best light, and I concur with Tartan on the cheddar color. That said, I understand that it's more work for a quilt going to charity. But charity means love, so perhaps thinking of it as a labor of love will remove your dread of sashing?

OK -- I will bow to the collective wisdom here and put 1-1/2" sashing between the blocks with a narrow border. But no cornerstones -- too fussy for me at this point. Although I do agree brownish cornerstones would set it off nicely. Not sure I have any cheddar, but I do have a nice deep gold blender that should work. Thanks for your input. I hope to get it done this week and I'll post a pic in the pictures section.

I would use sashes and cornerstones to break it up and larger borders to make it bigger.

I also vote for sashings :) But if you do not want to go into the work of sashings and have a large supply of solids in these colors you could stagger them with strips of bricks or solid blocks .

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...s-t232347.html the forth quilt down shows skinny sashings and small corner stones. looks good with the blocks.

Thank you for your input. I can't make it too large since it is a charity quilt for a nursing home -- 55" is the widest, and that is pushing it, so with 1" finished sashings and a narrow border, it will be just right.

I agree it needs a light colored sashing