help finding coordinating fabric
 

Hi all, I am posting pictures of some star blocks that were given to me some years ago by someone who knows that I am a quilter. There are 12 scrappy star blocks and I want to put them together with sashing and corner stones (I think). But I would like the quilt to keep the feel of the era that the fabric is from. However, I don't know exactly how old the fabrics are and if I can get anything even remotely like them. Perhaps someone on the boards knows about the age/date of these fabrics and can point me to a source for getting some vintage fabric or reproductions of the era??? Any help at all would be appreciated!!!

so sorry I can't help you, but you're in the right place, good luck.

I agree with Tartan; these look a lot like the earlier (1990s) Civil War/mid-1800s reproduction prints. If you look for repros from that era you will likely find some that would work for you. the following site has many to study:

http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/SHOP...uction-Fabrics

Jan in VA

Based on the colors & the shape of the flowers, I was thinking they might be late 1960's/early 70's. If there is one you are willing to part with, I'd do a burn test to make sure they are 100% cotton. Poly & poly-cotton blends were all the rage back then & speaking from experience, it was a nightmare trying to harvest the fabric & turn it into baby quilts. Definitely need to know if you should be ironing it on a lower setting so as not to damage the fabric if it's not cotton.

Normally, I'd recommend pairing it with an orange, but I tried that & it was not enough contrast with the yellow HST's. What about just going with a solid dark brown?

They are lovely blocks you will have a stunning quilt.

I have no clue as to the vintage of the fabrics but what about just a basic cream/tan for the sashing? Would not detract from the era and appears (on this monitor) that it would coordinate with all the colors you have.

I don't recognize any of these prints probably because I am not a fan of Civil War prints. It is not easy to pick up other people's blocks and try to blend in or make additional blocks. I also end up with blocks dropped off at the local senior center. Very pretty blocks.

I think mid/late 70's fabrics. Stripes, small prints, and solids were about all the cotton fabric choices then. And most were muted.

I have to agree with Bree123, I remember clothing from some very similar prints. Late 60's to mid 70's

What color is the fabric in the 6th. pic down?

Here are the rest of the blocks---Thanks to all for the input. I think that they might be 60's/70's and that not all of the fabrics are 100% cotton. Some of them feel synthetic or like blends.

The color in the 6th pic is deep reddish brown with off-white flowers/leaves.

Can you use solids in cream or tan, and a darker brown-?

It's not easy to find repro fabrics from that era & any repro quilting fabrics would be 100% cotton so they won't be a perfect match anyways. I was thinking about this some more & I would probably seam together 4 rows of 3 and then add some fun, funky borders around that. Here's a link to an online store that might work. I'd still probably do a narrow stop border in a dark brown just so the colors & sheen don't need to match so precisely, but up to you.
http://m.jandofabrics.com/Category.a...8&viewall=True

I think I would choose a rich brown. Just my opinion.

Thanks. It looked like some fabric that I bought in the late 80s but mine has light purple flowers with blackish background.
Sorry I couldn't be any help.

Hmmm...looks to be from the 80's or early 90's as some of the flowered ones I've had in my stash
That I've brought in yard sales, or was given to. Hope you can find an better answer than what I gave.

Why bother with a burn test? Poly-cotton makes a lovely quilt. And most of them don't care that much about the heat of the iron. If you are concerned, turn down the heat a bit before you iron them.

If you are unable to find anything that pleases you, I would look for a deep rich rust brown blender. I think it would tie them together nicely.

I'd consider a deep red sashing. Might give a bit of contrast to highlight the blocks. Yet, remain neutral.

One can tell from a bit as small as 1/8 x 1 inch.

Some of your fabrics look very similar to ones I used in the 12th mystery train ride project. They were from the 1970's and I got them when a friend gave up quilting. I wonder if someone in your area might a stash that they would let you look through?

ETA: I just glanced through the For Sale section on this site and a couple members have fabrics that might work. One has a brown pin dot.... another has a tan/beige with tone on tone flowers....

To me it looks like a lot of scraps from different years was used. Some look like some men's shirts I have seen. The small flowers look like some that was in my DM's scraps from the 70's and 80's.

I agree with Boston1954, a dark rust for the sashing would show case the blocks. I would go 3 blocks across & 4 blocks down & also border it with the dark rust & then 2 more different color borders around that to make it the size you want. Beautiful blocks by the way.

Also- look at the "LittleHouse on the Prairie" collection that just came out recently. Seems like they have some good blenders for you too.

go to Missouri Stars website and check out the reproductions--sure you'll find something that will work.