What a beautiful, thoughtful gift. I know he will be touched, and love it.

I love it!

Awesome. BrendaK

It's a great quilt and you certainly have put a great deal of thought and energy into making it the perfect gift (not to mention love:)). Please show us when you are done....you know how we love pics.

A natural batting of wool or cotton would be in keeping with the times, even though our products aren't exactly the same. An old flannel sheet, perhaps doubled for more substance would be fitting. In our day of unlimited choices it is hard for us to imagine shortages of supplies. Cloth manufacturers were in the north before the Civil War, and cotton was grown in the south, so neither side had what they needed. In addition, the wool and cotton cloth that they did have was needed for the war effort.

Remember Scarlet in "Gone with the Wind" making her green dress from the draperies. Granted, she was poor at the time, but even if she had plenty of money, she would probably have had difficulty in finding the fabric she needed right after the war.

Dayle

Definitely tie it and maybe use a dark tan or brown thread/perle floss for even more authenticity.
A cotton batting such as the Quilters Dream Deluxe loft would be slightly thicker than we normally use and would more closely replicate a heavier utilitarian quilt of the period. Your dad will just love this!

By the way, has he been back to Appomattox in the past 10 years? It's really looking so nice, and the town has just received a new museum about the War.

Jan in VA

Yes - they returned to the area when they retired. A trip to the museum is on the agenda -- perhaps this coming weekend!

I go with "tie it" using a dark blue or dark brown perle cotton. JMHO

IF you have to tie it, just remember to make an X in the center of those large blocks or you will have pockets form from having too much "open" space!

I would do an all over meander. That is a very handsome quilt!