Help w/ Choosing.....
 

I will be making a couple Quilts of Valor for 2 family members, my Uncle who was in Vietnam and my son who was in Afghanistan. I have the following fabrics:

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5cf15e8d.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/...psb46bb388.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0168ac4b.jpg

The eagle fabric is going to be the backing, I have enough of that fabric to do 2 lap size quilts.

This leads me to the following questions, out of the remaining 9 fabrics, how many should I use? Also, which fabrics do you think will go together the best? AND finally, any suggestions on blocks that will compliment all the lined fabric? I was thinking of doing some type of star block, just not sure which one. I don't want the block to be super elaborate since I really want to showcase the fabrics I chose.

Any suggestions will be greatly welcomed, here are some of the star blocks I was thinking of:

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0168ac4b.jpg

This block would be made into a 6 inch block, I would make 2 different color versions.

http://www.quilterscache.com/A/Anoth...StarBlock.html

http://www.quilterscache.com/B/Barsa...ock_Page2.html
I'm thinking this is probably the block I am going to use even though paper piecing is not my forte...lol

Opinions welcome.....thank you!!!

Rosie the Wyldwytch

The fabrics will ALL work well together. What concerns me is the stripes. I'm anal enough that I would have to have all the stripes going in the same direction. If that doesn't bother you - jump right in to the block design you have picked out Alternatively, use the stripes for sashing or for borders and make the block with your other fabrics. I would LOVE to see that diagonal stripe as a binding - saves the effort of cutting it on the bias. Please thank your family members for their service - may God bless them and all your family.

Look at the post asking about using striped fabrics There are pictures in the links that show the use of stripped fabrics. Perhaps these wil give you some inspiration.

The stripes were my concern with your block choices as well. All of your fabrics are awesome and I love what you're using for the backing. Any of those combos will work very well together.

Well, I made a decision on the block. I am going to use the Bars and Stars 12" block. Thankfully I have plenty of fabric to be super anal with the stripes. Since I have worked with stripes before, I've learned to be extremely careful with where they are placed and that sometimes it's worth using a bit more fabric to get the look that you want.

Since the block is using four colors, of which one is definitely going to be a solid. I should actually be able to use the same block for both quilts and just change up the fabrics used in each so that each quilt is unique to the receiver. I'm sure my Uncle will use his quilt while my son will leave his home on his bed since having a quilt made from Mom probably won't be the cool thing to have while living in the barracks...LOL I just tell myself sooner or later the kid will retire from the military whether it be after he is done with his 7 years or when he has 20 years in, either way I am sure he will move back home and his quilt will be used.

Also, Thank You for appreciating what our military members have done in the past as well as the present. It really does mean a LOT to them to be appreciated.

Rosie the Wyldwytch