I am not much of a fan of sampler quilts. The ones I do like have continuity in the fabrics used.

Sampler Quilt
 

I'm just finishing a sampler quilt. I used fabrics from the same Moda line -- which makes things easier. However, I didn't use all of the prints. Didn't bring in the pinks and purples. It's a miniature quilt with 14 different blocks. I used blue and red in every block, but used about 5 different prints. Then I used gold, brown and cream -- about 5 different prints of each of these. If you were to analyze it on a color wheel, you could say that the red, gold and blue are 3 legs of a triad. And the brown and cream are neutrals, added to help with light, medium and dark contrast. Here's a picture...

I have several....some finished, some still to be......I go to JAF and search the clearance aisle.....many times I will find "last season's" precut sampler kits very reduced....luckily I have found several complete, Blocks 1-12, finishing kit and even binding pack. If I can't find the whole package, I will buy whatever blocks that are there in sequence,and a few extra of whatever number block I like.....as far as setting of these.....can almost always find some blender fabric to compliment any fabric combo, and setting ideas abound online. I how have three bundled....I have never had a problem with these precut kitted blocks...saves time...just open and start sewing.....jmho

I have, in the past, tried to have one fabric in each block, but do not think it is truly necessary.

The only one I've ever done was long ago (the early 70's) to learn different types of pieced block construction...curves, triangles, squares, rectangles, wedges, fans, and combos thereof. Some blocks were 12", some were 6" and it was my own design. Blocks were chosen from a block dictionary. The fabrics were the unifying element.

It was purely a learning tool, the same as a needlepoint sampler, a crewel sampler, or a cross stitch sampler...all of which I did while learning those crafts. I definitely learned a LOT from each of them!

My LQS had a BOW for "Sylvia's Bridal Sampler" that I made in pastels. You can look under "I Envy Sylvia" in the pictures section to see it.
I'm now making "Women of the Bible" as a BOW--41 weeks. I'm 28 weeks into it. Total fabric amounts were not given so I am making it scrappy. I am trying to repeat fabrics in the different blocks so it will appear more coherent and less scrappy. I'll post a picture of it on my design wall as soon as my computer is updated.

When I 1st got into quilting in the late 90's, my sister insisted I take a class. This is what I made. Only 2 colors, but multiple different prints in a Sampler quilt.

Donnajean, That's a lovely quilt--very quiet and serene with lots of interest in the different blocks.

quiltedsunshine and donnajean - both of your quilts are lovely -

quiltedshine - I really like the on point settings and the three different sized blocks in that quilt.

donnajean - I really like just the two colors in your quilt.

This is a sampler that was made with the help of forum friends (from a different forum). We all sent out a piece of a focus fabric to everyone involved in the swap. Here is what I did with the blocks I received back.