Aqua...I have seen that frequently with original 40s quilts.

Apple green, bubble gum pink, sunshine yellow, navy blue, aqua blue, red unbleached muslin.

When I use vintage fabrics or 1930s repros, I use either Kona Snow or better quality unbleached domestic.

I like the pastel solids. For the Civil War repros I like the shirting prints.

Unbleached muslin. I think Kona snow also goes with it. But you can also use any of the solid 1930 colors or all prints. I am not assoicated with this link. Just for show. Like these-

http://craftygirlsworkshop.com/item_...0s-Pastels.htm

Try unbleached muslin, natural colored or cream colors to give it a softer contrast than the starkness of white.

Peach, bubblegum blue, soft pinks, soft yellows, reds, aqua, etc.

There's a pattern out called "Licorice All Sorts." The designer uses black fabrics with 1930's repos. It is awesome. You might want to check it out.

How about that 30's type mint green or off gold solid Kaufman Kona fabric

While the quilt may not look vintage, using black as a background will make the 30's prints POP visually. The black was often used as an accent on the 30's prints, to outline a colored shape for instance, so it will fit right in.

I've used black, cream, muslin, blue, red fabrics for the background. Actually, what would look the best.

unbleached muslin for sure

i made a mimi bow tie with 1930 and use unbleached muslin and it looks good

My vote is for unbleached muslin, yellow, bubblegum ink, or mint green.

I'm not a fan of white so I most often use off white muslin or a very faint print on off white. The unbleached muslin would be true to the time period but make sure you buy as much as you will need at one time because it is a bear to match with other of the same later on. Trust me on that. And be sure to wash it first because muslin does shrink. I'm a hand quilter so I tend to use lots of muslin for backs, it's easier to quilt through. Can't wait to see the quilt.

I use shirtings as the backgrounds for most of my reproduction quilts. I like the darker tan shirtings for the civil war and the cream shirtings for the 30's.

yellow, black, green, blues any solid color will work .... just my opinion ...Ive used them all ....love 30's fabric

It's your quilt. Use what you like! It's the 21st Century and we are not bound by what was available in 1930.

Don't think an original from the thirties would be "white" anymore, so may as well go with off-whites, light beiges, or as suggested above.

I would go with cream

I love 30's repos too. Try muslin or one of the soft colors of the 30's pallette (mint green, light blue, soft pink, peach, lavender)

I agree with this.

This would be my suggestion, too! :)

I use bleached muslin for my 30's quilts. We aren't an all male household, but we do have animals. My quilts get washed fairly often. I think the near white makes the pretty 30's colors look the best.

I am part of Darlene Zimmerman (known as feedsack lady) Clothesline Club at our LQS - it is a group that meets once a month and our projects are based on the use of 30's (reproduction) fabrics - there is a wonderful selection of solid colors on the market right now that work wonderfully for these quilts. Bella Solids or Centenial Solids work great.

There are many solids in pink, yellow, green and blue that coordinate with the 30s reproduction fabrics, and they are all lovely in a quilt.

What she said ^^^.

I have a magazine from last year showing off a Darlene Zimmerman 30's quilt done in a soft green instead of the usual white. It is lovely.

I like to use Kona Cotton Snow. It looks great with the 30 repro fabrics.

Solids for sure - look at the 1930's solids yardage in Keepsake Quilting online - any of those solids would work well with those '30's prints ... but the key is to get the shades of the 1930's solids "right."

Hi. I like to use unbleached muslin. It has that homey feel,wears like iron. Be careful and get a good grade thou.