I was visiting family for my 30th birthday and my grandmother gave me these 325 units/stars that my great-great grandmother pieced in the 1950's. What a treasure! I need some help, though, before I can put them together into a quilt. Does anyone know:

1) What period the fabrics date to? My grandmother thought perhaps the 30's/40's.

2) What pattern she might have been striving for? I've included an example of how I think they might go together - will have to add diamonds in between. But what is the name of the pattern?

3) What kind of fabric should I look for to complete the quilt top? Do I need to go vintage or would a new fabric in off-white work?

Thanks in advance for your advice/thoughts!

My first thought was muslin - or black - it would show off the prints.

Muslin would be in keeping with the time frame.
It looks like the stars need to be on point.
I think your inheritance is grand. How big are these stars from point to point?
Isn't there a quilt site called "victorian ... something?"
I will go looking to see what I can find.
Kalaidescope ... we tend to think of that as a strip piece, but, I am sure it started out as a solid fabric/diamonds.

Not kalaidescope ... I'm going back in! Quilter's Cache

omak - The stars are roughly 6" point-to-point. The units fit into a 4.25" square. I do see the pattern a little better since you suggested putting them on point. Thanks! :)

I found this in EQ it was in the section called Priscilla blocks

Amma - thanks! That's a very close match. I'm thinking I'm going to have to inset all the diamonds by hand or practice my Y-seams on the machine. *faint*

The last block I sewed with Y seams I did all but the last 1/2 on each side by machine, then I sewed the middle by hand, it was that or sew the whole thing by hand. :shock: I can't wait to see your quilt!!!! :D :D :D

That is gonna make some quilt! How precious to have gotten those.

another option would be to pick out a few stitches, sew in the side pieces(the two toned blue ones) they could be the same color, and then sew them back up...does that make sense?