Lay it out like the stars on the flag! There are 50 there and I bet you can duplicate it with your quilt.

Lay it out like the stars on the flag! There are 50 there and I bet you can duplicate it with your quilt.

I'd probably add blocks near your home state or perhaps states you've lived in. These could be as simple as embroidering additional information about these blocks (capital, perhaps home town or towns with meaning to you, maybe favorite place to visit in the state(s). Something meaningful to you. Could also make blocks containing fabrics with points of interest or representing attractive aspects to you-- lighthouse, falls, wild animals, etc.

I added alt block of appliqued butterflies to give a workable number of blocks to lay out. these pic are before adding borders

I added alt block of appliqued butterflies to give a workable number of blocks to lay out. these pic are before adding borders

Don't forget to look at coloring pages for the blocks. I use them all the time!

I'd make it the size you get with sashing etc, 6x8 rows and use the other two for a bed runner - or another idea is make 3 extra plain blocks and use wider sashing between in order to center the two state blocks on each pillow to fill in for across the head end if you use it up and over your pillows - OR make two pillow shams with the extra 2 blocks left over.

Can you create may a "US" block and put it in the middle. It could take up the space of any number of blocks (2, 4,).

I'm not going to be much help But my 2 fav replies are from Julie in NM and from Quiltmouse both would work

For pretty USA blocks of all kinds go to Embroidery Library. I have been buying from them for years and what they have just gets better and better.