Time to cut the Ties

Last night while watching the Florida Gator Football game, (yes are are major Gator Fans) I searched for the pattern I had in mind to use with all those ties.  I looked thru about 10 magazines before I finally the pattern, while actually another pattern I had forgot about. I had seen this in "Quilts and More" Fall 2010 issue and made notes on the pages about the tie quilt. This pattern can be found at All People Quilt website.  The brown version is another color option from the one profiled in the magazine.

This will be for a co-worker's brother and the ties are from their father who past away a year ago.  It will be a Christmas present from one brother to the other.   I think this pattern will be perfect!

Today I started to cut the ties in 12.5" strips and then realized I had to go buy a new blade for my cutter.  One day I figure out why I wait so long to change my blades! (I'm cheap!)

Once I got a new blade, I discovered the ties were still to thin to cut, so I spent the next hour or two

spraying with starch and ironing them. That worked!

Then I finally began to cut them into strips about 12.5" long.

My next step is to cut these strips into the correct widths needed for the quilt.

I think it calls for about 90 strips varied in widths from 1.5" to 4.5".

Now here is where you can help me. With so many different colors and patterns

in the ties, what should I use to separate all the strips and the sides?

I'll welcome any suggestions! The ties are just about every color, yellows, browns, blues, reds,

with lots of stripes and designs!