Keep in mind, you can echo quilt the ribbon as one example to give it more prominence. There are many ways the quilting alone can define the ribbon for you...i would think as long as the back-ground and ribbon are quilted differently, you will be able to see very easily that they are separate.

what if you put a small border of black around the ribbon.......first thought that comes to mind is the stuff with the fussy on the back for stained glass quilts...

Please post when it's completed. Anxious to see it.

Your white squares with little green spots on them are actually whites, not greens. That's the only mistake I see. There is enough contrast, as long as you stick with greens in the ribbon.

agree with mea12....you can definitely change/accent the green through quilting. So I wouldn't change out any of the already finished blocks but possibly pull some of the lighter greens in future ones.

My husband had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and he did not like being reminded of the chemotherapy and the feeling lousy. If this quilt is to be used as a gift, I wouldn't put the ribbon on it. I made my husband a quilt of the years we were married and the places we went to. He loved it! If the quilt is to be used as a display, I think it is a great idea, but to be encircled by a ribbon of green that reminds you of everything you had to go through, I am sorry, but I couldn't do it.

To end the story, my husband went through Hairy Cell Leukemia and was cured with no medication (there was nothing to give for Hairy Cell Leukemia. That was in 1985. In 2005, he went through Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, five months of chemotherapy and was cured completely.

I am sorry, but I went through it two times and I know what my husband would have felt. Make a happy quilt and get the bracelet.....I had the LiveStrong bracelet and wore it until the cancer specialist said he didn't have to come back anymore and that he was DONE! 2010. Edie

Edie, I appreciate your story and agree completely. I almost never make a ribbon quilt unless specifically requested as is the case here.
In this case the recipient is looking at the green ribbon as her battle flag and wants to wave it as a source of strength. As this is her first battle, I cannot say that she will feel that way later, but the choice is not mine to make. Most of my comfort quilts are based on things that the person loves and that will make them happy. I hope that this remains the case with this quilt. Hugs and happy congratulations on the end of your DHs battle and it's happy outcome!!!

Many thanks to everyone for your input. The black and white photo was great!! Why didn't I think of that? From here on out, I will try to keep the darker greens at the edges and that will help. I also like the idea of couching something between the two colors at the end. With those ideas in place, I think we will all be happy with the finished product!! I won't remove the "white" blocks, but I just may take my fabric markers to them and convert them to a proper green. ;)
Again many hugs and smiles of thanks to the awesome members of this board!