Quilts inspired by the Service Flags of World War I have become popular during the present wars in Afghanistan and Iraq…to send to the service men and women and to remind those at home of their patriotic family members.
We have one of these Service Flags, originally made to hand in a window.  My grandmother used it when her son Charles served in World War I.  Consisting of a blue star on a white background, surrounded by red border, it let everyone know her son was serving for their freedom.
Uncle Charles came home from the War.  However, if someone didn’t, a …read more

Quilters, ga-ga over the election of Obama and the Inauguration festivities, have been sewing up a storm for several months to commemmorate the occasion, as I describe in Obama Quilts and Quilters – All the Rage.  This has drawn attention to quilts at Inauguration time and has me researching presidential and patriotic quilts of the past.
Among these are:

Clay’s Choice
Courthouse Steps 
Lincoln’s Platform
Whig Rose
White House Steps
Little Giant
Alexander Hamilton’s Quilt
Democrat Rose
Whig’s Defeat
Washington’s Quilt
Mrs. Cleveland’s Choice
Old Tippecanoe
Potomac Pride
Martha Washington’s Wreath
Democrat Donkey

Do you know names of any modern day politicians, presidents, or patriotic events to add to this list?

Patriotic Quilts
Veterans Day celebrations bring to mind parades, flags flying, patriotic songs, and recognition of those who have and are serving in the military to protect our country.  I think of my Uncle Al, whose flag we fly from our deck for patriotic celebrations.
(This was the flag draped over his casket at his funeral many years after his service for his country during World War II, service of which he was very proud.)
Have you made patriotic quilts, pillows, and other fabric art items in recognition of patriotic holidays?  There also are many quilt patterns with patriotic names in …read more

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com 
 With Presidents’ Day celebrated in the U.S. on Feb. 18th this year, I thought it would be fun to mention some quilt patterns related to presidents, past and present, as well as patriotic events.  When I was a child, President George Washington’s birthday (the first president of the U.S.) was celebrated on his birth date, Feb. 22.  We also recognized President Abraham Lincoln’s birth on Feb. 12. 
 Generally we had those days off from school.  Now everything is combined into Presidents’ Day, celebrated on a Monday before the 22nd, to give a three-day holiday. 
Why not find some patriotic fabric, possibly relating …read more