Tag: Patriotic

AMERICAN MELTING POT

American Melting Pot lap quilt

AMERICAN MELTING POT: I found the fabric of eagles and flags, and just had to have it. However, I would really have to think about a quilt to go with this lovely fabric.

I finally pieced the top during 2008. The alternate blocks are a dark red brick print. The pieced blocks are a mix of left over shapes of fabric, so there are both “strings” and “crumbs”. I pieced this one to scrap paper for stability, then when I had a pile of them, would wet down the paper and remove. It’s actually a pretty easy process.

Close up of American Melting Pot blocks.

The inside darker blue border and the binding are the same fabric. The blue is similar in shade to the blue in the American flag.

American Melting pot 2 borders
The two borders

The machine quilting was done in 2009 by RLM. It is a swirly design. I used a printed sheet for the backing.

American Melting Pot - view of backing and machine quilting
Backing and machine quilting design

I complete the binding and tag in 2010. The binding is machine sewn down on the front, folded over to the back, and hand sewn down.

Binding
Binding and corner

I think of the pieced blocks as “crazy” blocks because of all the various shapes of fabric in them. As I was piecing American Melting Pot, I realized that those blocks are a lot like our country – lots of various people, languages, and cultures mixing together to make our great country.

American Melting Pot - backing and folded over front to show binding.

Our country is a country of immigrants and I am happy for any who choose to come here legally, work, and contribute to the USA.

Close up of block

Finished size is 72″ x 54″.

Help to make string or crumb quilts:

https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/crumbs-crumbs-crumbs.html

https://newquilters.com/how-to-make-string-quilts/

PRAYERFUL LEADER (a George Washington Quilt)

Image of George Washington from $1 bill
Source: Shutterstock

This patriotic quilt started with one left over picture block of George Washington (who was known for being a prayerful leader) from another quilt and built out from there simply framing the center block with borders until it was the size I wanted for a large wall hanging for my living room. It can easily be adjusted to fit any size desired by simply shrinking or enlarging the border sizes.

Medallion quilt with George Washington in the center.

Super easy quilt to piece – I actually did it in a long day of sorting, cutting, and piecing. The center block can be any pretty or novelty fabric you want to frame so that it is a “medallion” quilt. Borders can be changed in size and number of them to make a quilt that fits your creativity and project.

Starting in the center, add the first border to the center block.  I started by adding the side borders to the center block, ironing, and then adding the top and bottom borders for center block.  I used this same method for all the borders.

Please note that the supply list is finished size once sewn.

Fabric supplies for quilt top:

  • Center block 12.5 ” x 13.5″
  • First border (on above the red and brown stripe) 1.5″
  • Second border 2.25″
  • Third border 3.25″
  • Fourth border 5.25″
  • Fifth border 5.25″
  • Sixth border 1.0″
  • Seventh border 5.5″

Since it was going to be machine quilted, I used a good quality polyester batting.  It was quilted by RLM in a medium size stipple design.

The backing is 2 different toile fabrics I had on hand and a dark red/cream floral print that was aptly named “Martha Washington”.  I pieced them together to make a big enough back.  In this photo the hanging sleeve is still not sewn on.

Back of Prayerful Leader quilt - three different toile fabrics.


The binding is the “Martha Washington” print.  I cut several 2.5″strips, sewed them together into one long strip.  I ironed this strip in half (so 1.25″) and machine stitched  the raw edge a quarter inch along the front of the quilt.  The mitered corners are quite do-able with practice and a straight pin to hold the pleat where it needs to be.  The binding is finished by pulling the binding over the back and whip stitching down. 

Finished size is 60″ x 63″.

This quilt was pieced, machine quilted, and bound in June 2019. Currently, the tag (story of the quilt) for the back is done, but not sewn on.

Two other medallion style quilts featuring George Washington:

https://humblequilts.blogspot.com/2014/07/independence-day-in-usa.html

Medallion wall hanging of George Washington.
Source: Humble Quilts

https://collections.mfa.org/objects/651371

Another medallion quilt of George Washington.
Source: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA