My heart was so touched by the story a fellow quilter shared one morning long before Covid changed all our lives and all of the fun things I did and shared with other sewists and quilters.
We both were volunteer quilting and blanket making at a monthly get together for "Alexia's Cozy Covers" on a Saturday here in Salem, Oregon.
I asked fellow volunteer, Terry Raphun, if she'd gotten her last project done. She'd not only finished it but delivered it personally to Pierre Van Der Wielen from Golden Valley, Arizona.
And the QOV Arizona State Representative came from Tucson to present this quilt making it an extra special event for everyone involved!
A heart touching tribute and lovingly given as well as gratefully received! Terry said it was an awesome experience. Just hearing about it brought tears to my eyes as it reminded me why we volunteer, why we quilt, and what keeps us giving and giving to others in our community and beyond.
In includes some that are traditional, some that date back to the Civil War, and some amazing and wonderful stars, stripes, flags and even service banners!
I was able to locate directions and a pattern for both the center star and the border measurements from The Quilter's Cache at:
Armed Services Flag with alternate directions available from
Blue Star Banner If a quilt is desired, directions and a pattern are available from the Military Mom's website at:
Blue Star Banner Quilt
It is very important to understand that only families with actively serving members of the Armed Forces are to hangup an armed services banner such as this one. Anyone can make one or buy
one, but only families in active and armed military service are toactually hang one on display in a front window.
The concept of a service banner is both licensed and regulated. They are meant to honor and show respect for the families whose fathers, wives, sons anddaughters are away and serving during times of armed conflict. Today, Blue Star Service Banners are displayed by families in all branches of the Armed Services, including the National Guard and the Reserves.
1.
To Make a Blue or Gold Star Service Banner you need basic sewing supplies
and fabrics of red ( for (4) 2 1/2" strips), white ( for a 9" x 14"center panel) and blue ( for a star that is about 7" x 7") I chose to make mine a quilted banner, so I also used a thin batting.
2.
The 2 1/2" red borders are attached to both of the sides and then boththe upper and lower edges. Trim evenly to size. By using a machinedzigzag stitch or turning under and hand sewing, the star is thenappliqued to the background (white) fabric and through the batting.
3.
Right sides together, seam front and back together, leaving a small side opening for turning right sides out.
4.
A narrow 'quilting rod' sleeve can either be hand or machine sewn onthe backing. I show it here with a cord indicating its location. Fold it under to the back and slip stitch down for the final project.
5.
I also added free-motion or meander quilting stitches throughout thecenter panel's surface to create a decorative effect and emphasis the quilted banner aspect.
6.
To 'hang', insert a wooden dowel or curtain rod through the quilt
sleeve unit in the back and hang with decorative cording, as desired.
As an alternative hanging method, you can use two narrow hanging loops and
insert the rod through them. Make them with two pieces of 2 1/2" strips
stitched down or seamed right sides together.
Iron flat, and insert
between sandwiched layers while stitching top seam in Step #2.
To make a Gold Star Banner:
Make as above, only using gold fabric to create a gold star for a family that has lost a family member due to their active duty in the Armed Services.
To make a Family of Stars Banner:
Add additional stars for each family member who served in the Armed Forces. My family had five members all serving at the same time during WWII.
My father and four brothers all went to war from our little island in Alaska. But only 4 of the brothers returned home after service. One uncle was killed when the plane he was co-piloting was shot down at sea. The pilot was killed, but my uncle managed to land the plane, losing his own life in the process. There were, however, survivors of the crash that survived their wounds ..the count of survivors vary but the final tally does not.
My father and his brothers mourned the loss of their youngest 21 year old brother for the rest of their lives, but all of them were proud to be of service to our country...and this was before Alaska was even a state but still a territory of the United States!
Other Links:
Legally,only government licensed sources may officially manufacture true BlueStar banners in mass. But just like paper flags during 9/11, unofficialforms of flags and banners, used and hung with respect do not infringe on copyright laws of actual manufacturing rules.
For those who cannot sew, but have family members in the military and wish to display a banner in their window, banners can be purchased at the
American Legion website and and paper banners are also available for download at:
Blue and Gold Star Service Banners
http://with-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com/2008/03/blue-star-and-gold-star-service-banners.html)
I've been making and donating a variety of patriotic themed quilts, bags, banners, hot pads, table runners..you name it..to military bases, local veteran's centers, veteran homes and hospice care centers and to families' that could just use a patriotic pick me up!
Many of my quilts are simple 'make as you go' designs where I use purchased center medallions or string quilting techniques to create my one of a kind patriotic quilts. But my blog posts are filled with photos of my process and will most certainly help you be inspired with ideas of your own.
I also collect patriotic sewing and quilting links from around the world wide web and these are bookmarked and shared below with my readers!
Check out my own free patterns, tutorials and links at my primary blog
With Heart and Hands where I also blog about all of the quilts and quilting projected I create with more about this same kind of free-spirited, and liberated quilting.
With patriotic, I often used store bought patriotic panels and simply create strings and bits to frame them..quick and easy and you can make a lot of them for donation in a hurry!
Making a string quilt block:
String quilting, whether done straight across, or on the diagonal, is simply the sewing down of a variety of strings, or strips of alternating fabrics of many colors into blocks. Diagonal strings have a tendency to stretch on the bias, so underlying foundation blocks are more essential for them, but not required in simple straight piecing.
And as for the 'skinny' on string quilting... strings for these quilts are usually somewhere in the 1" to 2 1/2" range unless you're working in miniature or super sizing something! Smaller than 3/4" is too small..it's easier to start big and sew a wide seam to miniature them for things like small format art quilts etc. And bigger than 3" like in my pillows, doesn't really look like strings much, anymore!
Start by simply cutting foundation blocks out of ANY scrap fabric..it doesn't have to be white! and then adding..from the center out to each diagonal end....strips and pieces of varying sizes, piece by piece until the block is 'all filled up.'
To create a pattern in this final quilt top, I am using blue for the first center strip. But any repetitive color can be used as an anchoring strip. And if you wish, you can be totally random, as well..with no
center 'anchoring' color!
1. To begin this block, to make its final quilt, I used a 10" foundation pieces and a variety of cut strips of many colors. Others prefer blocks as small as 6" or as large as 12 1/2"...the choice is yours. Larger blocks multiply spatially a lot quicker! Lay down a center strip of any color, diagonally across the foundation piece. (I iron a fold into the center of both the foundation block and this first string piece for matching the two pieces. And repeat with the next strip.
2. Sew down the second strip, right sides together. Then sew down the third strip, as shown.
3. Press each seam open after sewing
.
4. Sew down each succeeding strip, one by one, ironing after each new seam.
5. When strips fill the foundation block, iron flat, then align and trim to size desired.
6. Lay out completed blocks on your design wall or floor ;) and select arrangement and desired size of quilt top.
NOTE: To add around a center panel or block, you need to either plan your block sizes, or wiggle and jiggle and trim, as I did!
7. Finally, you would attach block seams in rows as desired, using additional strips to fill in size differentials around center panels or other additional blocks, sashings or cornerstones, if you so desire!
LINKS below, for cutting and pasting into a blog post where you make your own Patriotic Quilting Projects.
You may include one and only one of my photos. It is a copyright infringement to cut and paste my entire tutorials, blogs, patterns, or lists of free pattern links, themes, or tutorials!
And right above, and below, small projects just to let a military family know that you are thinking of them! I love to
make and give away so many patriotic bags, neck pillows and so many other fun items!
click on the quilt to download free pattern
I'm really happy that the weather turned so nice for some of Brenton and family's visit. My gosh, my weather app says it'll reach 80⁰ in Douglas by 6pm today! Herman might get heat stroke😉
click on the quilt to download free pattern
American Glory quilt tutorial by
Stefanie Roman for
Moda Bakeshop
Variable Star Quilt by
Alex Anderson, free pattern for Quilting for a Cause as seen at
C&T Publishing
Flying Free wall hanging, design by Laurie Simpson, free wall hanging pattern at
All People Quilt
Flag of Valor pattern by
Polly Minick and
Laurie Simpson for
Moda Fabrics
American Pinwheels Quilt tutorial by
Crystal Hendrix for
Moda Bakeshop
Stretching to the Stars quilt, free pattern by
Janet Wickell at
About.com
A Cry for Freedom, Ohio Stars and Rails quilt, free pattern by
Bonnie Hunter at
Quiltville
Flag Fanfare Quilt, free pattern by
Retta Warehime at
TLC Home
Star Spangled Sky quilt by Jo's Country Junction for
Moda Bakeshop
Show Your Colors, free pattern with prairie points by
Susan K. Cleveland at
Pieces Be With You (the link to the free pattern is on the left sidebar)
American Beauty quilt, free pattern by
Leslie Sonkin for
Windham Fabrics
Stars and Stripes Quilt, free pattern by
Stacy Harpole, fabric by
Pat Sloan for
P&B Textiles
A Real Firecracker table topper, free pattern by
Diane Volk Harris for
Quiltmaker
Old Glory quilt by
Maggie Hall, free pattern for Quilting for a Cause as seen at
C&T Publishing
Quilted Fireworks Table Runner, free pattern by
Calli at
Make It Do
Patriotic Hexagons table runner, free pattern by
Sherri McConnell at
All People Quilt
Americana Summer Quilted Table Runner, free pattern at
TLC Home
American Flag Quilt table runner, free pattern by
Beth Lancaster at
Moonlight Quilts
Flag Map Mug Rug, free paper piecing pattern by
Caroline at
Trillium Design
Nantucket Knots Free Table Warmer Quilt Pattern Free Patriotic Quilt Pattern Here
Four Flags Quilt Block from Better Homes and Gardens Free Patriotic Quilt Pattern Here
July Flag from Quiltmaker.com : Free Patriotic Quilt Pattern Here
Rainbow Stars from Better Homes & Gardens: Free Patriotic Quilt Pattern Here
Stars & Stripes from Benartex: Free Patriotic Quilt Pattern Here
Union Star from Quiltmaker.com: Free Patriotic Quilt Pattern Here
Veteran's Pride from Quiltmaker.com: Free Patriotic Quilt Pattern Here
Free pattern, click here.
Susan K. Cleveland prairie points tool flag
Pat Sloan's Patriotics: See all her free patterns!including these amazing beauties!
Liberty Heart
Download SWEET LIBERTY HEART Pattern
CLICK HERE for a KIT!
Liberty Stars made with her Sweet Liberty Fabric line
CLICK HERE to Download the pattern
Sweet Liberty fabric and her free Stars and Stripes pattern:
CLICK HERE to Download the pattern
Patriotic Heartstrings of Memory idea made by Michele Bilyeu "With Heart and Hands":
see:String Quilting:Tutorial and Free Patterns
Patriotic Checkers from Bernina and Sewing.org: Free Patriotic Quilt Pattern Here
Blue or Gold Star Service Banner
Patriotic Miniature Quilt
US"We Support" Ribbon wall hanging
PATRIOTIC MINIATURE QUILT
An 1890s reproduction quilt, and a free pattern for you
by Patricia Cummings
Patriotic Miniature Quilt
US"We Support" Ribbon wall hanging
Military Free Printables
And for pure inspiration (but not free patterns) check out:America's 9-11 Memorial Quilts Web Site Military Free Printables
Check out:
Camp Sherman: A Token Gift, Left Behind
Patriotic Sewing Frenzy
Shown at top:
one of my lap-sized string quilts with a pre-purchased center panel, makes up quickly and easily and is perfect for someone who is usually seated, as in a wheelchair.
String Quilting
Comfort Quilts
Patriotic Heartstrings
Were you really looking for a Liberated Star Quilt Block Pattern???and google sent you here???? Check out:
wonky or liberated stars, churn dashes, alphabet letters, rail fences blocks, hearts, log cabins, etc.
Go to:
with-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com/.../liberated-quilting-blocks-letter...
Sep 5, 2010 – Great List of Wonky, Free-Pieced, or Liberated Quilt Block Patterns, Techniques or Ideas: ... Twinkle, Twinkle, Wonky Star from Sew Take a Hike ...
with-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com/.../wonky-or-liberated-quiltingfr...
The idea of liberated or wonky, free-pieced houses and liberated stars was born...and it ... Great List of Wonky, Free-Pieced, or Liberated Quilt Block Patterns, ...
My Most Popular Links:
Michele Bilyeu Creates
With Heart and Hands as she shares her imaginative, magical, and healing journey from Alaska to Oregon. Creating, designing, sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting... from my heart and with my hands.
Michele Bilyeu Creates
With Heart and Hands as she shares her imaginative, magical, and healing journey from Alaska to Oregon. Creating, designing, sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting... from my heart and with my hands.
