Memorial Day, 2026

It's still rather rainy -
It rained all weekend long except for a bit of yesterday where we quickly gathered the Quilters of the Night to do our over-the-porch-rail photos a day early.
More rain in the middle of the night last night.
There are NO COMPLAINTS!
It might be raining some folks' Memorial Day picnics out, but if we have to move it inside, it's just as good as long as we are together.

And if its a rainy Memorial Day weekend, perhaps you've got some red white and blue UFOs sitting in a bin somewhere, and today would be a great day to pull them out!

I have always loved red white and blue quilts.  Did you know there are currently 29 countries that feather red white and blue as their flag?

Some blues are lighter than others - like the flags for Iceland or Luxembourg but the color combo is just so classic.

So I went on a mission combing through my quilts to see if there were any red, white, blue quilts that I'd forgotten that I'd even made.  There were a few! These are in no certain order, and I had to comb blog archives to see what was there.

I had a blast making Dawn's Early Light from String Frenzy. Of course, it has strings, small blocks - but the string zig-zag border was the most fun of all to make.

Jacob's Chain was also a favorite using larger units cut from recycled 100% cotton shirts.

Right Way Round on the wall and Wrong Way Round on the table!

I had taken a bunch of kits for the rolling stone blocks with me on the road, and turned the rectangle units the WRONG WAY and I had more than half the blocks done that way, so I ended up with a big quilt, and two small ones.

Solidarity is the red white & blue variation after we did our Hearts of Hope sew along when the war broke out in Ukraine.  The pattern includes both quilts.

Unity  also includes aqua. But I still consider it in the red white and blue family!

How many of you still have this as a UFO? Pull it out and get it together!

Indigo Way was our Quiltville Winter Mystery a few years ago. Have you finished it?

Zoey posing on Courthouse Square.

I loved making that border, and I know I'll do it again!

I loved hand quilting this one made from recycled shirts!

Summer Picnic has everything going or it.

Idaho Square Dance from my Addicted to Scraps book.

I love the jelly bean pops of color that add a bit more interest to this design along with the "Mostly" red white and blue palette.

Idaho Square Dance is also featured in my new book Scrap-Savvy coming out in July!  Did you get your pre-order in? You can pre-order from C&T publishing, and you'll be able to find it on your favorite online sources. Please ask your quilt shops to get the books in!

Read my post about this new release HERE.

Winston Ways is found in MORE Adventures With Leaders & Enders and is named after my former home town of Winston Salem, NC!

Okay, it has gold and black as well as red, white and blue but it has been a popular Quilt of Valor pattern. 

Orca Bay!

I'm digging deep now, Orca Bay was a VERY early Quiltville Winter Mystery and eventually found its way into my book String Fling. I know the photo looks a bit grainy - these were promo photos from earlier book releases. But you get the idea.

Goose in the Puddle from Scraps & Shirttails II.

I used recycled fabrics as well as stash fabric in the sashings to pull this one together. It's buried in the closet somewhere.  I need to pull it out.  

I love the big blocks, simple sashings and the pinwheel cornerstones that look like they are just laying on top of everything. Nine-patches, triangles and pinwheels.  What's not to love?

Carolina Crossroads from Scraps & Shirttails!

Blurry, grainy and a terrible ohoto!

But this is the one that started it all - it was our first mystery as I was moving from South Carolina to North Carolina and we all did it together.  Did you ever finish this one?

I also realize that red/white and blue/white is something I always seem to come back around to because they are comforting to me.

Sometimes the blue goes more toward aqua/turquoise but it's still a favorite color combo.

And I'm happy to update that there are only 10 more blocks to make and I can start putting this thing together.

How are you spending your Memorial Day today?

Are you in the midst of sewing something red, white blue?

Not red, white and blue but Gift-Away happening soon:

I am so excited that YOU are so excited about the release of  Crackers & Jam, Did you get your entry in on the Gift-Away on my 5/15/26 post?

If not, head on over and get that entry in!

I'll be drawing for two winners who will each receive a Crackers & Jam PDF pattern from me and a Notable Neutrals fabric roll from  Cotton to Quilts!

Drawing happens Wednesday, 5/27/26.

The fabric rolls are such a great way to enhance your stash with each roll containing 20 pieces each 8'' X 22".  These especially are how I keep my neutrals fresh and fun with lots of variety.

Check out their other color rolls too!

Paper Piecing Fun!

This two-block quilt is a paper piecer’s dream with simple shapes, printable templates, full color photos and step-by-step instructions to make the most of your scrap stash with fabulous results.

Quilt Size: 78’’ X 78’'

Introductory Pricing:  I've placed Crackers & Jam in the Quiltville Store at 25% off with no coupon code needed. Discount applied at checkout and good through 5/31/26.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Today we honor the men and women who never made it home after serving this country. 

The people who gave everything while defending ideals many now argue about from the comfort of a comment section while sitting on their couch. 

So enjoy your cookout. Spend time with family and friends and neighbors. 

But take a moment to remember why the day exists in the first place.

 
On Veterans Day we remember all who have served, but today we honor the ones who gave their lives and didn't come home.

Remember them.