On this day in 1777, the Continental Congress adopted a resolution stating that “the flag of the United States be thirteen alternate stripes red and white” and that “the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.” According to popular history Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross designed this first national flag, nicknamed the “Stars and Stripes.”

Laura Maria Ott Myers of Erath, Texas made this Stars and Stripes quilt around 1910 and it was later quilted by Inez Lee. The quilt was identified and reviewed during the Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association’s Texas Quilt Search, which happened between 1983-1985. Karey Bresenhan served as quilt historian and described how the quilt is somewhat of a rule breaker: “…it is full of movement and images, yet the pieced stripes don’t match up, points in stars are cut off, the quilt edge ripples. . . .yet it is inspired.”

The quilt is included in the book Lone Stars: A Legacy of Texas Quilts, Vol. I, 1836-1936, by Karoline Patterson Bresenhan and Nancy O’Bryant Puentes (Austin: University of Texas Press) and was included in an exhibition by the same name in the Texas State Capitol Rotunda, Austin, Texas, April 19-21, 1986.

View this quilt on The Quilt Index to read more about it’s history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view.

Sources:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-adopts-the-stars-and-stripes

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Amy Milne headshot

Posted by Amy E. Milne
Executive Director, Quilt Alliance
amy.milne@quiltalliance.org

See You in June for Month Three!

Thank you so much to everyone who has participated in the Quilt Alliance’s Birthday Block of the Month so far! We’ve made two very different but complementary blocks together and we can’t wait to make more. Join us next month as we make a block designed by Pat Sloan — we’ll send instructions out on the 15th.

Be sure to tag @quiltalliance and @zakfoster.quilts on Instagram with your block photos this month, and use the hashtag #QuiltAllianceBOM (or email us a photo of your block at blockparty@quiltalliance.org). And leave any questions about this month’s block in the comments below!

2 Comments

  1. Renee Pasquale

    Rule breaker—maybe—fabulous—-definitely!! Movement, execution, flaws—I love it all!
    Thanks for posting this iconic piece of Americana

    Reply
    • quiltalliance

      Thanks, Renee. It *is* a stunner! Happy early Fourth! — Amy

      Reply

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