The start of 2021 was chaotic here in Washington, DC, and arguably all over the world. Our nation’s Capitol — where many of us in the DC Modern Quilt Guild have worked, lived nearby, or visited — was attacked by a violent mob attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Two days later, on January 8, COVID cases peaked nationwide. It was a time when most of us were feeling a lot more despair for than pride in our country. But patriotism does not always have to be celebratory — it can be a way of showing concern, awareness, or advocacy. Even since the Revolutionary War, women created quilts with patriotic colors and motifs that often had political themes. Early quilt blocks such as Lincoln’s Platform, Whig’s Defeat, Tippecanoe, and War Between the States, show that women were interested in and influenced by political events even when their lives were mostly confined to the home. The Quilt Alliance is an excellent place to start, if you’re interested in seeing how patriotic quilts have always been both political and personal.

Similarly, as the 33 modern quilts below illustrate so well, patriotism comes in many different, and sometimes surprising, forms. It is an allegiance that can be full of angst. It is learning from the past while looking to the future. It is taking pride in our best qualities. It is nostalgia for childhood or holiday traditions. It is not strictly American. It can be funny or playful. It can incorporate immediately recognizable symbols and motifs, or it can be more individualistic. We hope you enjoy this collection of works from 32 DC Modern Quilt Guild members, who each took such a unique approach to this challenge. Click on each photo below to see larger images of the quilt and learn about the maker’s inspiration.