National Quilt Project

Calling all textile enthusiasts!

Here's an idea that can help repair our torn social fabric.

Visualize an enormous quilt laid across the lawn of the Washington D.C. mall, a quilt with blocks from all 50 states. Our quilt will represent the rich mosaic of our country, expressing our histories, identities, and our common ideals of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.How might we accomplish this project?• First, share the idea through as many channels as possible to alert quilters, teachers, church and community groups. Download the flier!• Start working to create unique quilt blocks within families, communities, regions, then states, broadening the reach each year.• The National Quilt Project will officially launch on July 4th, 2026 on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Organizers will spread out a selection of early quilt squares from around the country upon the National Mall. As this collective art project develops, more displays will follow, leading to a target final exhibition date in 2030.Textiles are intimately essential to human life through cultural clothing, flags of pride, shrouds for mourning, baby quilts to welcome new life. Textile art can help heal divisions: there are quilters across the political spectrum! Through this creative project, we can move from despair towards a sense of hope, community, and love for our country.Let's re-weave our National Cloth towards a more perfect union!

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
(Rev. Martin Luther King)A united America can be a super-power of love.
(President Jimmy Carter)

How To Get involved

Tell your friends!
Download the flier
Share the Video

Start quilting an 18-inch square!
You don’t need to be a fabric artist.
Everyone is encouraged to contribute a quilt square in the spirit of unity. This is a non-partisan project aimed at healing the polarization in our country.
View the Quilt Size template
View examples of QuiltsBecome a coordinator!
The success of the project depends on a large grassroot effort. Community as well as state coordinators will be needed.
Please consider stepping forward to help in anyway you can!
Send us a message

More information

Make your SQUARE

Let’s
Stitch
America
Together
Again!

Quilt Size Template

Make your quilt piece 18 inches square.

* Hem a piece of fabric to 18" x 18" and create any design you wish* Add 7-inch ties to the corners to attach adjacent quilt pieces.* Feel free to use a variety of techniques on your quilt square such as applique, embroidery, painting, knitting and/or crochet.Or simply add ties to a favorite piece of fabric!

Sample Quilt Squares

For the story of each square
visit our instagram page

MORE INFO

Who started the National Quilt Project?
Mary Milne is a textile artist living in central New York. She participated in the Peace Ribbon Around the Pentagon project (in 1985) and was profiled in "Sew to Speak: The Fabric Art of Mary Milne"Mary launched the idea for the National Quilt Project in 2024 in response to the social divisions within the United States. She is looking for collaborators from across the country!What are the quilt square dimensions?
The quilt pieces need to be 18 inches square. At each corner, a 7" tie should be sewn on to attach to adjacent quilt squares.
Download the PDF for a printable version.Who can I contact if I want to become more deeply involved?
Do you want to help organize quilters? Can you see yourself as a coordinator for the National Quilt Project? Would you like to offer your skills in other ways? We welcome your participation!
Please write to us at [email protected]

What are some other examples of quilting and activism?
Previous examples of large-scale textile activism include:Peace Ribbon Around the Pentagon
Wound 15 miles through Washington in 1985 with
27,000 connected fabric panelsThe AIDS Memorial Quilt
Displayed in 1996 on Washington D.C. mall
40,000 panels honored 110,000 who died of AIDS