When the Quilts of Valor Foundation was founded in 2003, its mission was to cover our nation's military touched by war-that is, to cover them with quilts and honor their service. A volunteer team donate their time and materials to make a quilt collaboratively. Since its beginning, this all-volunteer organization with close to 8,000 members nationwide has awarded more than 200,000 Quilts of Valor. This book explains the history of military quilts since our nation's beginning, and features a Quilt of Valor to represent each of our 50 states. Also included are 16 quilt patterns to choose from, to inspire you to make your own Quilt of Valor. The organization's Under Our Wings project, which brings young people into Quilts of Valor and encourages them to learn to sew, is featured, too.

Patriotism and quilting come together in this new book as six quilts honor the officer ranks between 2nd Lieutenant/Ensign through Colonel/Captain. The author, who served more than 25 years in the military, shares her experiences as she progressed through the ranks in both text and quilts. Original designs are provided for quilters or as inspiration for your own creative ideas for making a quilt to honor a service member. Tips are given for fabric selection, constructing the quilt, appliquA (c)ing, squaring a quilt, border preparation, and binding while chapter galleries show the versatility of the quilts for non-military applications. With easy-to-follow instructions, this book is perfect for quilters of all skill levels. Novice quilters can practice their techniques while more seasoned quilters can add to their repertoire.