Hey, everyone!

What happens when an undying obsession with a vintage patriotic star quilt collides with America’s 250th birthday? The Echoes From the Past Quilt-Along! If quilting your heart out in red, white, and blue while supporting America’s veterans sounds like your kind of party, pull up your sewing chair — Echoes From the Past is officially open for business!

Some quilts just get under your skin and stay there. The beautifully worn, vintage patriotic star quilt that inspired this QAL has been living rent-free under mine for years! If it looks familiar to some of you, that’s because we gave it a test run at our 2025 Red, White & Blue Retreat at The Gathering last summer, already knowing that America’s 250th birthday would be the perfect backdrop for a patriotic quilt-along. Much like our beloved Betsy QAL, Echoes From the Past is all about celebrating red, white, and blue — and our unconditional love for the U.S.A.!

This quilt-along is about so much more than just red, white, and blue star blocks though — it’s also the latest Primitive Gatherings fundraiser in support of one of our nation’s greatest treasures: our precious veterans. For every printed or downloaded pattern of Echoes From the Past sold, we will donate $10 to the Missions of Honor Program, with a goal of funding an entire plane of veterans to New York. We’re also donating $10 for every fat quarter tower of American Gatherings III purchased from Primitive Gatherings — so if you’ve already grabbed one, you’ve already contributed to the cause, and we thank you for that! 

Never heard of the Missions of Honor Program? It’s a nonprofit inspired by the Honor Flight Network, dedicated to giving our nation’s veterans meaningful experiences that recognize and celebrate their service. Through funds raised by programs like this quilt-along, Missions of Honor helps send veterans on trips of a lifetime, connects them with fellow service members, and creates opportunities for the kind of recognition they’ve more than earned. Every single dollar donated through this quilt-along goes directly toward making those experiences possible — and that’s something worth stitching for.

Think you can handle 42 simple star blocks a month in the name of red, white, and blue? The Echoes From the Past Quilt-Along kicks off in March 2026 and runs for ten months, giving you plenty of time to stitch along with your fellow quilters, show off your progress, and maybe even walk away with a sweet prize or two. Want to know more? Head over to the official Echoes From the Past Quilt-Along Information Page for all the deets, including fabric requirements, supply list, and overall quilt measurements by clicking the button below!

In other news, I hear Nick and Amy did a great job hosting LIVE “Without” Lisa this week, and I just wanted to give them both a well-deserved shout-out for holding down the fort while I’ve been away. Thanks, you two! As for me, I’m currently in the final stretch of an absolutely wonderful cruise where I had the privilege of teaching two different classes to an amazing group of stitchers. I’d love to tell you more about it but I’m being summoned as we speak, so that will have to wait for next week. Until then, have a great weekend — and if you’re in my neck of the woods back in WI, stay dry! I hear it’s raining pitchforks up there! Ugh… can’t say I’m looking forward to leaving the warm sun and beautiful blue ocean for dreary and gloom, but what can I do? Home sweet home, here I come! See you all soon! ~Lisa