Stitching Stars and Stripes Local Quilters Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday

Stitching Stars and Stripes

Local Quilters Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday

Gwen Akers

The Ashland Beacon

With America’s 250th birthday coming up this Fourth of July, quilters in Ashland are honoring America’s history through a block of the month quilt sampler using reproduction fabric authentic to the Civil and Revolutionary War.

Quilting dates back to the colonial period in America, with patterns and techniques being passed down over generations. The Liberty Island Sampler quilt is one-way quilters are showing their patriotism. The quilt itself is meant to be made month by month, quilters working on one segment at a time until they finish the quilt. Inspired by the generations of Americans that came before us, the Marcus Fabrics Liberty Island Sampler encourages quilters to think back to their own heritage and celebrate our great country in anticipation of America’s 250th birthday. Tara Koppenhaver and her husband Michael saw this sampler as the perfect opportunity for local quilters to build connections, hone their craft and celebrate their country.

Tara Koppenhaver, an experienced quilter, and co-owner of Best Friends, Fabric & More, comes from a long line of quilters and seamstresses. The oldest of five girls, Koppenhaver taught her sisters how to sew and has always been rooted here in her hometown. Koppenhaver finished her first quilt while pregnant with her daughter and now shares her love of quilting with the community through Best Friends, Fabric & More and their projects and events.

The Liberty Island quilt project was an opportunity for this, bringing both new and experienced quilters into the shop. The pattern itself includes reproduction designs modeled after soldier’s uniforms as well as classic American symbols such as the Statue of Liberty. After purchasing their quilts in 2025, quilters were given their materials upfront and could choose to work on their quilts independently or follow the monthly/weekly quilting schedule to finish in time for Independence Day.

“It’s standard techniques as far as the quilt block construction goes, but it's different blocks, so it makes it really interesting. Every time you look at it, you find something different to see,” explained Koppenhaver. “The focus fabric is the two Lady Liberty fabrics, which is a red background with Lady Liberty in the center, and then the navy Lady Liberty fabric, that is the border of the whole quilt.”

The project soon developed into a weekly meeting time where quilters from all skill levels came together to work on their blocks and share stories. These weekly meetings served as an opportunity to bring both experienced and beginning quilters together to honor their American heritage and learn from each other.

Robin Blake began quilting this past August and was thrilled to be a part of the Liberty Island Sampler project. “I am a new quilter, and since it’s the 250th anniversary of our country I wanted to do something for that,” expressed Blake. Blake’s quilt follows the traditional blocks on the quilt top and incorporates a red backing fabric. 

Denise McGill, another quilter at the shop, started this quilt for similar reasons, hoping to celebrate the 250th anniversary as well as honor her own family. Her son was born in 1976 during America’s bicentennial, and she plans to make this quilt for him. The quilt also serves as a way to honor the patriotism of her family.

  “I had told them [the shop] that my mom is a World War II French war bride. There’s lots of long stories about all that, but when my grandmother came over, and it was time to vote, she put on her hat and her gloves and her pins. They were so excited to be Americans, and they were so excited to vote. I just grew up with all of that–everything was patriotic,” expressed McGill.

As quilters finish up their Liberty Island quilts in time for Independence Day, many are looking forward to their next projects and hopeful to share the art of quilting with others.

“People say it's [quilting] a lost art, but I don't see that. People are picking it up and starting, and the fabric is getting bright and busy and abstract–beautiful colors and crazy designs. [Quilting has] got something for everybody, if you ask me,” detailed Koppenhaver.

Best Friends, Fabric & More has many more events, projects and opportunities available to both new and experienced quilters and plans to host another block of the month project starting in January. For more information about Best Friends, Fabric & More you can find them on Facebook or visit their storefront at 2007 Carter Avenue, Ashland, Ky 41101.