ONLINE | Quilt Along: Block 1 (Pre-Contact to the American Revolution (prior and up to 1776)) by Lauren Good Day

Reflect on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the ever-evolving nature of the country, communities, and future we share through a Native lens by participating in a free quilt along hosted by Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI).

This five-month, mystery-style quilt along invites quilters and anyone interested in quilting to sew along. You don’t need to be an expert quilter to participate. Each month from June-October 2026, the museum will release a new block pattern, followed by a border, and finishing instructions to create a commemorative wall hanging. Learn more and sign up for updates: americanindian.si.edu….

The first block pattern is designed by Lauren Good Day. Good Day's block theme addresses the time period of Pre-Contact to the American Revolution (any time prior and up to 1776). The pattern will be revealed on the museum's Quilt Along webpage and social media channels.

Lauren Good Day, "Good Day Woman," is an award-winning artist and fashion designer. Good Day is an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation) and registered with Sweet Grass Cree First Nation. Dedicated to revitalizing the arts and culture of her people, she lives and works in her traditional homelands in North Dakota, where her roles as a mother and tribal member guide her creative and cultural contributions to art, fashion, and community. She has shown her work at juried shows, and her work can be found in many public and private art collections.

Image: Individual quilt squares commissioned by the National Museum of the American Indian and assembled into a single quilt for the 1997 “To Honor and Comfort: Native Quilting Traditions” exhibition. 26/9621