ONLINE | Quilt Along: Border by Margaret Wood

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 the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.

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 to October 2026, the museum will release a new block pattern, followed by a border pattern and finishing instructions, to create a commemorative wall hanging. Learn more and sign up for updates.

The border is designed by Margaret Wood. Wood's border design addresses the theme of Always Becoming. The pattern will be revealed on the museum's Quilt Along page and social media channels at 10 AM ET. Join the conversation on Facebook (link to come) to share your tips and tricks or learn from experienced quilters as you complete your quilt.

Margaret Wood (Diné/Seminole), raised on the Navajo Nation Reservation in Arizona, learned to sew from her mother. She holds degrees in Elementary Education and Library Science. After time spent teaching at an elementary school on the reservation, Wood became interested in clothing design. She began designing updated versions of tribal clothing and eventually wrote a book titled, Native American Fashion: Modern Adaptations of Traditional Wear (1981). After that, she started a small business making and selling mostly women’s clothing and some quilts. Today, her creative emphasis is quilting, and her work can be periodically seen in museum shows around the country.

Image: Individual quilt squares commissioned by the NMAI and assembled into a single quilt for the 1997 To Honor and Comfort: Native Quilting Traditions exhibition. 26/9621

This project received funding from the Smithsonian’s “Our Shared Future: 250,” a Smithsonian-wide initiative supported by private philanthropy and created to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and advance the Smithsonian vision for the next 250 years.