QoV quilts...
 

Does anyone know if making a quilt that strongly resembles the American is inappropriate? Been waiting for response from QoV organization.

The American ??

If you mean the American Flag. I see it all the time. I don't think QOV is the authority on the subject. So, don't wait for an answer from them.

Yes , American flag

Sorry...Yes the American flag. Forgot.

Do not make a QOV quilt of the American flag or for any veteran. Veteran's coffin are draped in the flag and it is a very emotional symbol to them. I just ask my veteran DH this once and he shivered violently, said, "No!" and left the room. He said later is was a horrifying thought to lay under the flag.

Just was wondering cuz I see so many rwb quilts that are contempory version of the flag. I know wrong to wear anything that looks like the flag...but so many do. Just want to surprise my brother...Viet Nam vet and don't want offend him. So off I go...plan B and already drew one up on EQ5.

I am a QOV member and group leader, Channel Islands QOV Gals, and making an American Flag quilt is discouraged. I put the question out on the Quilt of Valor Facebook page. I've made quilts from panels that have the flag in the picture, but never would make an American Flag quilt to award.

I am glad to see this subject discussed. I just made three Quilts of Valor, and I didn't use one of the fabrics I ordered to use because it reminded me too much of a real flag, and I remembered the coffins being draped in the flag. It just seemed wrong to use this fabric. (Actually, I was going to make a pillowcase out of it to put one of the quilts in.) I am glad to know that my instinct was the correct one. I would never want to give a veteran something that would make him or her uncomfortable.

Dina

In addition to the reasons already mentioned, I had a friend who was a Sargent in Operation Enduring Freedom. She lost some of her buddies over there & takes the US flag very, very seriously. I was on a trip with her & another friend once and our mutual friend brought a blanket that closely resembled the US flag. My friend (the vet) was constantly concerned about the blanket getting perilously close to touching the floor. A real flag must be burned if that happens & she was conflicted about whether she would have to burn our friend's blanket if it were to touch the floor since it looked so real.

If you want to do something flag-themed, I would either just do some small blocks that somewhat resemble flags, or else make it very stylized so that it's clearly patriotic but readily distinguishable from an actual American flag.

The Quilts of Valor take elements from our flag (stripes, stars, colors) and then put them together in ways that are reminiscent of, but definitely different from the flag. The reasons have already been mentioned. The quilt should make the recipient feel patriotic and proud, without being an exact replica of our flag.

All things US flag are actually Federal law -- USC Title 36, Chapter 10. The laws refer ONLY to actual flags, not things that just "look like flags." By that I mean, if your quilt has 15 red and white stripes and a blue square with some stars in it, it's not a US flag and can be used as a quilt. An actual flag, by law, should not be worn or used as a blanket. As far as QOV and veterans, the flag draped coffins of the fallen are a very, very powerful and emotional sight, as you can well imagine. That is why quilts that look too much like a flag aren't used as QOV.
What gets my goat, and I've been know to leave notes in people's mailboxes, is when people display torn and tattered American flags or display them incorrectly. I really get teed-off when I see an American flag flown at half-staff when it hasn't been ordered by the President, or, in certain specific circumstances, the Governor of a State.

I remember QOV of having a list of what not to use. Did you check their website?? They are very slow with responding to emails.

Thanks jjs56, explained perfectly! And I agree with you about people not following flag protocol, irks me, too.

This burning of a US flag if it touches the ground business.....
The codes for flag etiquette (easily found on the internet) make notice that flags "should not touch the ground' and describe how to dispose of worn/very dirty/tattered flags. No mention of burning just because a flag has touched the ground. They CAN be washed after all.

Jan in VA

I repair flags and believe me, some of them are so huge 12x24 up to 30x50 that there is no other way to repair them than to lay them out on the floor to work on them. I am as respectful as possible by not stepping on the flag if it can be avoided and I fix them out of the view of the public because I don't want someone who doesn't understand getting upset. Any trimmed fabric, though not necessary to do so, is given to the local Boy Scout Troop to burn. My feeling is that I would rather the flag touch the ground temporarily to be returned to glory than to fly a tattered mess.

To stay on topic, I think Quilts of Valor is a great organization but do they limit the colors of the quilts to red, white , and blue or can you use other colors used in service like the authentic camo prints?

To stay on topic, I think Quilts of Valor is a great organization but do they limit the colors of the quilts to red, white , and blue or can you use other colors used in service like the authentic camo prints?[/QUOTE]

Please check www.qovf.org to get the answer to your question. Not all veterans want red, white and blue. Other colors and themes such as nature, sports, etc. are ok.

I'm think that making a quilt out of an actual American Flag would be illegal.

I am in the process of finishing a QOV quilt for my daughter. I would never make and American Flag. Hers is red, white and blue, and there are several small pics of flags. The thought of her being covered in a full blown American Flag after surviving 3 tours, would be more than I could imagine. Make one of red, blue, and white flowers. or log cabin, or go to the site, there are plenty of designs, most of them are free.

I have seen lots of them. I would make one and be done.

Very interesting responses. TUSM. Called DB who will get this quilt but doesn't know I'm making one for him responded saying he thinks a flag quilt would be beautiful. But with these responses, think I'll make a rwb quilt but not the one I charted out.

As with many aspects of life, different people view different things differently. Not all veterans have seen combat or friends die. I have an X SIL who loved all things flag. He was lucky enough to not see combat.

If you've seen quilts that are EXACT replicas of American flags, using them as a blanket, as opposed to displaying them as a flag, is a violation of Federal law, and, frankly, an insult to me and the vast majority of veterans, combat and non-combat.

The OP asked about a quilt RESEMBLING an American flag, specifically for QOV. Look at the quilts on the QOV website.

I knew my sewing skills would never be worthy of making an actual flag, I never knew all that you have taught me here.

There are no laws regarding use of or portraying of the American flag. If you google flag etiquette you will find several sites including usflag.org posting the guidelines for appropriately displaying the flag. When making a flag quilt remember that the flag should never touch the ground/floor, and that the flag should never have anything placed on top of it (pillows), also, the flag should never be used as decoration or worn as clothing. I recommend staying away from any pattern resembling a flag; just go with RWB colors. I did find one site that said flag etiquette was covered by "law" but they could not cite the law, only quote the guidelines. All the guidelines use the word "should", never "shall", "will", or "must". All I ask is Please be Courteous.

As a veteran, siblings of veterans and cousin thereof as well, we all agree that a quilt made to look like a flag is something none of us want to use. Goes on our coffin, not over us as we sleep. Am in the process of working on 3 QOV to gift to family members. Thinking on using scrappy carpenters star pattern.