The Pen That Was Two Hundred and Fifty Years in the Making

There's something about a quilt that makes everything feel deliberate. Every piece of fabric was chosen, cut, placed, and stitched down by hand. Nothing happened by accident, and that kind of intention is visible in the finished thing. It's not a coincidence that quilting and American history feel like they belong in the same sentence. Both are built from small pieces that add up to something much bigger than anyone thought possible. Both take patience, and stubbornness, and a real belief that the thing you're making is worth getting exactly right. We've been thinking about that a lot this year.

1776 is a cream barrel pen wrapped in a vintage-inspired quilt print of eight-pointed patchwork stars in deep red and navy blue, with tiny cross-stitch accents scattered between the blocks. The crystal chamber is filled with crystals in red, white, and navy blue, finished with silver hardware and a red gem on top.

We made it this year, for this year: the 250th anniversary of the United States. We thought the occasion called for something with a little American craft tradition stitched right into it.

You've had a flag in the yard since Memorial Day and you're not apologizing for it. You know the name of the quilt block in the picture before anyone else in the room can figure it out. You learned every word of every patriotic song on purpose, and you use them. 1776 is for the woman who doesn't need convincing that this country is worth celebrating. 

1776 launches Friday, May 29th at noon Central.