The Old Glory quilt pattern, by Mary Erckenbrack, was published in rural newspapers across America in the 1930's.  One pattern was printed each week, and the reader would carefully cut and save each piece until they had a complete quilt set. 

The quilt layout is unusual and unique. There are 51 patterns in all, 48 for the state emblems, one for the stars, one for the central Torch of Liberty, one for the national shields. 

This was a grand quilt in it's time, outside dimensions of the quilt given as seven feet long by six feet broad.  Pattern instructions include a three-inch border in red, white and blue around the outside. 

Here's the most colorful spread ever offered to American newspaper readers.  It'll give you a thrill of patriotic pride as you make it.  

The quilt itself is composed of six inch squares. Color suggestions were given for the squares, and a simple straight line embroidery stitched was used for the entire quilt.

These patterns were highly valued, many of them surviving for collectors and quilt historians of today.