Quilts Of Valor National Sew Day 2026: Making Echoes Blocks for the National Block Drive

The first Saturday of February is the Quilts of Valor (QOV) Foundation’s National Sew Day, and this year, we’re joining in on this special day of sewing, connection, and gratitude by making a few of the 2026 Block of the Year, Echoes. Keep reading to learn more about this year’s block, the National Block Drive, and some of the National Sew Day 2026 fun you can expect when you register to participate!

Echoes – 2026 Block of the Year

The 2026 Block of the Year, Echoes, was designed and written by Nancy Cann and finishes at 10″ square. Featuring a central square with an echoed square to the upper left and the lower right, this block is perfect for beginner quilters and anyone looking to put their stash of red, white, and blue fabric to good use! Visit the National Block Drive page to find the link to download the free Echoes Quilt Block Instructions, and watch the video below for a block tutorial with Nancy Cann.

National Block Drive

The National Block Drive is a fun way to get involved, whether you make just one block, several blocks, or a whole quilt. We love how the central square in this block is perfect for showcasing your favorite medium and large print patriotic fabrics! For our blocks, we featured the Deep Crimson, Navy, and Nautical Blue Star Shield Yardage from the American Gatherings III collection by Primitive Gatherings for Moda Fabrics. You can find mailing instructions for finished Echoes Blocks on their National Block Drive page!

In order to make sure that the finished quilts are cohesive, QOV provides color requirements for all donated Echoes Blocks. Here is what you need to know when picking your fabric:

For all block fabrics
- Use only red, white (cream), and blue fabrics
  - Please do not use floral fabrics
For the Center of the block
- Pick red or blue fabrics with medium and large prints that attract the eye
- If you pick branch-specific fabric, make sure to represent just one military branch per block
For the Upper Left and Lower Right corners of the block
- Pick red and blue fabrics that are either solid or have very small prints that read as solids
For the Background fabric
- Pick a white or a cream that is either a solid or a tone-on-tone

How Will You Celebrate the QOV National Sew Day 2026

We look forward to seeing all the ways our community comes together to celebrate today! Visit the National Sew Day 2026 Page on the QOV website to learn about how you can register to participate and how to be entered to win a ton of fun prizes.

Be sure to also check with your local group or QOV Quilt Business shops to find Sew Day events in your community, and use the hashtag #QOVFNationalBlockDrive2026, #QOVF2026Block, or #QOVFEchoesBlock with your posts about your Echoes Blocks!