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Underground Railroad Quilt:

Sew a Quilting Block

Sew a themed quilt block that will become part of an Underground Railroad Quilt.

Calling all quilters! Pick up a kit and sew a block for an Underground Railroad throw quilt that will be assembled by quilter Ms. Kathy Henderson, owner of Peace By Piece, Sewing and Quilting for Mental Health.  Register online for a kit, and we’ll contact you to arrange pickup while supplies last. Return your quilt block by Sept. 30 to be registered to win the quilt. We’ll have a raffle at the exhibit's end (late October) and contact the lucky winner!

We’ll supply precut fabric pieces and instructions on how to sew the quilt block.  You will need to supply:

• Sewing machine or hand sewing needles (if project will be completed without a sewing machine)
• Thread
• Pins
• Scissors (or rotary cutter and mat)
• Ruler or Measuring tape
• Pencil or fabric marking tool

Kits must be picked up between Sept. 3-14 and returned to any YDL location by Sept. 30. Questions? Contact Paula Drummond at drummond@ypsilibrary.org 

A word about Underground Quilts:

While books have been published about quilt blocks with messages that helped enslaved people escape, scholars today recognize that no evidence exists to support this theory, even though some of the blocks did appear in quilts made in the 1850’s. All we can factually know is that, to some people, the idea of the quilted codes represents a type of poetry and healing.

This is part of the Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad exhibit, presented in partnership with ExhibitsUSA and Mid-America Arts Alliance.

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