Kris driessen of albany ny is an accomplished quiltmaker, quilt historian, quilting teacher, author, researcher, and lecturer. The underground railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses established in the united states during the early to mid19th century, and used by enslaved africanamericans to escape into free states and canada. Begin by sharing this poster front, plus readaloud books and. Books about quilts and the underground railroad quilt meaning. Its very clever that people who could not read or write were able to escape to freedom using song and. Railroad quilt pattern part of the underground railroad. Apr 01, 2003 take a trip on the underground railroad. Using an assortment of unique patterns, these quilts detailed.
There are also directions to make a miniature underground railroad quilt. Jun 22, 2014 in recent years, one of the most powerful quilt myths to emerge has centered on the role quilts may have played in the underground railroad. Underground railroad, monkey wrench, wagon wheel, carpenters wheel, bears paw, basket, crossroads, log cabin, shoofly, bow tie, flying. I picked up that pattern book and went home with it. Faith ringgold reads her 1991 childrens book tar beach duration. Jul 16, 2010 legend has it that african american slaves would hang the quilts on clothes lines, over fences, or over windowsills as if airing out the quilts while all the time they were really giving codes, via the quilt pattern,to escaping slaves traveling the nearby road. It was an informal network of safe houses that would help to protect slaves who were escaping from their owners so they could start a new life in freedom.
Just because people would like it to be true, doesnt mean its so. Underground railroad sampler quilt in a day series 97818917767 by eleanor burns. According to legend, a safe house along the underground railroad was often indicated by a quilt hanging from a clothesline or windowsill. Really good stuff activity guide underground railroad. Log cabin pattern, she has authored over seventy five additional books. This quilt was a message to pack provisions for their journey as if they were packing a wagon. Since 1978 when she selfpublished her first book make a quilt in a day. Unravelling the myth of quilts and the underground railroad. This book has nice technical information for constructing beautiful traditional quilts.
Eleanor burns shares a story passed down through families about a link between slavemade quilts and the underground railroad. While show way is about more than the underground railroad quilt code, it relies on the idea of the code to frame the story. Centered on an empowering account of enslaved african americans who ingeniously stitched codes into quilts to signal those seeking freedom in the north toward safe haven, this gratifying story has stirred. The story of underground railroad quilts, in particular the ozella account that is the basis of the book hidden in plain view has been rejected as unfounded hearsay by accredited museums and professional historians specializing in the underground railroad. Each pattern will then be secured on a large poster board to assemble a classroom underground railroad quilt. Each quilt pattern was delivering a communication code to the escapees on the run.
I bought this ad a gift for a friend who loves to quilt. This book tells how hannah and her papa escaped from slavery along the underground railroad. Quilt historian virginia gunn has found three written references to log cabin quilts as fundraisers for the union cause in 1863, the likely year for the beginning of the style. The underground railroad quilt code in childrens books. The unvarnished truth contains more beauty than a romantic fable. Join eleanor burns and sue bouchard as they guide you through the story of the underground railroad. Underground railroad sampler 735272010685 quilt in a day. The book has 168 full color pages with step by step instructions for each of the 15 blocks. Quilt historian barbara brackman notes in quilts from the civil war that the earliest dateinscribed quilt of this pattern. Underground railroad quilts, a variation of jacobs ladder, were said to give cues as to the safe path to freedom. In hidden in plain view, historian jacqueline tobin and scholar raymond dobard offer the first proof that certain quilt patterns, including a prominent one called the charleston code, were, in fact, essential tools for escape along the underground railroad. Jan 2, 2014 underground railroad quilt pattern from eleanor burns book. There is a great childrens book with pictures drawings on the subject, too sweet clara and the freedom quilt by deborah hopkinson.
Underground railroad, monkey wrench, wagon wheel, carpenters wheel, bears paw, basket, crossroads, log cabin, shoofly, bow tie. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Underground railroad quilt code given what a marvelous story this is, its also no surprise that more than one childrens book writer has latched onto it. Depending on the pattern, a seemingly innocent quilt left on a porch or fence or hung in a window could signal to slaves on the plantation to get. However, i used it as a visual guide on what these quilts may. This railroad quilt pattern is part of the popular underground railway quilts from the 19th century. Copy a supply of quilt square patterns in this kit. Feb 23, 2016 27 thoughts on underground railroad quilt code katechiconi february 23, 2016 at 9. Underground railroad sampler quilting books patterns and notions. Underground railroad sampler also includes a color page depicting the story of the underground railroad that can be photocopied onto photo transfer fabric and included in the quilt. Just a few are jacobs ladder, underground railroad, road to california, off to san francisco, gone to chicago, stepping stones and trail of the covered wagon. Underground railroad sampler quilt patterns for all your. It talks about the use of quilts as maps in the underground railroad. Feb 23, 2011 in the introduction she describes her encounter with the book hidden in plain view and how she had always been interested in the underground railroad as well.
Underground railroad sampler quilt in a day series. When jacqueline tobin and raymond dobard explored in their book hidden in plain view. Best 5 underground railroad quilt patterns and meanings craft empowerment underground railroad quilts source. Apr 01, 2003 buy the underground railroad sampler quilt in a day series by eleanor burns isbn. Wheel quilts have a round pattern and during the era of the underground railroad, wagons with hidden compartments were one of the primary means of transporting runaways. Unfortunately, the book repeatedly uses racist language in each story. The history of the underground railroad discussed throughout the book is very brief. A secret story of quilts and the underground railroad random house a family legend that said messages encoded in quilts. The underground railroad freedom quilt codes dochelly. Quilts, underground railroad, folklore sunday simplicities. A quilt of secondary importance in the list of escape quilts is the carpenters. Underground railroad quilt code catbird quilt studio. Jun 24, 2007 were quilts used as underground railroad maps.
Underground railroad quilt pattern from eleanor burns book. Sharon tindall, colorful underground railroad sampler, 2008, cotton, 88 x 70. The book has 168 full color pages with step by step. In stitched from the soul 1990, gladysmarie fry asserted that quilts were used to communicate safe houses and other information about the underground railroad, which was a network through the united states and into canada of conductors, meeting places, and safe houses for the passage of african americans out of slavery. Centered on an empowering account of enslaved african americans who ingeniously stitched codes into quilts to signal those seeking freedom in the north. These quilts were embedded with a kind of code, so that by reading.
The quilt that hannah and her late mother made together offers clues in the quilt blocks. Assembling a classroom quilt the class will reconvene as a whole group and each small group will share their assembled pattern as well as thoughts from their discussion. Old american quilts held a secret code that led thousands. Seldom do we find a quilt pattern with just one name. Legend has it that escaping slaves and their allies would use quilts to communicate with one another along the underground railroad. The book has 168 full color pages with step by step instructions for each of the 15 blocks as well as directions to make a miniature underground railroad quilt. Oct 22, 20 eleanor burns shares a story passed down through families about a link between slavemade quilts and the underground railroad. A secret story of quilts and the underground railroad.
Underground railroad sampler 735272010685 quilt in a day books. The myth of underground railroad quilts the ladies tea. Given the beautiful illustrations by hudson talbott and the silver newbery honor book sticker on the book s cover, show way will perpetuate the myth of the quilt code for years to come. However, i used it as a visual guide on what these quilts may have looked like, and how conductors used them to direct fugitive slaves to freedom road. Underground railroad sampler by eleanor burns goodreads. Her articles on dating, cleaning and just plain appreciating antique and vintage quilts have appeared in many publications. To make squares more sturd y, mount squares on construction paper before cutting apart. Jacqueline tobin and raymond dobard first posited the quilt code theory six years ago in their book hidden in plain view. Does anyone know where i can down load a quilt pattern with trains on it. This book is actually a pattern book to teach quilters how to create underground railroad quilts. The patchwork pathby bettye stroud candlewick press, 2005. I loved my quilting class and i rekindled my love of sewing and quilt making.
Learn how fifteen quilt blocks may have played a significant role in communication between the slaves and how it helped them on their way to freedom. Underground railroad quilts colebrook historical society. A log cabin quilt hanging in a window with a black center for the chimney hole was said to indicate a safe house. I read parts of the book to see if my friend would like it.
Quilts from the underground railroad, part 1 youtube. My grandson loves trains and i am making him his own room at my house. The book contains yardage and cutting charts in addition to fabric identification pages that will assist the quilter in cutting and marking her fabric for this beautiful sampler. Over the years of its operation, officials estimate that more than. Raymond dobard from the book, hidden in plain view a quilt with an evening star pattern, believed by some to be a secret code used by slaves to guide them along the underground railroad. Sue bouchard and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books. Underground railroad sampler gives a fairytalelike narrative of people escaping their oppressors.
Quilt in a day tv series, quilts from the underground railroad. Slaves reportedly made coded quilts and then used them to navigate their escape. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. There are intriguing stories of how quilting was used to help the slaves escape through the underground railroad. Slaves reportedly made coded quilts and then used them to navigate. Jan 22, 2015 over the years, the underground railroad had a number of conductors, but it wasnt a train that they were operating. A secret story of quilts and the underground railroad, published in 1998. Underground railroad quilt block pattern patchwork square. Jan 18, 2000 i will think if the quilt patterns discussed here from a slightly different frame of reference after reading this, and that is, overall, a good thing. These re p resent some of the most common quilt blocks used in coded quilts.
This is a also a book that could make history and textiles come alive for someone who is just becoming interested in the underground railroad, quilts, etc. The underground railroad freedom quilt codes youtube. These quilts were embedded with a kind of code, so that by reading the shapes and. I loved reading about how quilts and songs were used as road maps for the underground railroad. A quilt with an evening star pattern, believed by some to be a secret code used by slaves to guide them along the underground railroad. Really good stuff activity guide underground railroad quilt guide. Underground railroad sampler by eleanor burns alibris. Each quilt has a story about how a quilt may have helped an oppressed individual get away. I had also ordered the underground railroad patterns in the book of the sampler. Underground railroad quilts story by lovester wilkinson mlk day 2020 lancaster. In recent years, one of the most powerful quilt myths to emerge has centered on the role quilts may have played in the underground railroad. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The underground railroad sampler quilt in a day series.