Underground Railroad - Block 1

I Block 1 is the Underground Railroad 

Also known as Jacob's Ladder, this block has an alternating path of dark and light that can be used to show direction. 

There is a story about a slave owner chasing a runaway who swore the man vanished as if he had stepped on some kind of "Underground Railroad."  The idea of an Underground Railroad taking people north to freedom was used to describe the network of abolitionists and safe houses that helped escape to Ohio and Canada.  Safe houses along the way were known as "stations," those who guided the escapees were called "conductors" and the runaways themselves were called "passenger."

Reaching a "station" in the North meant food, clothing, and a place to hide when capture was imminent.  But it did not yet mean freedom.  The Underground Railroad took them all the way to Canada in some cases.  Estimates are that as many as 100,000 people escaped slavery between the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Block 1

You will need 3 fabrics:

Chedder -- cut a 2 1/2" strip 30" long.    

                   cut 2 - 5" squares

Cream --  cut a 2 1/2" strip 30" long

Navy -- cut 2 - 5" squares

Note that I am using Chedder as a light in this block, and may do it later in other blocks.

Sew the two 2 1/2" strips together.

Make 4 half square triangles using the 5" squares.  Square to 4 1/2".

Make 5 four patch squares.

Then lay your squares out  and sew together.

This is the block from the book:

See you next month for Block 2.