Underground Railroad Block 7

Crossroads

Block 7

      The Crossroads Quilt was the fourth quilt with symbolic meaning revealed to slaves planning to escape.

       Once the fugitives made it safely through the Appalachian Mountains, they were to travel to the "crossroads",Or a city where they would find protection and refuge.  The main crossroads or terminal was in Cleveland, Ohio.Four or five overland trails connected with Cleveland, and numerous water routes, crossing Lake Erie into Canada and freedom.

The first four blocks make up a directive code for men and women headed for freedom.

"The Monkey Wrench turns the wagon wheel toward Canada on a bear's paw trail to the crossroads."

This is the block in the book.

This is my block.

Fabric need:

2 1/2" strip the WOF in the dark print.

5 1/2" strip the WOF in the light print.

Dark print -- sub cut into (16) 2 1/2" squares.

Light print -- sub cut into (3) 5 1/2" squares

                                           (9) 2 1/2" squares

                                           (2) 3 1/2" squares

Cut the three (5 1/2") squares on both diagonals for side triangles.

Count out 4 dark and 3 light squares, lay out starting with the dark square and sew them together.

Lay out the rest of the dark and light squares in stacks of two and place the triangles from before on each end of the rows.

Sew the rows together. Should have two rows from each stack.  Press seams toward dark squares.  Then lay out your rows as below.

Sew your rows together.  Press seams away from middle row.

Cut the two (3 1/2") squares in half diagonally.

Sew these on the corners on your block to make it square.  Press seams.

Square up block to 12 1/2".

 Now you have your 7 th block "The Crossroads"

Have fun, see you next month.

Carol