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Friday, August 14, 2015

Underground Railroad Block 11

Underground Railroad Block 11

Flying Geese

The Flying Geese quilt is the 8th quilt in the Williams family code.

With this quilt , slaves learned they were to take their direction, timing and behavior from migrating geese.

Since geese fly north in the spring, it was also the best time for slaves to escape. Geese have to stop any waterways along the journey in order to rest and eat. Especially since geese make loud honking noises, it was easy for the runaways to follow their flight pattern.

Geese patches can easily be sewn together in four directions. A clever quilter wishing to assist the runaways could show direction simply by making one set of Geese distinct from the others. This one block could act as a compass, transforming the quilt into a map.

This is the block from the book.

This is my block using the navy and cheddars.

I used 3 different prints for the geese and 1 print for the sky of the geese.
The 3 squares for the geese are 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" sq. and the for the sky you will
need 12 squares 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" sq. you can also use different lights for the sky
instead of just one print. You will also need 2 prints for the strips along the flying geese.
Out of each of those 2 prints cut 4 strips 1 1/2" x 7" strips. I have mine laid out in the above picture.

To make the flying geese, place two of the 2 7/8" squares on top of the 5 1/4" square.
Stitch 1/4" on either side of the center diagonal line. I have drawn my stitching lines.

After stitching your lines, cut down the center diagonally. Press sky away from the geese.

Place a 2 7/8" square in the corner of your piece after pressing. Draw your stitching lines as before, stitch and cut down the center of the two stitched lines. Press sky away
from geese.

Trim your geese. 2 1/2" x 4 1/2". Finish all geese in this manner.

Lay out your 3 different geese in the order you want them and stitch, making 4 different
units. Press your seams.

Layout your units as in the block as shown above.

Place your strips as above and sew each unit.

Now layout as in the block and sew your units together.

Now you have your finished block. Trim to 12 1/2" square.

Have fun!

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Lily Anna Stitches Bitty Banner

August Bitty Banner by Lily Anna Stitches. Kits $16.00.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Underground Railroad Block 10

Now that I'm back from vacation and back in full swing of things it's time for Block 10 of the Underground Railroad Quilt. I know some of you have already finished your quilt, and I love that. It is hard to do blocks of the month when you are anxious to see more. Well congratulations are finishing would love to see your quilts.

Now let's get back to the Railroad.

Block 10 Bow Tie

The Boe Tie Quilt was the seventh quilt displayed on the fence to teach slaves how to escape to freedom. It was a directive for them to dress in a formal manner.

When slaves first escaped, they wore distinguishable garments that eventually became tattered and torn along their journey. Free blacks would often meet them in a safe place as a church, and give them fresh clothing. In "satin bow ties" , runaways wouldn't stand out among city folk.

On the final leg of their journey, slaves could walk through town undetected to ships waiting to take them across the Great Lakes to Canada and freedom.

The triangular quadrants on the Bow Tie block indicate morning, midday, evening, and night. It's also known as Broken Dishes.

This is the block in the book.

You will need (5) 51/2" squares for background

(5) 51/2" squares of 5 different colors

My background will be done in cheddar and will be uses 5 different blues for my colors.

This is my block.

You should have 5(51/2" squares) for background fabric. And 5 different prints for the bow ties.

Put right sides of one background square and one bow tie square. Then draw a line diagonally and stitch 1/4" on either side of the line. In my picture I use a 1/2" ruler and draw my stitching lines, that is why you see 2 lines in my pictures.

After stitching your 2 lines cut down the center.

Press seams towards the darker color.

Then get the 2 haft squares and place right sides together, with opposite prints together. Draw your diagonal line and stitch your 2 lines.

After stitching cut down the center.

Press seams to one side. Now you have your Bow Tie. Repeat these steps with the other 4 bow tie prints.

You will have 10 Bow Ties, you will only need 9 to make your square. Lay out your Bow Ties as shown in the picture. Then sew your 9 patch square together.

This is your square. Square to 12 1/2" x 12 1/2".

Have fun, until next month.

Carol

Friday, May 8, 2015

Underground Railroad Block 9

Underground Railroad Block 9

Shoo-Fly

The shoofly represents an actual person who might have helped escaping slaves. His responsibility was to secretly aid and harbor fugitives. Sometimes the slaves hid out in churches, or caves referred to as cathedrals.

Graveyards were frequently the hiding place, especially if they were located on the outskirts of town, or were close to rivers. They may have secretly hid behind gravestones, waiting for a signal from a lantern across town.

The song Steal Away is a directive to run away to freedom.

This block contains 2 colors.

This is the one in the book.

And this is mine.

My 2 colors.

Cutting:

You will need 2 (6" squares) from each color.
And 1 (2 1/2" strip) from each color.
Sub cut strips int 10 (2 1/2" squares) from each color.

Take 1 (6" square) of each color and place right sides together. Than draw diagonal lines on the wrong side of the square. As pictured above. Stitch 1/4" on either side of these lines.

Now cut on the diagonal lines and also cut a vertical and horizontal line.

You will end up with 16 squares.

Using your half triangle squares and your 2 1/2" squares lay out to make your "shoo-fly".

Now you have your Shoo- Fly Block.
I enjoyed making this block, hope you do to.