Do you believe that escaping slaves, during the Civil War [in the United States], often used quilts and their symbols as guides to freedom? 

Are you on side of the story that maintains there isn’t enough evidence, only folklore, to justify this theory? 

Or are you trying to figure out just where you stand?

Much discussion has evolved and a number of books written about this topic, from various viewpoints.  Justifiably, the slaves made quilts during the early to mid-1800s for their owners and themselves.  Did they incorporate secret codes or symbols into the quilts and their patterns to guide fellow escaping slaves a path to freedom?

Although the experts can’t agree, quilter Barbara Reeves Hart presents programs on the topic.  Learn about one she’ll be giving on Feb. 2, Quilts preserve a part of history telling story of Underground Railroad.  She finds that people are fascinated by this topic.

From the nearby woods, a runaway slave looks with hope at the colorful quilts spread out on the plantation’s clothesline. Did those displayed quilts give him a message, show him the way to freedom?   (From the newspaper article above by Fran Fralow in the Gaston Gazette.)

The book, Hidden  Plain View, A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad, by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard, popularized the idea of the codes found in quilts of this era. 

The secret code used by Ozella [McDaniel Williams'] ancestors to assist fellow enslaved blacks in their escape to freedom became the subject of Hidden in Plain View.

Numerous novels, including Jennifer Chiaverini’s The Runaway Quilt, along with children’s books tell this tale and captivate readers.  Songs also have evolved around this theme of secret codes in quilts

Some researchers claim there is no valid evidence, only folklore, to support the theory, so they are dubious.

Where do you stand on “The Underground Quilt Controversy?”

Related Posts: 

The Runaway Quilt (An Underground Railroad Novel)

Hidden in Plain View – A Favorite Quilt Book

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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The Underground Quilt Controversy

If you don’t want to miss any of Jennifer Chiaverini’s Elm Creek Quilter’s novels, check out the latest...The New Year’s Quilt.  I haven’t read it yet, but it’s on my “must read” list.   It’s also on my Christmas list!

Another novel, The Winding Ways Quilt, has not yet been released.  Although in some stores you can pre-order it.

What is your favorite Elm Creek Quilts novel?  I find it’s so difficult to choose just one. 

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Jennifer Chiaverini’s New Elm Creek Quilting Novels

 You won’t want to miss the September, October and November issues of Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine.  Jennifer Chiaverini’s three-part serial, The Fabric Diary, is published here exclusively.

Jennifer introduces a new character, Adele Crosier, who also will appear her new novel, The New Year’s Quilt, due out in November.  According to Jennifer, Adele “buys a Manhattan bed-and-breakfast  and inherits the mysteries of an antique quilt and an extraordinary journal discovered within.” 

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Jennifer Chiaverini’s Latest Quilting News & Book

Some of the places where I’ve found Christmas fabrics and ideas for quilters and fabric artists:

The Christmas Cloth Store handles solely Christmas and holiday related fabrics.  They carry a wide variety of items for your Chrismas sewing and quiltmaking.

Free Christmas Quilt & Block Patterns from Bella Online presented by Kim Noblin.

Christmas Quilts & Accessories at Quilts.About.com presented by Janet Wickell.

Snowy River Quilts has some interesting Christmas fabrics in their store, including “Countdown To Christmas” and “Christmas Past.”

There also are delightful books about quilting and Christmas:

The Christmas Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini , one of my favorite quilting fiction writers, comes to mind.  It’s a story from her Elm Creek Quilters series.

The Christmas Memory Quilt, written by Kimberly Webb and illustrated by Jennifer Gaskin, will be released soon…a story for children about quilting and Christmas and memories.

If you have favorite places to shop for your Christmas supplies and patterns, let me know and I’ll post it here.  Do you have any special Christmas in July projects you’re making? 

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Quilters Think Christmas Thoughts in July

If you recall, in a previous novel, Sylvia wonders why they never heard from Elizabeth after she married Henry and moved to California.  Then in another novel there was a slight reference to Elizabeth and a letter she wrote.

Now we learn Elizabeth’s fascinating story, woven into the history of that area during the 1920s and 30s.  Quilts play a role in this book, of course…quilts Elizabeth brought with her and those she found, repaired, and made in California.

(At the above link, you can see a video of The Quilter’s Homecoming and read Chapter 1)

I’d love to hear what you think of this book in the Elm Creek Quilts series. 

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The Quilter’s Homecoming – The New Elm Creek Quilt Book

Some of them center around a theme, era, event, region or country.  Others simply are fabrics that strike the manufacturer or designer’s fancy.  Also, quilt artists, once they become well-known, often design fabrics for a manufacturer. You’ll also find fabrics designed by quilter/authors, such as Jennifer Chiaverini (www.elmcreek.net ), who writes the Elm Creek Quilters novels. She designs for Red Rooster Fabrics.

Reading the current newsletter and looking around the Fat Quarter Quilters web site (www.fatquarterquilters.com ), gave me a glimpse of a variety of fabrics from various lines with interesting themes for projects.  Some mentioned in the newsletter, with pictures on the site include: Star Struck from Buggy Barn, Blackbird Village Quilts designed by Kathy Schmitz, and All Quiet on the Potomic by Brackman & Thompson.  The latter have a Civil War theme.

Do you have favorite quilt designers or manufacturers for your quilt and fabric art projects?

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So Many Kinds of Quilting Fabrics

Jennifer Chiaverinni skillfully weaves the story of these different quilters into the novel, giving us insight into the various ways quilting can be approached.  This also gives a view of the many types of quilting and designs that have evolved in the fabric art world.

Just looking at my daughter’s quilt group or quilters I know, each one eventually develops their own style, likes and dislikes.  Even Beth’s and mine have changed since we first began making quilts.

We both began with traditional designs and larger quilts.  Beth now is doing art quilting, more hangings than bed quilts.  She also likes to dye fabric and work with those.

I once made large bed quilts and some clothing for customers through my home business.  These were mainly traditional designs.  However, my lifestyle has changed, with more traveling, so I’m always looking for small projects I can work on while I’m on a plane, in a car, waiting in an airport, or staying at a hotel. 

What is your quilting style…likes and dislikes?  What do you see as your place in the quilting world?

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A Variety of Quilters