Monday, July 15

History and lessons offered on Underground Railroad signal quilts

[JULY 15, 2002]  Because of a recent surge of interest in Underground Railroad signal quilts, an exhibit of replicated quilts will be displayed in the rotunda of the Logan County Courthouse during Lincoln’s sesquicentennial celebration Aug. 21-31, 2003. Lessons on making these historic quilts will be offered monthly through next April.

 The history of the signal quilts dates to the days of slavery, in the low country of South Carolina. There, some blacks who were planning to escape their bondage were taught an intricate code of signals that would help them successfully complete their journey north to freedom.

The signals were pieced into colorful quilts that were displayed on the plantations prior to the trip as mnemonic devices, or reminders, of what they had learned, to increase their chances of success. Because quilts were such a common household item, they aroused no suspicion. The signals were "hidden in plain view."

The quilt code remained a highly guarded secret, passed down through oral tradition only to those deemed trustworthy. As time passed, fewer and fewer people remembered the code, and some of those who learned it considered it no longer important.

The late Ozella Williams of Charleston, S.C., was one of the people who learned the code from her grandmother and mother. Childless, Williams tried to share the code with a niece, who found no value in it. In her old age, seeking to complete her obligation to pass the code on, Williams shared the information with Denver writer Jacqueline Tobin.

 

Tobin teamed with quilter and historian Raymond Dobard to produce a book, "Hidden in Plain View," which became an overnight sensation in the quilting world. The book is available at Lincoln Public Library.

Sue Bidwell of Sew Many Friends quilt shop, 127 S. Kickapoo St., will give a series of lessons on preparing signal quilt blocks. All lessons will be presented from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Sew Many Friends. The shop is handicapped-accessible.

The lessons are for people who would like to learn about and make the signal quilt blocks, either to make into a quilt for the display or for their own pleasure. Quilters will retain ownership of the blocks they make.

Beginning quilters, as well as those with experience, are encouraged to participate in both the quilting workshops and the show. One class will be given for each of the 10 primary signal blocks listed in "Hidden in Plain View." Because of limited space, each class will be limited to 15 participants, who must preregister.

 

 

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The fee for each class is $5, which includes a free pattern and hands-on instructions. Each person who completes the class will receive a $5 gift certificate good for fabric from Sew Many Friends.

• Participants have the following choices: Buy a pre-cut quilt block kit at a cost of $5; or bring pre-washed and ironed fabric and cut the block pieces at the workshop. Those who plan to cut their own fabric should also bring a plastic ruler, rotary cutter and mat. Information on the shades and amount of fabric needed will be available when you register.

• Bring your own sewing machine, or bring a quilting needle and thimble and sew by hand.

• Each participant also should bring his or her own choice of thread, scissors, a ripper and a gallon-sized reclosable bag for storing the quilt pattern and pieces.

The quilt blocks will be completed in order of ease of sewing, rather than the order of the code. The first session, on July 14, was on the Bow Tie pattern. Other lessons have been scheduled as follows:

• Crossroads, Aug. 17; reservation deadline Aug. 10.

• Log Cabin, Sept. 15; reservation deadline Sept. 7.

• Bear’s Paw, Oct. 12, reservation deadline, Oct. 5.

• Flying Geese, Nov. 10, reservation deadline Nov. 2.

• Monkey Wrench, Dec. 14, reservation deadline Dec. 7.

• Drunkard’s Path, Jan. 12, reservation deadline Jan. 4.

• Double Wedding Ring, Feb. 15, reservation deadline Feb. 8.

• Wagon Wheel, March 16, reservation deadline March 8.

• The April 19 class will provide tips for setting the blocks together into a quilt top. Students will be responsible for quilting or tying their own quilts or having them quilted or tied.

[Thressia Usherwood,
Lincoln sesquicentennial publicity chairman]

 

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