Sutter Portner 3/18/14 Math 7th grade Period 1 Quilting

Quilting and Geometry

History Of Quilting

Sutter Portner 3/18/14 Math 7th grade Period 1 Quilting

Did you know that 16.38 million people are quilters? Quilting originated in the century and continues today. For years, people have been quilting fine patterns and intricate designs. Some quilting styles have been popular at different periods of time throughout history. Originally, Europeans were thought to have discovered quilting, but English and Dutch settlers in North America really made quilting take off. Quilting was done from the time slaves came to America to the Civil War era and to the Victorian era. Quilting is still done today. Quilts have always been beautiful to look at, but were quilts only made for decoration? And, what about all of the geometrical shapes on quilts, do those have any meaning to them? In 1790, there were 694,000 slaves in 16 states across the United States. Quilting at that time was a big part of history. Quilting helped slaves in many ways. Not only did slaves add poems about anti-slavery to their quilts, they also sewed secret codes on the quilts. These quilts became known as Underground Railroad Quilts. Because most slaves were illiterate, escaping was very difficult. The geometrical shapes on the Underground Railroad Quilts were very important because they allowed slaves to write messages on them. The shapes helped the slaves memorize directions and activities they may have needed to escape. The shape styles and colors of the quilts were hidden messages called Quilt Codes. The codes were made up of geometric patterns and all types of shapes, like an 8 pointed star or diamonds. Quilts were not only made during slavery, but also during the Civil War. Women were very active making quilts to raise money for the troops. The quilts we auctioned off or raffled at fairs. Craft Bazaars were another way to sell the quilts. Album Quilts and Flag Quilts were styles of quilts that were popular at this time. Some had floral designs made from cut out fabric. The quilts made at this time that wee sold to make money for the troops were called Gunboat Quilts. The reason was because the money raised by selling the quilts was used to purchase gunboats which were boats whose only purpose was to transport guns to soldiers. The geometrical shapes, unlike the ones on the Underground Railroad Quilts were just for appearances. Crazy Quilts were popular in the mid 1800s. Women sewed assymetrical pieces of fabric together in abstract arrangements. The quilts were usually made using velvet, silk or brocade fabric. This type of style originated in France and made a big hit in America. The fun quilts gave women a chance to show off their needlework. Crazy Quilts were originally made by wealthy women because they 12th

had the time to make them and the money to spend on fine fabrics, but eventually, even those without much money were able to make them. In conclusion, quilts were not only pieces of fabric that looked pretty, but they changed history and had a huge impact on our lives today. Quilting helped slaves, soldiers, and gave women a way to express themselves creatively. Quilts helped women express their feelings and get the word out about slavery. They also helped people in the Underground Railroad and helped soldiers buy Gunboats from the money raised. Quilting also created an exciting fad across America because of the use of geometrical shaped fabrics sewn onto Crazy Quilts. People might not think quilts are important, but they had a huge impact on life today.

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