Below are Adobe .pdf files of the Block of the Month designs for 2009. Charlotte S. is in charge of these this year. Below, she showed us what the twelve blocks looked like in her quilt.
March, 2010 - Underground Railroad Bow Tie - The Bow 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, the garments they wore became tattered and torn. Free blacks would often meet them in a safe place and give them fresh clothing. In "satin bow ties," runaways wouldn't stand out among city folks. Slaves then could walk through town undetected to ships and across the Great Lakes to Canada and freedom.Click here to download instructions.
January-February, 2010 - The Birds in the Air quilt is symbolic of flight or migration. During the Underground Railroad in the 1840s to 1850s, a clever quilter could indicate a direction for fugitives to travel through the choice of fabric and placement of block. "In a quilt the block in one area were light, creating an arrow pointing North." Click here to download; please note that the background color in the triangles should be more beige than green.
November - Wagons with hidden compartments were one of the primary means of transporting escaping runaways. The quilt was a message to pack provisions for their journey as if they were packing a wagon and pack only supplies essential for survival. Click here to download.
October (no block for September) - Underground RailRoad Flying Geese - 12" finished block - With the appearance of this quilt, slaves learned they were to take their direction, timing and behavior from migrating geese. Since geese fly north in spring, it was also the best time for slaves to escape. Geese have to stop at waterways along their journey in order to rest and eat. Since geese made loud honking noises, it was easy for runaways to follow their flight pattern. Click here to download.
August - Underground Rail Road Sail Boat - 12" finished block - The sail boat is a symbol of safe passage to freedom. Beginning in the 1600s, slaves were imported to New England to work aboard whalers, fishing boats and trading vessels. The knowledge gained by black sailors made them invaluable members of the Underground Railroad. When the Compromise of 1850 allowed slaveholders to retrieve slaves in northern states and free territories, runaways were not safe until they reached Canada. Many depended on ships and ferries to cross icy Lake Erie. Click here to download. (Added 7/26 - sorry it's late!)
July -The Drunkard's Path - 12" finished block. This is the ninth pattern of the secret code. Slaves were to move in a staggering fashion to allude any following slave hunters. They were to even double back occasionally on their tracks to confuse slave catchers who were pursuing them. Click here to download.
June - The Underground Log Cabin -12" finished block. The log cabin block is the fifth quilt in the secret code. It directed runaways to build a log cabin to weather out winter in a "free" area. A log cabin quilt with a black center indicated a "safe" house. Click here to download.
May - The Bear's Paw. The Bear's Paw Quilt was the third quilt used to help prepare slaves for their journey to freedom. Runaways were directed to follow the actual trail of a bear's footprints leading them to food and water. Click here to download. (Thanks to Peggy Cooper for scanning her copy and sending it.)
April - The Basket Block is a symbol of provisions needed for the long journey north. One of the most difficult things faced by escaping slaves was feeding themselves along the journey. Since they had to keep themselves secret, they couldn't walk into most towns and buy food. Click here to download.
March - The Monkey Wrench Quilt was the first quilt displayed as a signal for any slaves who planned to escape. This quilt symbolized the time to collect tools they would need on their journey north to freedom. Click here to download.
February - Jacob's Ladder block with its alternating path of light and dark was used to show direction. Click here to download.
Block of the Month designs for 2010 are presented below. Charlotte S. is continuing in charge of these this year and is picking the patterns from books which may be borrowed from the BBQG Library.
Due for the August 10 BBQG meeting: First pattern for the next twelve months' cycle. Finished block is 12" x 12"; the finished quilt will be 44" x 58" WITHOUT borders. If you are making the entire 12 blocks for yourself, you will need the following fabric:
1 yard red
1 yard each of two blue fabrics
1-1/4 yards each of three yellow fabrics
1 yard of sashing.
If you will add a 6" border later, add 1-1/2 fabric of either red or blue (same as one of the first two listings above).
Due for the June 8 BBQG meeting: Maple Leaf
Due for the May 11 BBQG meeting: Log Cabin Star
Due for the April 13 BBQG meeting: Crossroads to Jerico
(8-1/2" x 8-1/2" finished block)