"Quilt Barn" by dok1 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Quilting is a craft that has become a folk art tradition. It also provides a functional product. When we think of quilts, we usually think of fabric that is sewn together and made into a blanket to keep us warm. However, quilting has also become a form of art.
In 2001, a woman from a farming community in Adams County, Ohio made a memorial to her mother by painting a square in a quilt pattern and hanging it on the side of the family's barn. Several other people in the community did the same thing and it developed into a tourism event in the community. The idea crossed the Ohio River and moved into Kentucky and West Virginia and became a national phenomenon. There are now many Quilt Trails. You can click on the links in the column on the left to find maps to these trails.
Tennessee developed an Appalachian Quilt trail and if you click on the image above you can watch a video of the trail. It is a great way to spend a few minutes with your family, but not have to spend money on the gas for your vehicle! Once you get some inspiration, go to the link that provides graph paper that you can print in the column on the left. Design your own wall quilt for your bedroom door or for a 3-ring binder as you get ready to go back to school!
There are many quilt patterns available and you can see many designs if you look through Google images. Appalachian quilting is a mix of Scottish, Irish, and German folk traditions with local Native American, Amish, and Quaker influences. Patterns from these cultures tend to be geometric. The graph paper will make it easy to replicate this. Talk to your older family members and people that you know that quilt. Dig out crayons and colored pencils and start playing with shapes, color, and patterns to design your quilt. We would love to see your creations so just email them to library@kcu.edu!
Reference links
davesgarden.com/guides/articles/the-national-quilt-museum-and-appalachian-quilt-trail
