Our last Family Day, in November, highlighted the book “Show Way” by Jacqueline Woodson. “Show Way” tells the story of mothers who make special quilts that help guide their families and keep them safe.
People make quilts by stitching together pieces of fabric. Many artists create a design using shapes in each quilt square. They then sew those squares together.
Quilts are often passed down through families and communities. They remind us of our past and bring people together to share skills, stories and love. Some artists use quilts to tell stories, just like in “Show Way,” that can include hidden messages or symbols. Take a look at these two quilts from our collection.
If you designed a quilt, what story would you want to tell? Which symbols would you use?
Now it’s your turn to make your own story quilt.
You will need the following supplies:
- construction paper, cut into squares
- colored pencils, crayons or markers
- hole punch
- yarn
- scissors
DIRECTIONS:
- Think of a story. Start by thinking of a story you want to tell. It could be about something special in your life, a family memory or a favorite place.
- Fold the paper. Fold the construction paper in half. Then fold it in half again. This will make four equal squares.
- Cut the quilt squares. Use scissors to cut along the folds so you have four small squares. Each square will be a part of your story quilt.
- Draw your pictures. Draw a picture for each part of your story on a different square using colored pencils, crayons or markers.
- Punch holes. Lay out your story quilt. Try different arrangements. Use a hole punch in the corners of your squares where they meet. This will let you tie them together. You can also make several holes along the sides of each square to practice “stitching” and create a pattern with your yarn.
- Tie with yarn. Cut pieces of yarn and use them to tie the squares together through the holes, connecting them to make a quilt shape.
- Share your quilt. Show your story quilt to family or friends and tell them about each square.
