A community quilt

"Did you say sew?" That is usually the first question asked when I introduce my community-quilt project to my high-school crafts classes.

The apprehension about their sewing ability is alleviated once I explain that sewing is one small step in the process. They will be exploring color theory, textile design and linoleum-block printing before they have to be concerned with sewing, and then I will give individual sewing instruction.

We begin our journey by discussing the role quilts have played throughout history. We talk about the Underground Railroad and the use of quilts to guide its travelers. We discuss Colonial quilting bees as a way of lightening the workload and providing social events for women. We look at quilts as family heirlooms that are handed down lovingly from generation to generation. We examine, analyze, and interpret prints of some of Faith Ringgold's storytelling quilts. And, of course, we share personal experiences of quilts as means of providing comfort and warmth.

Once we understand the roles quilts play in history, we begin to look at them as designs--as pieces put together to make a whole. We discuss color, pattern, rhythm and shape, and their importance in creating designs. The first class involved in this project decided to make a patchwork quilt. Each student designed his or her 2-inch square and used linoleum-block printing technique to print a repeated design on 9" x 9" squares of unbleached muslin. When I showed the quilt to subsequent classes, they were excited about creating their own squares and joining them to the quilt. We started with radial designs, but students revised these to suit their individual styles and used various color schemes to give the quill a colorful crazy-quilt flavor.

Each student begins by drawing several 2" x 2" thumbnail sketches. Once they have their ideas on paper, students meet in small groups to look at each other's ideas and help choose the best one to transfer to his or her linoleum block. This peer critiquing method helps students to see some of the other designs that will be incorporated into the quilt. Students are now ready to carve their designs into their linoleum blocks and make their test prints on paper. The test-print process gives students the opportunity to try different color combinations and decide what will work for them. Finally, students measure a 1/2-inch border around their squares of unbleached muslin, measure off 2-inch squares within the 8-inch square and begin to print their designs on the muslin.

Because students work at different paces, I gather them for small-group instruction, as they are ready for each component of the project. For example, when there is a group ready to print, we gather at a table and I demonstrate the technique, enabling me to check for understanding and answer individual questions. Talking as I demonstrate appeals to aural and visual learners. Talking students through the process as they work appeals to tactile learners and alleviates the fears of reluctant quilters. We have noted that the room becomes very quiet when everyone is quilting!

To piece the quilt, students meet in small quilting groups. Two or three students sit together to piece their squares, with more students joining them until they have the required number of squares for a row. Volunteer quilters form groups to piece the rows onto the growing quilt. Everyone signs his/her square before piecing. We have enlisted the help of the Applied Education classes who will build a frame for the quilt.

The quilt was initially hung in our school's main stairwell. Then, in March 2004, the quilt was exhibited in the town library as part of Naugatuck's celebration of Youth Art Month. In May, the quilt was hung permanently in the conference room at the Naugatuck Board of Education building.

MATERIALS

* Pencils (graphite and colored)

* White paper (6" x 9")

* Rulers

* Linoleum blocks and cutters

* Bench hooks

* Block-printing ink and brayers

* Burnishing tools

* Unbleached muslin, batting and thread

* Sewing needles and scissors

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will ...

* explore historical roles of quilts; examine samples of quilts (prints).

* create several (radial) designs on 6" x 9" paper in 2-inch blocks.

* critique designs in small groups for the purpose of choosing one.

* use knowledge of linoleum block printing technique to create linoleum blocks.

* create several test prints and make adjustments to linoleum blocks.

* measure unbleached muslin squares into 2" x 2" blocks with a 1/2-inch border and print their quilt squares.

* baste and quilt individual squares.

* sew squares together and attach rows to the quilt in the colonial quilting-bee style.

Rose-Ann C. Chrzanowski teaches art Naugatuck High School in Naugatuck, Connecticut.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Publishers' Development Corporation
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group