Quilting has been a centuries-long tradition in our community. The intricate woven works are crafted with intense care, telling beautiful stories in each pattern, often to commemorate marriages or births. And they might’ve been crucial to saving lives, too.
Some believe the vibrant quilts also hung from clotheslines or sat on the windowsill of safe houses along the Underground Railroad. By reading the sewn shapes and motifs, enslaved people knew if they were in danger and where to head next.
These coded textiles featured hidden symbols like Bow Ties, which cautioned to dress in disguise to appear of a higher status. Log Cabin patterns meant it was safe to seek shelter there, and Bear Paws signaled enslaved folks to follow an animal trail through the mountains to find food and water.
While some historians have said there’s no evidence of quilts being used this way, others believe that – like much of our history – documentation wasn’t always possible so we passed down traditions orally through storytelling.
Quilting is a beautiful tradition that has long inspired our liberation. This admirable pastime is a reminder that we all have unique talents and skills to contribute to the movement.