Patty Winkler
Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
Houston, TX
email address: pwinkler@houstonisd.org
All rights reserved. Any use of these materials is prohibited without the expressed written permission of the author.
This lesson can be taught at any grade level but is recommended for middle or high school. It is meant to be a fun lesson to generate interest in geometrical patterns and the world around us.
squares of paper or cloth for Hawaiian quilts (see procedures for details) quad rule graph paper colored pencils, markers or crayons resource materials listed below
Quilting is a wonderful pastime which has lost its luster and interest in todayºs generations. Quilting has many wonderful traditions which can be explored in may different ways. I have outlined some ideas below and included just a few of the cultural resources I have found. Try to find a guest speaker to discuss quilting and some of the new and old patterns.
Hawaiian quilting differs from that which evolved in other parts of the world. Its unique method of design leaves a striking impression on anyone who has the opportunity to view a finished product. The actual emergence of this style of quilting is pure speculation, as to date, no information has been found to substantiate any one theory. A set of instructions and steps for making a quilt are included with the lesson. Take some time to read the Introduction to gain a better understanding of the emergence of this type of quilting.
After the history has been discussed, have the students create a design of their own by following the steps for folding and creating the design. If square are not available in the suggested 16æ and 20æ size, use 6æ and 8.5æ squares. Once they have created a design in one color from a 6º square have them choose another color to paste it on. Once they have created their quilt block have them fake the echo stitching by lightly demonstrating the technique in pencil throughout their block. Once all blocks are completed by the students, put them together on a bulletin board or tape their backs together to create your own Hawaiian quilt. Have students discuss how they got the design they had and if they were using anything from their life or nature to create the design.
This type of quilting involves cutting pieces of cloth in specific shapes and sizes to create a desired pattern. There are hundreds of patchwork patterns and variations with new ones being developed regularly. I have included the initial page from an Internet site on Amish quilts. The Amish are famous for their quilting techniques. The midwestern Amish do more intricate patchwork designs where the Pennsylvania Amish have very simple patchwork with very intricate and detailed quilting lines. The quilts with the detailed stitching are desired worldwide and can be very expensive.
Students should do some research on patchwork quilting. There are a number of sites on the Internet as well as a numerous magazines and books available on the market. Once they have seen some of the patterns which are already in existence, show them the two that are included here. One is called Kaleidoscope and the other is called Fractal. They can see a very direct relationship to mathematics through these quilts. They are both brand new designs.
The influence of the African textile techniques and practices are evident in the quilts with this distinct style. African style quilting shows two major influences. First is the African preference for strip textiles and strips of cloth developed on hand looms. Second are the religious symbols of their cultures. These both appear in many of the quilts of African-American quilting. Some of the most famous quilt designs include: Lazy Gal; Spider Leg; Twin Sisters; Spider Web; and Wild Goose Chase. Whether consisting of a single piece or many small scraps of cloth, strips are a dominant design element as well as a chief construction technique in both West African textiles and Afro-American quilts. I have included a copy of the article African Symbolism in Afro-American Quilts from African Arts magazine. The reference is included in the reference list at the end of this group of lessons.
Once the students have had a chance to explore patchwork quilting, have them use graph paper to design (in scale) and color their own patchwork quilt. Quad rule graph paper works best here. Have them share these designs either in small groups or by placing them on a bulletin board or empty wall.
The creation of the designs discussed above.
Resource Materials
Growing up in a small, rural, farming community gave me a deep appreciation for the art and craft of quilting. I am not very skillful, unlike my sister and my aunts; however, I do see and understand the geometry involved in designing an appealing quilt. There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of quilt block designs all around the world. Each of them was created by someone who wanted to tell a story, make a point, or stir an emotion. This is an art that is dying and needs to be rekindled in the younger generations.