Today we’re continuing on with the Stronger Together Quilt Along! It’s part of our first ever quilt and stitch along for Black History Month, to bring our creative community together to support a worthy cause and to highlight the achievements and contributions of several African American women in the fiber arts. This week, we sewed the gingham center of the quilt, a patchwork of blocks.
Through February 28, 2021, 100% of the proceeds from the sales of Stronger Together Quilt Patterns and Stronger Together Cross Stitch Patterns will go to United Negro College Fund (UNCF). The mission of UNCF is to increase the total number of African American college students and helping them persist to graduation. They do this through awarding scholarships, providing financial support to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and advocating for the importance of minority education and community engagement.
About the Quilt
We started with the inspiration of Harriet Tubman for her courage, persistence, strength, endurance and wisdom. Tubman was guided by her moral compass to do the right thing and guided physically by the North Star that led her and the slaves she rescued to freedom multiple times. No matter the obstacles, risks and handicaps, she persevered.
Our quilt is made in Speckled by Rashida Coleman-Hale of Ruby Star Society. We have a limited supply of quilt kits (Update: More quilt kits will be available in late February. This is unfortunate but not uncommon given the current disruptions in worldwide shipments).
Rosie Lee Tompkins
The third part of the quilt pattern features an artist and quiltmaker called “one of the great American artists,” by the New York Times. Rosie Lee Tompkins (1936-2006) is the pseudonym of Effie Mae Martin Howard. She created a large number of personally significant art, using a variety of fabrics including velvet, denim, faux fur, distressed t-shirts, beaded fabric, and more to achieve texture and luster in her quilts. The Berkeley Art Museum houses more than 500 works by Tompkins. They have a wealth of resources on her work including a slideshow, virtual tour, a family guide of hand-on activities for children (we’re looking at you, homeschoolers!). Learn more about Rosie Lee Tompkins.
Rosie Lee Tompkins quilt from BAMFA Retrospective.
From Rocor on Flickr.
Three Sixes, 1996. By Rosie Lee Tompkins.
We invited some friends to stitch along with us and they’re sharing their progress along the way! You can follow them on social media for inspiration and tips along the way!
Join Us
EVERYONE can sew along! To join in, all you have to do is purchase a pattern and gather your supplies. We love seeing your progress on Instagram! If you’re sewing along please share with #FQSStrongerTogether. If you’d like to make the cross stitch design, check out the stitch along page! We’ll see you next Tuesday, February 23 for Week 4.
Stay connected to FQS!
