Welcome!

Ninigret Quilters is an organization for quilters of all abilities in the Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut area. We meet on the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm at the Westerly Senior Center, 39 State Street, Westerly, Rhode Island (Google Maps) to share our common passion of quilting. Guests and new members are always welcome!




Sunday, February 19, 2017

February 14, 2017

February 14th Meeting

Program

 Jan Doyle presented Quilts and the Underground Railroad, Fact or Fiction?

 Jan was a classroom teacher for 35 years and got fascinated by the 
use of quilts as signals along the route of the Underground Railroad.
Jan says "She loves this story and wants it to be true".

Several quilt patterns have various names. This churn dash block is also called The Monkey Wrench pattern. The blacksmith was a very important position on the plantation, he was also called 'The Monkey Wrench Man'. This quilt taught that if you heard the blacksmith pounding his monkey wrench on the anvil it was a warning that it wasn't safe to approach.

 The Dresden Plate pattern is also referred to as the Wagon Wheel pattern. Slaves could
hide in various ways in the wagons of friendly visitors. They could hide below the bed of the
wagon, in the cargo or by sitting on the bench beside the driver, their faces hidden within a bonnet.

 The Bear Claw pattern is also referred to as the Ducks Foot in Mud, Hands of Friendship,
Maple Leaf or Pennsylvania Friends block. This quilt would denote a friendly
house for escaping slaves.

 This Jacobs Ladder could be hung to indicate the correct direction
to continue on the path to freedom.

 Jan told a story of a young girl named Lucy. For this Storytelling, Jan became
'Auntie Jan'. Lucy was a slave, born on a plantation, she had a lame leg. Her brother
was the blacksmith. He asked Lucy to escape with him, but she was worried that
her lame leg would impede the escape. Lucy stayed behind and taught the other
slaves the meaning of the various quilt blocks. This scrap of fabric with a gold star
was a signal from her brother that he had safely escaped to Canada.

 Slaves would escape in sailboats with friendly traders.
Jan was an energetic speaker and we had a great time with her.
Thanks Jan!

Raffle Quilt



 Detail of our Raffle Quilt. 
Tickets are available and the drawing will be held October 15, 2017.

Valentine Swap

 Tina organized a Valentine's Day gift swap for our members. 
It was enjoyed by all. 


As a part of our ongoing Quilt Show Preparation, Pat H 
is answering questions in our 'Ask the Judge' segment.
For the first installment, Pat did a mock judging on an
anonymous quilt and showed what would be involved. 


Emily K is coordinating a 3 month quilt block swap
featuring the Pennsylvania Quilt Block.
Participants are asked to bring in 12 blocks per month for 3 consecutive months.
Directions can be found at this link

Outreach
Tora presented the current Outreach quilts. We have two families, one 
with a mom and 4 daughters; the other with a mom with one daughter.




Makers Space at the Westerly Library
 Ellie C is coordinating a Makers Space teaching basic quilting at the Westerly Library for 3 consecutive saturdays in April. The students will be making this pinwheel hanging. Ellie is
asking for volunteers to help out.

Show & Tell
 Four ladies exhibited the Circle Style zip pouches they made at the 
workshop on February 4th with our own Kindred Quilters. 

 Kathy showed her Narragansett Blues twin size 
quilt she started at the Bonnie Hunter Workshop.

 Jane L finished the Mystery Quilt she began at a Get Away Weekend about 10 years ago.

 Jane L also displayed a quilt she completed from a
2009 American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine. 
The quilt is 94 x 102 and is called Rhythm & Blues.

 Laurel purchased a panel while in Maine and did the machine quilting herself.

 Fran W completed this Pineapple Blossom quilt that 
she began at the Bonnie Hunter workshop.

 Fran found this panel at Johnnycake in Westerly. 
This forms the backing for her Pineapple Quilt.


Ellie C had fun making this hanging using the 
circle ruler she purchased from Linda Warren last month.

 Nancy B hand appliqued and hand quilted 
this piece based on Matisse' View of Collioure.

 Margaret S finished her Burgoyne Surrounded begun at a retreat last spring.

 Roberta B made a paper pieced valentine to display in her office for February.

 Roberta also made a Snowman quilt for her winter office display.

Molly O finished her Twisting Hearts Valentines hangings. 
This pattern is from Connie Kresin Campbell

Thank you!
Keep on Quilting!!