3 rd grade Quilts of Gee’s Bend

What is a quilt?

• A quilt is two pieces of cloth stitched together with an inner padding of wool or cotton. The three layers are held together by stiched seams.

• Quilts were first made in Egypt, Europe, India, and China.

What are quilts for?

Quilts have been used as bedcovers, tents, and wrappings. They have also been hung on walls as works of art.

QuiltMaking as a Tradition

The tradition of quilt in Gee’s Bend is passed down from grand-mothers to mothers to daughters.

A tradition means the handing down of beliefs, customs, or information through generations through word of mouth or example.

What is Gee’s Bend?

Gee’s Bend is a small rural area in Alabama near a bend in the Alabama River.

The first quilts created here were made my female African slaves who stiched strips of cloth together for bed coverings.

Influenced by African textiles

Can Quilts Have Meaning?

Quilts can have symbolic and personal meaning.

In Gee’s Bend the quilt symbolized practicality and survival. They connected home and ancestors. Quilts were sometimes made of a family members left behind clothing.

Freedom Quilting Bee

Although these quilts have been made since before the Civil War, they did not get recognition until 1966 when the Freedom Quilting Bee was started by 60 quiltmakers in a local church.

Make your own Gee’s Bend Quilt

Making a class quilt...

Cut and glue the geometric paper pieces to the background paper to create a design, but do not overlap strips.

What is Balance? Pattern? Contrast? Show them!

It is ALL about Placement!