Ararat versus Giddap Political Debate

Did you know that quilter's expressed their political viewpoints through their quilts?  I thought I would share with you the story behind two political quilt blocks.  
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In 1931, Evaline Foland designed this elephant quilt block, named for an elephant in the Swope Park zoo in Kansas City.  About a week after the pattern was published by the Kansas City Star, the ladies of the Congregational Church made a GOP elephant out of him.   

Many of the Stars readers demanded equal representation. The Star responded with Giddap, a Very Democratic Donkey a pattern that remained very popular throughout the Depression and Franklin D. Roosevelt years.

I decided to make my own historic "political quilt" using a number of political blocks.  I redrafted the blocks in EQ (cutting down the number of pieces along with the size of the blocks).

See how I did this in my free Electric Quilt video tutorial.

Here were my "political" blocks.

Giddap block by Eveline Foland, redesigned by Kari Schell. Click on link for rotary cutting and piecing diagram.

Ararat block by Eveline Foland, redesigned by Kari Schell, Click on link for rotary cutting and piecing diagram.

Redesign of Clay's Compromise (original block by Finley from Block Base).

Clay's Compromise by Nancy Cabot from Block Base

Clay's Choice by Finley from Block Base

The last two blocks represented the policies of Henry Clay a candidate for President from the Whig party. 

And the quilt made from the blocks.

Political Debate made by Kari Schell in 2010.

Or how about turning the elephant block into a non-political inspirational banner?

Dream by Kari Schell, designed in EQ8

September Apply What You Learned Challenge

Tech Know Quilter's members were encouraged to submit designs to showcase what they worked on during the month of September.  Here are their amazing results.

Holly Wilson created her own hexagon quilt from the Hexagon Blocks and Borders class.

Hexa Gone Modern Quilt. Diane Coble usually makes traditional quilts. However she decided to try doing something more "modern". She was a part of the Hexagon blocks and settings class. It was great fun!

Leanne Neilson I've been doing Introduction to Poly Draw this month. My challenge was to redesign a pattern I purchased to reduce the number of fabrics used down from 18 to 9. Great lessons Kari Schell, I'm learning so much.

Laura Sapko I took the Lessons in PolyDraw and Hexagons to the next level (for me). I made one huge block that keeps expanding or growing on itself without the use of repeating hexagons. But there are sections that can be pieced or EPP'd in units.

Laura Sapko When you start ignoring housework and everything else.

Janet Kirby This was out of my comfort zone to actually place a hexagon in a usable quilt pattern. I learned how to better work with hexagons and to draw them easier.

Linda Carlson This is my September Challenge quilt created in the Kaleidoscope unit based on a Log Cabin with Flying Geese block that was manipulated in Serendipity, then rotated as a Fancy Star.

Julie Pedersen I used some of the hexagon blocks that we created earlier and expanded it. I used what I learned to add the filler pieces on the sides.

Julie Pedersen Colorway 2

Julie Pedersen Challenge Quilt 3

Debbie Wheadon Hexagon Blocks and Settings class was a real brain strain for me, particularly the 12 challenge blocks. I was lost until lesson 13 then a light bulb moment came along. Name of this quilt is Hex-About

Kristy S. The Hexagon class helped me with this gear quilt I had been contemplating.

Linda Carlson I also finished the Mix & Match Medallion Centers class in September and this quilt used the Modern Medallion. I incorporated a Clip & Flip rendition and also played with the Thread Tools. The lime green border was part of this lesson, while the 4 part Flying Geese border was created in Auto Borders. My choice of fabrics include both solids & prints.

Adrienne Quinlan I took the Hexi class in September and the main thing I learned was to use centre of the circle block to create the shape I wanted and then to use the snapping options to help in reshaping

Sharon Osborne

Ruth James

Madeline Brown Happy Halloween! Used some of our blocks from medallions and some new ones from EQ library. Its actually on point with black background. Understanding spacers in the borders (YEH!) and rotated the border block to create a secondary design. Lots of fun Halloween fabrics out there!

Laura Sapko - Hexagon quilt colored using the new Ki-Koo Garden fabric of the month

Would you like to join these amazing designers.  Sign up here to be placed on the wait list for the next Tech Know Quilter open enrollment period.  

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Individual Class Opportunities

If you aren't ready for the Tech Know Quilter's membership program, you may purchase individual classes.   Current offering include:

Purchase

This class will allow you to explore drafting complex pieced hexagon blocks such as Seven Sisters, Jack’s Chain, Honeycomb, along with a variety of English Paper piecing friendly blocks. Since none of these blocks are square or rectangular, you will be using PolyDraw and Applique tools to create each of the blocks. 

​We will also be creating a number of different settings for the blocks – all designed using custom set.

​Price: $50

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Just Getting Started with EQ8?

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Shoot for the Stars is designed to get you started with Electric Quilt 8 through training delivered straight to your inbox.

On Sale for $25.

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Happy quilting.

​Kari

​Sign up for my newsletter to stay current on what's happening in my studio and learn more quilting tips.  As a thank you, I'll send you a FREE pattern for this small maple leaf quilt