Crafting with Jessica: Paper Quilt

In I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery, author Cynthia Grady and illustrator Michele Wood use traditional quilt patterns as the inspiration for a powerful collection of poems.

This Black History Month, teach your young readers about different historical quilt patterns and how they are made with this fun paper-cutting craft.

Materials

Scissors
Glue
Quilt block templates (2 copies of each)
Construction paper
Marker or pen (optional)
Poster board or foam board (optional)

Quilt Block Templates

Log Cabin
Cotton Boll
Underground Railroad
Broken Dishes
North Star
Birds in the Air
Tree of Life
Schoolhouse
Anvil
Wagon Wheel
Rail Fence
Kaleidescope
Basket
Traditional Fish

Step 1: Print two copies of each quilt block template and two extra copies of your favorite, to make a total of fifteen quilt blocks. (You can also design your own quilt block on a 4″ x 4″ sheet of paper.)

Step 2: Set aside one copy of each quilt block for the backing, cutting around the outside of each square but leaving the inside intact.

Step 3: Take the second copy of one template and and cut along the lines (inside and out) to create patterns from which to cut the shapes for each quilt block.

Step 4: Lay each shape on a piece of construction paper, trace around it, and cut it out. You can layer or fold the paper to cut out multiple copies of the same shape once to save time. Make sure to use a variety of colors.

Step 5: Glue each construction-paper shape into place on the backing template to make a finished quilt blocks.

Step 6: Repeat steps 4 and 5 until all fifteen quilt blocks are decorated.

Step 7 (optional): After you have all fifteen quilt blocks completed, assemble the paper quilt by gluing the quilt blocks to a poster board, arranging them in a five across/three down rectangle pattern.