A little part of our sweeping American history has come to life for Zion Lutheran Fifth and Eighth Grade students.  As part of their history curriculum, the students embarked on an adventure in learning that began with a visit from Betty Hall, a retired Fallbrook High School teacher and member of the Fallbrook Quilters’ Guild and ended with the students learning an authentic early American skill, quilting. 

Ms. Hall brought three cases full of lovely hand-made quilts dating from the 1930s to the present for the students to examine and she talked about the various techniques used in their construction and the history of American quilting.  She told the students that quilts were used in a variety of ways by the early Americans.  Quilts were not only employed as bedding, but were also used as window coverings, bench padding, as a means of safely packing valuables for travel and even to cover caskets. 

This history lesson became a hands-on experience as the Fifth and Eighth grade classes learned some basic sewing skills and pieced together log cabin and nine-patch pattern quilt blocks.  Zion school parents, church members and community members all pitched in to help the students.  Two home-schooled students also joined in the fun as they shared their sewing expertise with Zion students.

Each Fifth Grade student sewed an individual log cabin block, each of which was used to create a larger pattern as the quilt was put together.  Volunteers sewed the blocks together and bound the finished quilt.  A group of students then hand-tied the quilt, using a method employed by the American colonists.

The Eighth grade quilt was constructed of nine-patch pattern squares which the older students machine stitched together with the help of adult volunteers.  Zion Eighth grade student Cierra Soufflis sewed the completed blocks together and Zion Art teacher Anny Ashbrook, together with her mother Phyllis Brown, completed the project and applied the quilt binding.  A group of Eighth grade students hand-tied the finished quilt.

On April 11, the two quilts were auctioned off at Zion Lutheran School’s Annual Golf Tournament and the funds raised will be used by the technology department for new equipment.  All the students involved found this adventure in American History rewarding and they enjoyed learning a new skill – quilting.  Both students and Zion staff members extend their thanks to the many volunteers who helped with this undertaking, through patient teaching, donations and generously giving their time.

FABRIC–donated...THREAD–four dollars...BATTING–20 dollars...

Learning to sew–PRICELESS!

Black History Month Artwork

Recent artwork from Black History Month