Quilt Festival Blog
A Journey Through Quilting History
Author: Y. Bilan-Wallace
Part Three
A Mosaic of People and Beliefs in Quilt Blocks
By choice or by force, the migration of people to North America has left a rich legacy of quilt patterns that blend old-world traditions with new-world influences. Quilts are more than just practical textiles—they serve as records of beliefs, hopes, and struggles. This next chapter explores how quilt patterns, particularly those with African and Masonic symbolism, played a role in the lives of enslaved and marginalized communities, including those seeking freedom in Canada.
An aerial view of a ten-foot-long section of the newly discovered mosaic (Andrew Chopping / Museum of London Archaeology) (Link to photo)
Hidden Messages in Quilt Patterns
Symbols from secret African societies and Masonic emblems can be found in many North American quilt patterns. Designs such as the nine-patch, hourglass, and five-pointed star are common in both traditions. The diamond or cross motif, representing the four stages of the soul—birth, life, death, and rebirth—can also be traced to African spiritual beliefs.
Patterns like the pinwheel, bow tie, hourglass, flock of geese, and even contrasting light and dark squares (representing leopard spots) are thought to have originated from African traditions brought to the Americas with enslaved people. The red square, frequently seen at the center of log cabin quilts, is believed to symbolize the mojo charm in African spiritual practices—a symbol of protection and guidance.
Some historians theorize that enslaved people used quilts as secret communication tools along the Underground Railroad, encoding messages within their patterns, stitching, and even the number of knots in the ties. Because literacy was often forbidden among enslaved individuals, oral traditions and visual symbols became crucial means of passing knowledge. African memory boards—used to encode and preserve knowledge—may have inspired the practice of embedding messages within quilts, guiding those escaping toward freedom in the North, including Canada.
The Underground Railroad and Quilt Codes
In a society where enslaved people were denied access to writing, quilts may have served as silent roadmaps to safety. Several quilt patterns are believed to have conveyed instructions for those seeking freedom:
- Monkey Wrench – A signal to gather tools for the journey.
- Wagon Wheel – Indicated it was time to pack supplies.
- Drunkard’s Path – A reminder to escape in a zigzag pattern to evade pursuers, as it was believed evil could only travel in straight lines.
- Five Square Knots in a Quilt Tie – Thought to invoke the protective power of ancestors.
- Shoo-Fly, Bow Tie, Cathedral Church, Double Wedding Ring (possibly a Double Irish Chain), Flying Geese, and Tumbling Blocks – These designs may have symbolized safe havens, travel routes, or survival strategies.
Canada: The Promised Land
For those escaping slavery, Canada represented the biblical “Canaan”—a land of freedom beyond the reach of U.S. slave laws. Certain quilt patterns were believed to help guide people to safe locations:
- Bear’s Paw – Suggested following bear trails, which often led to food and water sources.
- Crossroads – Represented Cleveland, Ohio, a crucial hub with access to routes leading to Canada.
- Jacob’s Ladder – A symbol of the Underground Railroad, representing the steps toward freedom and the network of safe houses.
- North Star (Star Pattern) & Pinwheel – Indicated the direction of travel, pointing northward to Canada.
- Trip Around the World – Reminded fugitives to travel around mountains, rather than over them, to avoid capture.
Whether or not one fully accepts the theory of quilt codes, it is undeniable that symbols and objects have long carried deeper meanings within quilt patterns. The possibility that quilts served as secret maps to freedom speaks to the ingenuity and resilience of those who fought for a better life.
The Legacy of Underground Railroad Quilts in Canada
Many formerly enslaved people who reached Canada settled in communities such as Buxton, Dresden, and Amherstburg in Ontario, as well as Birchtown and Africville in Nova Scotia. These settlements became centers of Black culture and resistance, and quilting remained an important tradition, blending African, European, and Indigenous influences.
Today, Canada continues to celebrate and preserve the history of Black pioneers and their quilting heritage. Museums, cultural centers, and quilt exhibitions highlight the role of quilts in the Underground Railroad and beyond, ensuring that these powerful stories remain woven into the fabric of history.