Quilting runs deep in the Black community. Long before I picked up a rotary cutter or fired up a longarm machine, I was surrounded by fabric, faith, and stories stitched into every corner of our homes. Quilts weren’t just blankets. They were history books, acts of resistance, and expressions of love passed from one generation to the next.
Making Do and Making Magic
Black quilters often used what they had. Scraps, worn-out clothing, feed sacks. These were turned into masterpieces. That tradition of making something beautiful out of hardship is baked into every stitch. It’s the same spirit I bring to my studio today when I upcycle old T-shirts, church dresses, baby clothes, or denim into new heirlooms.
Our creativity didn’t follow the rules. It made its own. Many early Black quilts diverged from strict European traditions of symmetry, embracing bold improvisation and asymmetry long before these elements were recognized as modern art. If you look at what’s considered ‘avant-garde’ in quilting today, much of it echoes what our ancestors did out of necessity and instinct.
A Quiet Language of Survival
During the era of slavery, quilting became more than just a craft. In some cases, quilts were believed to carry coded messages that guided people along the Underground Railroad. Patterns like the “Log Cabin” or the “Flying Geese” block weren’t just pretty. They were practical, even revolutionary. Whether or not every quilt carried secret directions, the idea that something so domestic could be so powerful is part of what makes quilting sacred in our culture.
From the Front Porch to the Art World
Quilting bees and front porch gatherings were once spaces of laughter, storytelling, and connection. Today, Black quilts are finally getting recognition in galleries and museums. Groups like the Gee’s Bend quilters have helped open doors, but there’s still so much unsung talent in our churches, homes, and living rooms.
As a Black quilter myself, I carry that legacy with every memory quilt I create. Whether I’m stitching together a family’s story or preserving a loved one’s wardrobe, I see it as both an honor and a responsibility. My work stands on the shoulders of those who came before me. Those who used thread and fabric to speak truth, hold community, and preserve culture.
At Quilts by Big Wes, the story matters as much as the stitching. If you’ve a story to preserve, please get in touch. I’d love to help you turn it into something that lasts.