The Quilters of The Canadian Federation of University Women-Stratford Club have created a beautiful quilt with a wonderful heritage theme: Hobo Symbols. The quilt was started last spring, inspired by member Judith Roy and a book Hobo Quilts: 55+ Original Blocks Based on the Secret Language of Riding the Rail. It is a book about the signs used by hobos as they travelled across the land in the first part of the 20th century. These symbols would typically be carved on a tree or fence post and help guide travelers to things like free phones, kind hearted people, food, shelter or transportation or warn them of dangers like dogs or a man with a gun. Quilter Pat Nelles had vintage fabric from her mother’s dry goods store. Six members of the quilting group each made 10 blocks and then proceeded to join them together using a technique called “quilt as you go.” They have added a border with an old-style train by Pat Nelles and they also quilted some of the hobo signs into the plain border. The Hobo Quilt will be displayed at the CFUW-Ontario Council AGM and Conference at the Festival Inn on May 12-May 13, 2017. Raffle Tickets will be sold throughout the summer and all proceeds will go to the CFUW-Stratford Scholarship Fund. This scholarship fund provides over $3000 in scholarship prizes annually to our three Stratford Secondary Schools. Members of the CFUW-Stratford Club Quilting Group are Pat Nelles, Sylvia Wright, Judith Roy, Marguerite Brant, Pat Shewen, Nora Jean Perkins and Lois Battle.
Judith Roy, Marguerite Brant, Pat Shewan and Lois Battle with their hand-pieced Hobo Quilt
