Episode 27: Harriet Powers and Her Quilts

This episode is brought to you by Quiltfolk, an ad-free magazine made for quilters like you! Visit quiltfolk.com and use code HandmadeHistory for 20% off your first order. Thank you, Quiltfolk! We are running a stumpwork stitch along this March and we would love to have you join us. Starting March 3, we are going to stitch a design created by Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ–a 3-dimensional wild pansy. We will post our progress each week on social media and on our Patreon page. If you would like to join us, you can pre-order the wild pansy stumpwork stitch along kit or PDF pattern here. Harriet Powers was a quilter and artist. She was born into slavery on a plantation in Athens, GA, and was emancipated after the Civil War. She created at least five quilts using applique and piecing techniques. Two of them are in museums, the Pictorial Quilt and the Bible Quilt. Join us and learn about the unique qualities of Powers' quilts; the connections between Powers' quilts and West African art traditions; Powers' life and the life of her quilts; and her legacy today. You'll also learn about the Dahomey Kingdom and Fon artists, who still make applique textiles in Benin. Shownotes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/fzs3ts2c Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at [email protected]. Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information. Visit quiltfolk.com and use code HandmadeHistory for 20% off your first order.