HIGHLANDS― Christina Marriott wondered how to weave a piece of fabric that had been trimmed unevenly into a quilt that would be sent to Congress.
The white fabric square was going to be sewed into larger pieces with political slogans on them but the edges weren’t precisely aligned with the other pieces.
“The perfect union comes from imperfect people right With fabric markers in hand and a small group of ladies surrounding her, 46-year-old schoolteacher Marriott inquired out loud as she held up the square in a suburban Denver library.
Hundreds of women, along with a few men, are making handmade quilts around the nation, thread by stitch, square by square, with bipartisan political messages urging members of Congress to better exercise their authority as an equal arm of government.
Quilt-ins have been taking place across the nation as part of the “Peace by Piece” initiative, which is supported by Mormon Women for Ethical Government and the Jewish Partnership for Democracy. On May 9, the fabric messages will be sent to Congress. Organizers are planning a quilt-in in the vicinity of the US Capitol on May 6.
The group’s communications show widespread disapproval of President Donald Trump’s leadership style, even though they are not specifically directed at him.
Among them were: “Separate of powers defends liberty and democracy” as well as “the greatest danger to American freedom is a government that ignores the Constitution.” In a May 4 “Meet the Press” interview, Trump stated that he is not sure if he must enforce the Constitution.
A message in a quilt
On a recent Saturday, dozens of women passed through the library’s multipurpose room, writing messages with markers on the white fabric squares before organizers, including Jillaire McMillan, stitched them into bigger quilts.
According to McMillan, she joined the campaign because she thought the White House was changing things too quickly at a time when it seemed like Congress wasn’t doing enough to fulfill its constitutionally mandated duties. Quilt-ins, which evoke the idea of reusing leftover fabric into something more valuable than the sum of its parts, have been organized in 30 states.
“We want to join a lot of little voices because alone it’s hard to feel like you’re making a difference,” McMillan said. It’s about taking a different yet historically significant approach. Women have historically used quilting as a means of advocacy.
Textile narrative’ throughout history
From abolitionists and suffragettes to the AIDS Memorial quilt, American women have historically utilized quilts to communicate with legislators. There are over 500 historically noteworthy quilts in the Smithsonian’s National Quilt Collection.
Since quilts are not exclusive to any one race or class and can be a part of anyone’s legacy and be valued as such, the collection includes quilts from a variety of ethnic groups and socioeconomic classes.
according to the Smithsonian. “Whether of expensive or inexpensive materials, big or tiny, skillfully made or not, worn or immaculate The National Quilt Collection’s quilts tell a textile story that adds to the rich and varied history of the United States.
