I love to quilt! And sometimes Mr QuiltinAnnie helps with the design; figuring out the angles and measurements! This letterbox series will highlight a traditional quilt block or pattern beginning with the letter of the stamp found inside the cache. You will need to supply your own stamp pad.
Jacob's Ladder Block and An Example Quilt
This pattern has been called many names over time. Just a few are Jacob's Ladder, Underground Railroad, Road to California, Off to San Francisco, Gone to Chicago, Stepping Stones and Trail of the Covered Wagon. The belief is that this pattern developed in the late 1800's, and because this pattern was often called the Underground Railroad, it is believed by some to have been used in the underground railway in helping people make the brave trek north toward Canada where runaway slaves could be free.
While not originally an Amish pattern, Jacob's Ladder may have appealed to Amish quilters because of it's religious roots and the simplicity of the pattern, which allows for infinite opportunities for creativity and color play. Biblical names were often used for quilts in a time when reading the Bible each day was a part of family life.
Originally, the block was made using two sharply contrasting colors, a very, very dark and a very, very light fabric. The pieces are arranged in such a way as to create diagonal patterns of light and dark across the block. When the blocks are joined together in an all-over manner (without sashing strips), the result is a series of ladders running up and down or diagonally across the entire quilt. The Jacobs Ladder quilt block is a stunning example of geometry and color-play using a simple 9-patch design.