Debra G. Henninger - Hobo Quilts: 55+ Original Blocks Based on the Secret Language of Riding the Rails

HOBO QUILTS 55+ Original Blocks
Based on the Secret Language
of Riding the Rails Debra G. Henninger Krause Publications
Cincinnati, Ohio Hobo Quilts: 55+ Original Blocks Based on the Secret Language of Riding the Rails. Copyright 2010 by Debra G. Henninger. Manufactured in China. All rights reserved.

The patterns and drawings in this book are for the personal use of the reader. By permission of the author and publisher, they may be either hand-traced or photocopied to make single copies, but under no circumstances may they be resold or republished. No other part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by Krause Publications, an imprint of F+W Media, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236. (800) 289-0963. 14 13 12 11 10 5 4 3 2 1
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Tel: (02) 4577-3555 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Henninger, Debra G.
Hobo quilts : 55+ original blocks based on the secret language of riding the rails / Debra G. Henninger.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-4402-0412-8 (alk. paper)
1.

Patchwork--Patterns. 2. Quilting--Patterns. I. Title.
TT835.H444 2010
746.46041--dc22
2009048282 Editor: Jennifer Claydon
Designer: Michelle Thompson
Production Coordinator: Greg Nock
Photographer: Ric Deliantoni (unless otherwise noted)
Cover Stylist: Jan Nickum

Debra also operates and organizes quilt cruises and retreats. In addition to being a quilter, Debra is also a history and railroad enthusiast. Dedication This book is dedicated to my husband, Mark, and my children, KeriAnn, Julia and Gregory, who have always had to cope with my workaholic ways. I love you so much. Acknowledgments I am blessed to be surrounded by the most talented, creative, giving quilters one could ever hope to be associated with. Thank you, Sharon Janzen, for believing in the project and always being there to sew and edit.

Thank you, Debby Greenway, for your creativity, hard work and dedication. Thank you, Robyn Welch, for your willingness to travel at a moments notice and help with the research. Thank you, Jeri Rennie, for doing all you could and being my best friend. Additional thanks to the women who sewed, quilted and bound the projects so wonderfully: Claudette Cremer, Wendy Russell, Barb Sidell, Suz Tealby, Alice Braman, Sherrie Coppenbarger, Diana Snyder, Arvella Utley, Susie Smith, Kathi Lehman, Jan Mishler, Theresa Cobb, Georjean Lipovsky, Lilian Cagle, Connie Markley, Jeanette Hammond and Linda Ward. CONTENTS PHOTOGRAPH BY RONDAL PARTRIDGE, COURTESY OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, 119-CAL-13 INTRODUCTION W hen I was a child, my mom, Juanita Penman, would tell the story of her great-grandmother feeding the hobos. Her great-grandmother was an excellent cook, and the fence post was marked to let all hobos know they would be fed for doing chores.

My mom also taught my sister, Cindy, and me to sew as young girls. I carried those lessons with me and have owned and operated quilt shops for over 13 years. I am always on the hunt for new, fun, innovative ideas in the quilting world. These facts, combined with a love of family history and a degree in Sociology, made this book a natural for me. Most people I talk to have a connection with hobo lore; whether their family fed the hobos, worked for the railroads, or were hobos. From the 1880s to the 1940s, hobos were a part of American life, with up to 250,000 travelers on the road at one time.

Some viewed the hobos as dirty, hard-drinking, untrustworthy bums. Most saw them as honest, honorable people caught in extraordinary times. All would agree, however, that the railroads crisscrossing this country were the lifeblood of every hobo. Hobo signs were their secret language: They gave direction and advice to the savvy traveler including where to find food, water, a place to sleep and possibly work. Based on these signs, hobos could tell how they would be received by a home owner, the police, a community or even a dog. The meanings of hobo signs reflect all sides of the transient life, from the honorable to the unsavory.

These signs also tell the story of what it took to survive as a hobo. Most importantly, this subculture was a significant part of American history that is worthy of remembrance.
HOW THIS BOOK WORKS T he blocks in this book are all 6" square when finished. Most are pieced, but some are appliqued, and a few are paper pieced. Most of the blocks are simple and quite appropriate for beginners, but those blocks that have multiple small pieces are more appropriate for intermediate quilters. Fabric requirements for the blocks are omitted because these blocks are perfect for scraps and the fabric requirements will vary greatly depending on how many blocks you wish to make. Fabrics I tried to choose fabrics that reminded me of hobo clothing, such as plaids, stripes and homespun.

Most of the fabric is from the Windham Basics line of fabrics because, as a shop owner, I know how frustrating it is to see a quilt made from a fabric line that is no longer available. I have been assured that Windham Basics will be available for a long time, so you will be able to replicate the look of the blocks in this book if you choose. However, if you want to add your own design flair to these blocks, there are many other suitable fabric lines. Traditional Pieced Blocks Because the blocks are small and have multiple seams, I strongly recommend using a scant " seam whenever possible. The block patterns are laid out as a graphic of the block with the individual pattern pieces shown below it. The cutting size of each piece is written below the image of the piece.