Preservation Workshop: Create An African Crazy Quilt

Join us for a dynamic quilting experience celebrating the time-honored tradition of crazy quilting with an Afrocentric twist! Led by renowned Quilter Artist, Torreah “Cookie” Washington, this intermediate-to-advanced class invites you to piece together stunning African fabrics using free-flowing patterns and embellished stitching to create a striking 9-patch quilt (47" x 47") or versatile tote.

Immerse yourself in a quilting technique that embodies resilience, ingenuity, and cultural storytelling. Historically, African American crazy quilting has been an art of improvisation—transforming fabric scraps into meaningful works of beauty. The colors, patterns, and textures woven into these quilts often reflected personal histories, spiritual beliefs, and community narratives.

For generations, quilting has been a source of warmth, creativity, and fellowship, offering a space for shared stories and artistic expression.

This class offers an extraordinary opportunity for intermediate to advanced quilters to connect with fellow quilters, celebrate National Quilting Month, and the opening of the museum’s newest exhibition, At the Vanguard. This hands-on experience pays homage to the history of home economics programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Early domestic science classes and extension schools taught vital skills such as sewing, table setting, healthy cooking, and other practical practices that supported economic independence and entrepreneurial opportunities.

This cultural preservation workshop is part of the Save Our African American Treasures initiative, which inspires preservation efforts across the nation by empowering individuals, families, groups, and organizations to protect and share their history.
 

Create a 9-Patch African Crazy Quilt or Tote



Workshop Details:

• Instructor: Quilter Artist Torreah “Cookie” Washington
• Project: 9-Patch Crazy African Crazy Quilt or Tote
• Session Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
• Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
• Cost: $75
• Supplies: Participants must bring their own sewing machine with zig-zag capabilities. A full supply list will be provided to registrants.

Spaces are limited.

To learn more about the quilt artist, visit HOME | Cookie Sews Quilts