Advertisement
Discover the art and necessity of quilt making in the mid‑19th century during this month’s Homeschool Historians program at Graue Mill. Students will explore how families in the rural community that is now modern‑day Oak Brook created quilts not only for warmth but also as cherished household items that carried stories, skills, and identity.Participants will learn how community members pieced together scraps of fabric—often from worn clothing, leftover cloth, or traded materials—to craft quilt squares. Quilt making was an essential domestic skill on the homestead. Quilts provided insulation during harsh winters, served as practical bedding, and frequently acted as gifts for weddings, births, and community gatherings. Many families used quilting bees as social events, bringing neighbors together to complete large quilts in a single evening.
Students will practice authentic techniques by sewing and piecing their own quilt square, gaining an appreciation for the patience, precision, and creativity that mid‑19th‑century families used daily. They’ll also discover how patterns like Log Cabin, Flying Geese, and Nine‑Patch connected generations and reflected everyday life in early DuPage County.
Ages 8–16. Cost: $10 per student.
Register on ActiveNet or by calling 630‑850‑8112.
Join us to stitch history together—one square at a time! Your homeschoolers’ curiosity and hands‑on participation help bring the tradition of quilt making to life.
Advertisement
Event venue
3800 York Rd, Oak Brook, IL, United States, Illinois 60523
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.
Discover more events by tag
Education in Oak BrookHistory in Oak BrookSewing in Oak BrookCrafts in Oak BrookWorkshops in Oak BrookArt in Oak Brook