In my early years of quilting, I read about a tradition of presenting a son with a special quilt on his twenty first birthday. The custom (Amish, perhaps) represented the breaking of bonds with home and family as the young man ventured into adulthood and life on his own.
The idea stuck with me, and when our younger son, Will, turned twenty-one we presented him with a Coming of Age quilt of his own. It's a Jacob’s Ladder design that I pieced years ago and recently had machine quilted by Cheri Gabrielsen of Elmhust, IL.
The name Jacob’s Ladder comes from Genesis 28: 11-22 which refers to seeking the Promised Land. Also known as Underground Railroad, the block represents finding the path to freedom.
These colors aren't patriotic per se, but this sure would make a great Fourth of July quilt!
I prefer using larger blocks when making masculine quilts. These measure twelve inches.
It’s an added bonus when blocks form a secondary pattern where they intersect.
As usual, the fan quilting pattern is my favorite for traditional quilts.
72" X 96”
Happy birthday to Will, who's been independent since the day he was born. He's handling the responsibilities of adulthood with maturity and grace. Dad and I couldn’t be prouder! ❤️
