Duanesburg student-created quilt on display at QS library
March 2011—The “Counties of New York” quilt made in June 2000 by the Duanesburg Elementary School fourth grader students (Class of 2008) is on display at the QS Library.
The creation of the quilt was part of a Community History Through the Arts project funded by the Schenectady County Initiative Program.
The pieced quilt has a six block center featuring the Town of Duanesburg, Duanesburg Elementary School, and Schenectady County. It is cornered by four New York State symbol blocks. The rest of the blocks are the remaining counties of New York.
Students made the quilt with the help of parent volunteers, teachers, and paraprofessionals in the school. Donated fabrics from the students and their families were used to create the squares. Students then traced and cut the counties of New York, ironed them on the blocks, and stitched a button on each county seat. Then they helped stitch the pieces together and tie it after the back and front were put together. The quilt was displayed the following summer at a quilt show in Schoharie.
The quilt was part of a larger project which involved
interviewing area quilters and creating a final writing project from the
interviews. It was featured at a year-end community celebration where the
students read their essays, sang a song titled “These are Counties in New York,”
and enjoyed a quilt cake made by parent volunteers.