CLEVELAND — For Sandra Noble, quilting represents many things: history, culture, community, and the opportunity to tell vivid stories of African American experiences. 

“This took me a while, this took me a while, but I have always been proud of this particular quilt. The Little Rock Nine,” Noble said.

Noble is one of the co-founders of the African American Quilt and Doll Guild, a group of more than 60 members who create quilts and handmade dolls of all types and often use them to educate their community on the tradition that has been passed down through generations. 

“African American slaves might have been taught to quilt by the mistress, but it has become part of who we are,” Noble said.

Noble said African American slaves were often asked to spin, weave, and sew quilts for their owners. They took the scraps and the skills with them to make quilts for their own families, quilts that told stories, and even quilts that gave direction. 

“This is called an Underground Railroad quilt,” Noble said. “The slaves used quilts to tell them where to go and what to do, and there are certain symbols on an underground quilt that have meaning….turns the wagon wheel, toward Canada, on a bear paws trail to the cross world. That means something.”

Noble said the practice of making quilts has shifted from necessity to a pastime. The guild members each have their own style, some use bold prints and designs to spotlight African culture. Others use their work to highlight African American struggles and successes.

Noble most enjoys creating quilts inspired by nature.

She said quilting is a vital strand of African American culture, and The African American Quilt and Doll Guild is working to get younger generations interested in the art form. 

“I look at African Americans and our traditions and things,” she said. “We've got to work harder to make sure that we have a legacy of quilting, and we can't have it if we don't have young people doing it.”