Climate Quilt
Here are some examples of quilts in progress! Scroll down to see finished quilts.
Climate Action Now
Designed by: Pamela A. Mischen
Created by: Pamela A. Mischen, Christopher Robbins, Amanda Truin
This quilt is a more traditional patchwork quilt made from 10"x10" squares with Climate Action Now done as an applique.
These 18"x24" squares depicting the iconic polar bear on an ice float, wildfires with people being displaced, and coral bleaching will eventually be combined with others to make a 9 square quilt on the theme of climate change impacts.
Do you remember Save the Whales? Well, this quilt will be made up of 9 18"x24" squares with Save the Humans in the middle. These squares use a combination of a running stitch with embroidery floss and beads from thrifted necklaces, along with appliqued elements.
We want to make sure to emphasize action as well as the consequences of climate change. These squares ask us to Stop Deforestation, Eat Plant-Based Foods, and Solarize. They will be combined with six additional 18"x24" squares.
Use any material you like to make your quilts! The background of this square is a donated coffee sack. Also note that your quilts can be horizontal or vertical. This square will eventually be combined with other squares made with coffee sacks.
You’re Getting Warmer: Rising Global Temperatures 1850-2022
Made by Lorraine Woodruff-Long
2020, 36”x92” Cotton top, batting, back. Machine pieced, machine & hand quilted
This quilt illustrates the global change in temperature for every year and month between 1850 (left) to 2022 (right). Each vertical line is a year reflecting temperature data for the 12 months of that year, January (top) to December (bottom). Blue represents cooler years/months and red, warmer years/months. Darker colors indicate more extreme temperatures in both directions. The color of each strip represents the temperature change of that year/month relative to the 1961-1990 mean (i.e. the average of the data during 1961-1990 is zero). Each block (2064 months) measures ½” x 3”.
The overall effect reflects a striking trend toward hotter temperatures in recent decades as a result of human-caused climate change. (Data Source: Professor Ed Hawkins MBE, National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Reading, UK www.showyourstripes.info)
San Francisco Air Quality Fall 2020
Made by Lorraine Woodruff-Long
2020, W60″xH60″, Cotton, Machine-pieced & quilted
For weeks, millions of Californians were smothered by smoke from a record explosion of wildfires burning through grass, shrubs, conifer forests, homes and businesses. Many cloistered themselves indoors as pollution spiked to “hazardous” levels, or worse. Smoke transported health dangers to nearly every corner of the state. Even as air quality begins to improve, many remain worried about the long-term health impacts on residents.
This quilt was made as the fires raged from September 3 through the first rains of the season on November 8, 2020. Each 4 inch square was modeled from screen shots captured on PurpleAir.com of the outdoor Air Quality Index of San Francisco. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. Air quality ranged from purple/red (hazardous/unhealthy), to orange/yellow (unhealthy for sensitive groups/moderate) to green (good/satisfactory.) San Francisco’s microclimates and hilly terrain causes much variety in the small 7×7-mile city, as indicated by the varied confetti and bar colors at any one point in time.
Experts say these kinds of wildfires will become routine if we do not take significant action to adapt to climate change and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
Quilt Melt
Made by Lorraine Woodruff-Long
2017, W44″xH57″, Cotton, Combination of machine pieced and hand appliqué and machine quilted.
Scientists agree that the changes in climate that we are seeing are largely caused by human activity, and its is climate change that drives sea level rise. This will continue to have a dramatic effect on coastal cities and communities as we know them today. In the US alone, 13 million people could be forced to relocate due to rising sea levels by 2100. As a result, cities throughout the country will grapple with new populations. Effects could include more competition for jobs, increased housing prices, and more pressure on infrastructure networks.
Quilt Melt illustrates melting of the ice caps through formal and familiar traditional quilt blocks (current coast areas) contrasted with the unexpected fluidity and change of a surrealist melting appliqué (melting ice caps.)