My mother always told the story of how, during the Great Depression, her southern cousin would hop a train and head north to Manchester, New Hampshire to visit the family. He might not have looked like a hobo, but for all intents and purposes, he was. In her words, he would come to come to “leech off of” her family (of 13 people). My grandmother was always gracious and would feed any stray kitten, or so the story goes, and she welcomed this fine looking young man with open arms. Trouble is, he would most often overstay his welcome.
I am anxiously awaiting the release of a new book by Debra G. Henninger titled, Hobo Quilts: 55+ Original Blocks Based on the Secret Language of Riding the Rails. This book is due to be released in early May 2010 from Krause Publications. Debra has prepared designs to be made with the paper piecing technique, and several of the pages of the book shows the symbols and their meanings. The 256 page volume includes historical photos and reflects the author’s fascination with railroads. This book looks like a lot of fun, and contains a number of projects.
Tags: Hobo Quilts
