EQUITY IN EDUCATIONSuspensions, expulsions, and incarceration are disproportionately common for students of color. Why criminalize and exclude children from learning environments? Join the call for fair and equal access equity to education.

This pattern was designed for Social Justice Sewing Academy by Ben Millett, inspired by an original quilt block by an SJSA Youth Artivist Stephanie R.

Our July 2020 Block of the Month Equity in Education can be used

for free, noncommercial use.

Make it. Share it. But don’t sell it.

August

Founded in 2016 by Sara Trail, the Social Justice Sewing Academy (SJSA) is an art program that bridges artistic expression with activism and empowers youth to amplify their voice through art that advocates for social justice. By using textile art as a vehicle for personal transformation and

community cohesion, SJSA empowers youth to become agents of social change. We support youth to become civically engaged artists as they are challenged to tackle current social issues in their community that directly affect their lives. A unique part of our program intentionally bridges generational, racial, and socioeconomic divides by sending youth art blocks to hundreds of embroiderers across the world. To donate or become an SJSA embroiderer visit: http://www.sjsacademy.comOn Instagram: @sjsacademyOn Facebook: www.facebook.com

socialjusticesewingacademy/

Ben Millett is a plant pathologist by training, quilt maker and designer by hobby. Ben takes a modern approach with his quilted projects, working with solids in saturated colors (unless he has green prints on hand). He is grateful his husband and his son let him retreat to the craft room for hours on end.

Ben writes about his block design: The original block contained this embroidered message: “Black girls are 6x more likely to get out of school suspension and 4x more likely to get in school suspension”. The paper, pencils, and braided hair in the original are so visually powerful. As a nod to the statistics in message, there are four pencils and six blue lines. I strongly echo SJSA’s recommendation to read Pushout by Monique W. Morris. Her book lays bare how much more we can do for Black girls and young women in their schooling and ensure they are afforded the same grace as their white classmates.” See more of Ben’s work at: https://benmillett.us/Find Ben on Instagram as: @benmillettWatch Monique’s TedTalk about The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools on YouTube at: https://bit.ly/39bML8t

EQUITY IN EDUCATIONJoin Sara, Stephanie R., Ben, and SJSA in making equity a reality in our educational institutions.

Fabric Requirements: Refer to the Fabric Cutting Guide on page 4 for the minimum sizes needed for Fabrics A-L. Fabrics used in the cover block are Kona Cotton in Creamsicle, Shitake , Daffodil, Sunny, Grellow, Jamaica, White, Pomegranate, Chestnut, Espresso, Pepper, and Black. Note: All fabric dimensions throughout are listed in Width x Length order.

Tools & Supplies: Fabric and paper scissors, rotary cutter and cutting mat, ruler with a ¼" seam indicator, seam ripper, tape or gluestick, a roller to press seams, an Add-a-Quarter or Add-an-Eighth ruler, pins or clips, coordinating thread, iron and ironing board, sewing machine

This block is made using Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP). This tutorial by Kitty Wilkin covers what you need to know for this technique: https://nightquilter.com/2014/06/03/tutorial-basic-foundation-paper-piecing/Not a fan of FPP? That’s okay! You should be able to traditionally piece this block using the indicated subcut sizes, improvising in areas like the braids, face, and shirt. You’ll just need to trim down each section to the indicated widths before joining for the final block.

Piecing the Sections (See photos on next page.)1. Cut out all fabric pieces according to the Fabric Cutting Guide and group

them by Section (e.g., pull together the F, G, H fabric pieces needed for Sections AA and II, etc.)

2. Print all template pages at 100% or Actual Size and verify the Printer Test square on each page is 1" square. Cut the paper templates out. Use tape or a gluestick to join template subsections where indicated (“Affix under…”) Note: I like to leave ¼ to ½" extra beyond the ¼" seam allowance line when cutting the templates out.

3. Paper piece all Sections (AA to II) with the indicated fabric pieces. Remember to use a shorter stitch length of 1.5 to 1.8. For EE–5, –6, –7; CC–8; and GG–8: Piece each block subsection individually, alternating fabrics J, K, and L to create a braided effect.

Then… For EE–5 and –6: Cut out the EE–5 and –6 pieces along the thicker black dotted lines. Remove the paper and treat these as if they were unpieced fabric when using in Section EE (the final shapes of EE–5 and –6 are indicated with a red line as a suggestion for placement in EE, with the solid red lines aligning to the vertical edges of the EE section). For EE–8: Join the left, center, and right pieces as indicated. Press seams open. This block is overly large at the top and bottom to allow some wiggle-room. Remove the paper and treat it as if it was unpieced fabric when using in Section EE. Note: the final shape of EE-8 is indicated with a dashed line as a suggestion for placement in EE. For CC-8 and GG-8: Trim down each piece along the thicker black dotted lines. This will help later when joining to the CC-1-7 and GG-1-7 subsection pieces and to the neighboring sections. Join the left, center, and right pieces of CC-8 and GG-8, as indicated. Press seams open. Join CC-8 and GG-8 to the CC-1-7 and GG-1-7 pieces as indicated.

4. After each Section is pieced, trim to the ¼" seam allowance line.5. Join the Sections in this order: AA to BB, CC to DD, FF to GG,

HH to II. Then AABB to CCDD, FFGG to HHII. Then AABBCCDD to EE. Then AABBCCDDEE to FFGGHHII.

5. Remove the paper, press seams. It is easiest to press towards the pencils. Trim to 12 ½ x 12 ½".

Congratulations on finishing your block!

Creating your Block Finished block size: 12"x 12" (12.5" x 12.5" unfinished). All seam allowances are ¼" .

Fabric Cutting Guide These are minimum sizes as the smaller, subcut pieces include ¼" extra per side. Scale up if you want more wiggle room for each subcut piece.

All Fabrics used are Kona Cotton: A—Creamsicle, B—Shitake, C—Daffodil, D—Sunny, E—Grellow, F—Jamaica, G—White, H—Pomegranate, I—Chestnut, J—Espresso, K—Pepper, L—Black.