Easy English

Here, you’ll find an interview with facts and exercises related to it at the A2 level of English: basic language points you may have forgotten or missed before. By VANESSA CLARK

EASY Interview

Every month, our interview partners tell us about themselves. This month, we talk to Miranda Meadows, whose hobby is quilting.

When did you start quilting?

When I moved from England to the US. I’d never sewn before, but my new American friends taught me. I joined a quilting circle (a traditional sewing group). After a few weeks, I couldn’t stop.

Is quilting very popular in the US?

Yes, it’s an important tradition in many states. There are many old traditional patterns, like the Ohio star or the Missouri star. The Amish women in Pennsylvania make beautiful quilts.

How can you start quilting?

There are lots of videos online. The first thing I made was a small quilt with only square pieces. Then you can try bigger projects and use different shapes, like triangles and hexagons. You can use traditional patterns, or you can use your own ideas.

Do you sew everything by hand?

No, you don’t have to sew by hand. I use a sewing machine.

Why do you enjoy it?

It’s very relaxing. It’s a good way to start a conversation with people and to make friends.

Show and tell

Now find out more about something that Miranda learned in the US: how quilts helped slaves to run away.

In the 19th century, many African-american slaves ran away. To help them, a secret network of roads and houses existed via which the slaves could travel safely to free states in the north — where slavery was not allowed — or to British North America (now Canada). This network was called the “underground railroad”. We think that about 100,000 slaves used it.

There were no maps for this secret network, and most slaves couldn’t read. Some historians think that quilts were used to show the way. A quilt could hang on a tree or in a window like a sign. Different patterns had different meanings, such as “Travel north” or “This is a safe house”.

Other historians say that the quilts are only a myth — but it’s still a good story. What do you think?