Rhode Island might be tiny, but it’s packed with history. Founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a staunch advocate for religious freedom, Rhode Island was a haven for people who didn’t fit the Puritan mold. The colony became a refuge for Quakers, Jews, and other religious minorities.
The 13th colony joined the United States by ratifying the Constitution in 1790. It wasn’t a clear mandate, though, with the vote coming in at 34 for becoming a state and 32 against, wanting to maintain their independent trade and currency. When Rhode Island joined, George Washington had already been president for a year.
In the Industrial Revolution, Rhode Island became a textile powerhouse. The state was the birthplace of American manufacturing, with mills popping up everywhere along the rivers. Samuel Slater, often called the “Father of American Industrial Revolution,” built the first successful cotton mill in Pawtucket in 1793. For over a century, Rhode Island was THE place for textiles, and the state’s economy boomed. Though the mills eventually moved south and overseas, that industrial heritage is still a big part of Rhode Island’s identity, evidenced by the many factories and mills now converted to housing and creative spaces.
Rhode Island continues to be a hub for jewelry manufacturing, marine science, and education—Brown University and RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) are world-class institutions. We had the opportunity to visit the museum at RISD when we came through and it was phenomenal with exhibits including furniture, apparel, mosaics, glass art, oil paintings, ceramics and so many other art forms.
Rhode Island is only 37 miles wide and 48 miles long, roughly a quarter of the size of LA county, but has more than 400 miles of coastline!
Quilt Block
Given the tiny size of the state, the quilt block is tiny, too, finishing at 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″. I wanted to pay homage to the 20+ lighthouses that dot the coastline. This block is foundation paper-pieced, making it easier to get detail into such a little space.
In FPP, it’s all straight lines, but in this block, I added a little pivot to get the shape of the lighthouse. Follow the instructions carefully and you’ll get it!
Quilt Shops
Blackstone Quilting Company in Cumberland is an award-winning quilt shop, offering classes, long arming, fabric and notions. Plus they are running a 250th anniversary quilting contest!
The Sew-Op in Kingstown is an adorable shop that doubles as a maker space. The shop is dedicated to bringing in community through events, classes and sewing camps.
I can’t wait to see your cute little lighthouse block! If you’ve been to or live in Rhode Island, tell me about your favorite quilt shops or places to visit there!
