The name “Michigan” comes from the Ojibwe word mishigamaa, meaning “large water” or “large lake” — which seems perfect for a state that borders four of the five Great Lakes and has more freshwater coastline than any other state.
The three nations of the Council of Three Fires — the Ojibwe (Chippewa), Odawa (Ottawa), and Potawatomi — are collectively known as the Anishinaabe, and were the original inhabitants of the area. Each nation had distinct roles: the Ojibwe were the “keepers of the faith,” the Odawa the “keepers of the trade,” and the Potawatomi the “keepers of the fire.”
French explorers arrived in the early 1600s, drawn by the fur trade. In 1668, Father Jacques Marquette founded Sault Sainte Marie — the oldest European-established settlement in Michigan and one of the oldest in the Midwest. Fort Michilimackinac, established in 1715 (and still around today!), became a critical hub in the fur trade.
The region passed from French to British control after the French and Indian War in 1763, and to the United States after the Revolutionary War — though the British didn’t fully surrender until after the War of 1812. Michigan Territory was established in 1805, but then the Territory’s first governor, William Hull, surrendered Detroit to the British in 1812. It was a mess, but Michigan eventually became the 26th state in 1837.
The Soo Locks, opened in 1855, connected Lake Superior to the lower lakes and opened the immense iron and copper deposits of the Upper Peninsula. In Marquette, you can still watch as iron ore being loaded onto ships for export, nearly 200 years later.
In 1913, Henry Ford changed both Michigan and the world with the invention of the automobile. Ford’s “moving assembly line” made Detroit the auto manufacturing capital of the 20th century and before long, Michigan was one of the wealthiest places on earth.
Michigan is also the birthplace of Kellogg Company, the largest maker of breakfast cereal with a fascinating backstory of a sanitarium, family rivalry, splits in the company and “medicinal” food. It’s competitor, Postum Cereal Co., was also a product of Michigan ingenuity with a slightly less dramatic history.
Not to be forgotten, Motown came out of Detroit, forever changing music and introducing musicians including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, and The Temptations
Quilt Block
The traditional Michigan block is a square, so we simply elongated the design to fit the Quarter Millennial Quilt layout. With all those thin strips, I decided to use a paper piecing template for Michigan, though it can be done with some precision piecing. The center know is the only tricky part and I’ve got tips for you in the pattern to line those up nicely.
Use long strips to make this easy, trimming as you go to avoid cutting strips too short (ask me how I know-LOL). You’ll have plenty with the fabric outlined in the pattern, so be generous. And don’t forget to trim before sewing on your next pieces. You’ll see why if you watch the tutorial.
Quilt Shops in Michigan
It turns out that Michigan may be the place that I have taught the most. I’ve taught at all of these shops!
- Bittersweet Quilt Shop & Home Decor in Pinconning is an adorable old church building and is even more beautiful inside. I’ve taught here twice and am always awed by how lovely the displays are, the extent of the fabric selection and how wonderfully they treat their customers and retreaters.
- Sew Let’s Be Quilty in Pentwater has modern written all over it with shelves filled with Ruby Star Society, Lori Holt and Tula Pink with lots of bag-making supplies and so many books!
- Creative Passions Quilt Shop in Chesaning has a jam-packed store on Main St. and retreat centers dotting the town. I had the chance to teach at the big center, as well as doing a live for our LQS tour.
- Time Flies Quilt & Sew in Negaunee has some of the nicest folks (and the best pasties), along with a great selection of quilting fabrics, Cuddle® and BERNINA machines.
- Ann Arbor Sewing Center in Ann Arbor has a room dedicated to Cuddle® at the back of the shop, but plenty of fabrics, patterns, kits and classrooms before you get there.