Quilt No. 102

EXCELSIOR!

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EXCELSIOR! ✧

What does the Empire State’s motto, Stan Lee’s catchphrase, and poem penned by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow have in common? Excelsior! Check out Longfellow’s poem and the inspiration behind the Excelsior Quilt pattern.

Penned by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Excelsior” is a poem written about a tenacious young man who carries a banner and proclaims “Excelsior!” to all those whom he passes. Excelsior is the Latin phrase for “ever higher” or “onward and upward.”

This newest quilt pattern, “Excelsior” was inspired by astronomy pioneers— such as Maria Mitchell, Edwin Hubble, Annie Jump Cannon, Williamina Stevens Fleming, Mae Jemison, and Henrietta Swan Leavitt. The Excelsior Quilt pattern is a tribute to those trailblazers who looked up “ever higher” to the stars and broke through social and intellectual barriers by marching “onward and upward.” The Excelsior Quilt pattern was created to be a personal reminder to myself to look up and find all the ways I, too, could move onward and upward in my own life and community… maybe it can remind you too?

The Excelsior Quilt pattern consists of simple square and flying geese blocks. It’s perfect for a confident beginner, as it introduces the “no-waste" flying geese method! This pattern is so easy to personalize, with four different options. It’s a star quilt that comes together quickly, and showcases that special fabric that you’ve been saving (yeah… you know the “good” fabric I’m talking about).

All quilt patterns created by Cobabe Co. are inspired by children’s literature (kid lit). A quilt is not complete without a book! As you cuddle under your recently made quilt with the little ones in your life, you will make lasting memories as you read through fascinating (and true!) stories and view the incredible artwork in the books listed below. If you are planning on gifting this quilt, the books listed make great accompanying gifts and/or reads!

Hover over the book covers below to read a quick synopsis. If you are interested in purchasing a title listed below, click on the cover to go to Amazon, if you are interested in buying the book (these are affiliate links; if you purchase through one of these links, I may be compensated at no additional cost to you).

Annie Jump Cannon, Astronomer

This biography illustrates the accomplishments of a woman who developed a system of classifying stars and who-to this day-holds the record for identifying more stars than anyone else in the world.

Look Up!: Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer

Henrietta Swan Leavitt spent years measuring star positions and sizes from photographs taken by the telescope at the Harvard College Observatory. She discovered that certain stars had a fixed pattern to their changes, her development made it possible for astronomers to measure greater and greater distances—leading to our present understanding of the vast size of the universe.

The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything

This absorbing picture book biography by Laura Alary tells the fascinating, though not well-known, story of a remarkable nineteenth-century woman scientist and women’s rights advocate. After winning that prize for discovering a comet, Maria Mitchell would go on to become the first professional female astronomer in the United States, first female member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and one of the first female college professors.

What Miss Mitchell Saw

Miss Mitchell’s extraordinary discovery of a new comet that had never been seen before made her famous the world over, and paved the way for her to become America’s first professional female astronomer.

A Child's Anthology of Poetry

From Silverstein to Emerson, this anthology contains fun poems for kiddos throughout the ages. The poem “A Shooting Star” by Edith M. Thomas is especially beautiful and is reminiscent of a lullaby.

She Caught the Light

The inspiring true story of astronomer Williamina Fleming, who helped lay the foundations for modern astronomy and overcame impossible odds as an immigrant and a woman. Mina ultimately helped to create a map of the universe that paved the way for astronomers.

Mae Among the Stars

Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents' encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space.

The Boy Whose Head Was Filled with Stars

This is the story of Edwin Hubble, a boy fascinated by the stars who surmounted many hurdles to follow his dreams of becoming an astronomer. Using the insights of great mathematicians and endlessly observing the sky, he succeeded in confirming two things that altered human life forever: that there are more galaxies than our own, and that the universe is always expanding.

Her Eyes on the Stars: Maria Mitchell, Astronomer

Maria Mitchell’s curiosity about the night sky led her to spend hours studying the stars. She discovered a comet as a young woman, winning an award from the King of Denmark for being the first person to discover a new comet using a telescope.

Speaking of stars and astronomers, have you ever heard of Karen Nyberg? She is SO cool. I wish I were math-savvy enough to be like her when I grow up! Now a retired member of the NASA Astronaut Corps, Karen flew two space missions, holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering, is an artist, an accomplished seamstress and to top it all off a mom. Karen, is there anything you can’t do?! Probably not.

Quilting…… IN SPACE… space… space… space… space… (said with an echo, like Bill Nye). While Karen was living in the International Space Station (for 166 days- wowsers!) she stitched a 9” square star-themed block and encouraged others on earth to do the same.

If you are just as stymied as I was about how to sew in space, check out this video:

This lady is so neat, that she even decided to share her view from space with the rest of us earthlings… and in my love language: fabric. Karen has worked with Robert Kaufman to release a special line of fabric based on photographs that she took of Earth from Space, called, “Earth Views.” She even has beautiful quilt patterns that are inspired by the space station windows.

Excuse my fangirl tangent…. to buy the Excelsior Quilt pattern and become one of the greats, check out my shop listing (available digitally).

Excelsior, my quilty friends! Onward and upwards!