Not only did the pattern on the quilt have a wealth of significance, but the way the quilt was finished was very important in communicating various messages.  There were two ways of finishing a quilt, either knotting or stitching.  To a more experienced European Traditionalist, a quilt finished with knots was the sign of shoddy workmanship.  However, to the informed slaves, the number of knots meant much more.  It was another type of code that had a numerical significance.  It was found that in certain African cultures, five square knots placed two inches apart made the quilt an object that possessed protective power.  Also, under the “Ross Code” the spacing and number of knots was a signal to the slaves of distances that needed to be traveled before reaching the next safe house or state.  Thus not only did the knots indicate distance on a map, they were also a symbol of protection for the departing slaves, and reminded the slaves that they were spiritually “tied” to the many loved ones they’d have to leave behind.