QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5565

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

09.0214

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2009:18.1

Object label:

Housetop
China Pettway
Gee's Bend, Alabama
2009
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2009:18.1

Essay:

China Pettway is one of Gee’s Bend’s leading gospel singers and is one of the few locals who have attended college and returned to live in the community. The daughter of Leola and Willie Lee Pettway, she has eight siblings on her mother’s side and five on her father’s. China was taught how to quilt by her mother at a young age. "We had to quilt until 10 at night. Then, she would let us stop and get to bed. That was every evening except Saturday and Sunday. I made my first quilt, it was a ‘Star.’ And I still have it."

Quilt's title:

Housetop

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Concentric Squares

When was the form filled out?

11/24/2009

Quilt top made by:

Pettway, China

Quilted by:

Pettway, China

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Purchased the quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Gee's Bend

Where the quilt was made, state:

Alabama (AL)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

2000-2025

Why was the quilt made?

Fundraising

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's city:

Gee's Bend

Quiltmaker's state:

Alabama (AL)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

African American

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

96"

How long is the quilt?

79 1/2"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Black; Green; Lavender; Maroon; Pink; Purple

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Type of inscription:

Signature; Date

What is inscribed on the quilt?

China Pettway

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

March 21, 2009

Method used to make the inscription:

Ink

Location of inscription:

on back

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

6

Size of quilt blocks:

29" x 29"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Separated by plain sashing

Sashing width:

4 1/4"

Number of borders:

3

Describe the borders:

On the sides only, varies, 2-3”

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton; Cotton or polyester blend

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Cream

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

1

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Straight grain; Front turned to back

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

half inch - one inch

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

4

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

5

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

In-the-ditch

Source of the information on this quilt:

Museum employee

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees