Sharecropper’s Masterpiece

This modified strip quilt with nine blocks was pieced by Avis Collins Robinson in the style of Gee's Bend, Alabama, quilts. It was quilted by Mensie Lee Pettway and Andrea Pettway Williams. The quilt top is comprised of nine (9) blocks in rows and columns of three. Each block is formed from asymmetrical strips of fabric, with the blocks sewn together so that the strips are oriented in alternating vertical and horizontal directions. The strips are made from pieces of corduroy and velvet in shades of red, pink, purple, and white. There is a border along the left facing side in dark purple velvet and a wider border along the right facing side in red corduroy. The quilt is backed with a solid red cotton or poly-cotton plain weave fabric. Binding on the top on bottom edges is made from chartreuse velvet, the left facing binding from light pink corduroy and the right facing binding from bright purple corduroy. The top, batting, and backing are joined with quilting stitches in white thread sewn in slightly undulating horizontal lines. A wide strip of plain muslin is sewn along the top edge of the reverse for hanging.