Loretta Pettway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Loretta Pettway
Pettway in 2015
Born	1942 (age 82–83) Boykin, Alabama, U.S.
Nationality	American
Known for	Quilting
Notable work	Roman Stripes, Medallion
Movement	Gee's Bend Collective

Loretta Pettway (born 1942) is an American artist and quilt maker. She is part of the Gee's Bend Collective from Boykin, Alabama. Her quilts are famous for their bold and unique style.

In 2006, two of her quilts, "Roman Stripes" variation and "Medallion," appeared on US Postal service stamps. This was part of a special series honoring the Gee's Bend quilters. Her amazing quilts are kept in major art museums. These include The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In 2015, she received a National Heritage Fellowship. This is the highest honor the United States government gives for folk and traditional arts.

Life of Loretta Pettway

Early Years

Loretta Pettway was born in Boykin, Alabama. She grew up helping with many chores and responsibilities. Her mother left the family when Loretta was about seven years old. Her father, Famous Pettway, later remarried.

Loretta was mostly raised by her grandmother, Prissy. She also took care of her brother, who had a disability. Loretta spent some time living with her Aunt Candis and Uncle Tank Pettway. There, she grew up with her cousins Qunnie Pettway and Tank Jr. Later, she moved to another aunt's house, Missouri Pettway, with her cousin, Arlonzia Pettway.

Schooling and Responsibilities

Loretta's schooling was not always steady. She usually went to school only in October, November, and December. This was the time between harvests. The rest of the year, she spent her time harvesting crops. She also continued to care for her brother.

As an adult, she raised seven children. Her children also started helping with farm work from a young age.

Loretta Pettway's Quilts

Learning to Quilt

Loretta Pettway is one of the few quilters who didn't enjoy learning to quilt at first. She remembers, "I didn't like to sew. Didn't want to do it." She had a lot of work to do, especially caring for her brother.

However, her grandmother Prissy really wanted her to learn. She believed quilting would be a useful skill later in life. Her grandmother was right!

Why Quilts Were Important

When Loretta became an adult, she moved into her own home. It was an old house with only one heated room. She soon realized how important quilts were. "When I got me a house... then I needed them to keep warm."

She explained that only the living room had heat. When you left that room, you needed blankets. She would wake up early to make a fire. The quilts helped keep her and her family warm.

Famous Quilts

Loretta first learned to quilt by helping her grandmother. She would help put patches together and thread needles. Her very first quilt was a "Nine Patch" quilt. She made it when she was eleven years old.

As an adult, she has created many different quilt patterns. Some examples of her work include:

• The "Lazy Gal Bars" quilt
• The "Housetop" quilt
• The "Medallion" quilt, which can be seen at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.