Until the middle of the twentieth century, the majority of quilts from Gee's Bend were made from worn-out work clothes, a palette of old shirts, overalls, aprons and dress bottoms. As a wider variety of fabric become available in the second half of the twentieth century, work-clothes quilts became less prevalent. Yet many quilters continue to enjoy the challenge of working in a limited palette, and thicker, tougher materials. Many too appreciate the meanings encoded within the old-style remnants of heavier cotton, wool, and denim.