Trend Alert: The Retro Look of Redwork Embroidery

A century and a half after hitting American soil, redwork embroidery is as popular as ever. Whether stitched by hand or by machine, the technique is pure nostalgia and definitely worth a try!

HOME a sweet stitchery

Photo via Jenny of Elefantz Designs

The history of redwork embroidery

When the crazy quilting craze died down in the late 1800s, a new technique emerged. Redwork embroidery became popular when, for the first time, colorfast threads and affordable cotton fabrics were made widely available.

Rabbit Dance Redwork Pillow

Rabbit Dance Pillow class project photo via serna in Machine Embroidery, Hand-Stitched Looks.

Turkey red thread was named for its country of discovery. Pairing quality thread with inexpensive cotton brought redwork embroidery into the homes, and hands, of the masses.

Redwork embroidery stitches

Hearts Flowers No 1 Redwork Pattern

Photo via Betty Alderman Designs

The technique is simple in concept, making it a standard lesson for young girls. Designs were stitched on white or off-white cotton and muslin using stem stitch, outline stitch, back stitch, running stitch, lazy daisy and French knots.

Spring Showers Redwork Cushion

Photo via Val Laird Designs

The delight of embroidering without the risk of dye bleeding on the fabric changed stitchery from decorative to utilitarian. Nothing was immune. Embroiderers could now stitch linens, toweling, curtains, cushions and clothing.

Redwork Teacup 3 Hand Embroidery

Photo via StitchX Cross Stitch Designs

Colorfast die also meant fabric could be imprinted with designs, which was much easier than perforating paper sketches and pouncing with powder. “Penny squares,” pieces of muslin imprinted with redwork designs, were popular weekly mercantile purchases. Soon iron-on patterns became available and, eventually, redwork quilts were stitched.

redwork selfie

Redwork selfie class project via Susan Hensel in Artistic Digitizing: From Inspiration to Stitch.

Modern day redwork embroidery

full_9156_150006_RedworkBow_1

Redwork Bow class project photo via AzPatch in Digitizing Machine Embroidery Designs.

Redwork designs are not limited to hand embroidery. Machine embroidery designs attest to the popularity of redwork nearly a century and a half after the technique came to America.

Dragonfly Nature Hand Embroidery

Photo via Country Garden Stitchery

Even multi-colored embroidery can become redwork. Just stitched all in red!

What is your favorite way to use redwork embroidery?

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