Red and White Redwork

It's hard to believe that the red and white quilt show in NY was a month ago!  The time there went fast but the time since even faster! I have over 400 pix to peek through and to help me remember what I saw ... but the one thing that still stays with me is the redwork in so many of the quilts.

There were a number of quilts that were a combination of quilting and embroidery. This one with it's reversed applique and red thread embellishment was a work of art with its perfect stitches.

This must have been a fund raiser quilt because all of the names were different and not two blocks were quite the same ... several quilters working on it maybe?

I'm guessing that this quilt was to raise money for a church ... it's set out so it looks like neighborhoods. Love the way women signed their names back then ... Mrs John Smith ... not a word of her first name. And look at the renegade who stitched in white!

Terrific zig zag setting with the names alternated in red or white thread.

Other than a nature theme there's no way to tell exactly what this quilt means. I love the boxy, graphic setting and then the softeness of the embroidery.

I had to ask someone what the meaning of this quilt was ... lots of little hand prints with the name and age of the owner stitched inside. Turns out it was a fund raiser for a school and people paid a dime to have their child's info stitched on to the quilt.

You have to wonder what went through the mind of the stitcher who created this one! It is so random ... almost like she woke up each day and thought "hmmm ... what should I stitch today". There was no evidence of tracing marks so its hard to figure it out ... and the images are put in to fill up space. Predominance of owls, butterflies, flowers ... and faces!

Don't these two look friendly? You have to wonder about their relationship to the stitcher. And look! A crow!! Personal favorite. Next to roses, of course.

The Red Cross quilt was a favorite. Each block was from a different county in New York ... some with sweet little scenes and others with stern reminders. It was fun to listen to people from the state as they located their county on the quilt.

Another quilt had names stitched into various shapes ... a clever twist on an autograph quilt. I'd love to know the significance!

I think my favorite redwork, though, was the blocks stitched from the designs on feedsacks. We often had these bags at home growing up so many of them are familiar. It throws you back to something that wasn't too long ago for many people ... nostalgia is always a great theme but the person making this was probably working in the moment. Don't these make you want to pull out the red thread? I'd love to have any one of these in a pattern book!

Comments

[Kristen]

I love redwork and I love your pictures of these quilts. I wish we could find the patterns to those feedsack designs...would be wonderful to stitch. :) Thank you for sharing!

[Kathy A]

Those quilts are just amazing. Thank you so much for sharing those special treasures.

[christine rohloff]

Thank you for sharing the closeups of these.....just wonderful!
christine

[Mrs. DillyDally]

That is over the top inspiring...thanks! If only they could talk. A good reminder that we should all label and document our quilts! Thanks again!

[Cathy Eystad]

Wow! This is one wonderful blog post. I am an avid redwork stitcher so to see these is a real treat. I guess we learn one thing from your trip, be sure to stitch what the quilt is for, i.e fundraiser, anniversary ect, on the back in the label. Thanks for the photos

[beth]

all thesae years I've been redworking and never thought to combine applique and redwork... another project to dream about thanks from Australia.