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Monday, January 23, 2023

Design Wall Monday - January 23, 2023

 Good Morning Quilters!

This is a happy day!  My long time UFO of redwork squares is a completed quilt top!  I finished the last corner embroidery yesterday.  

Here are some pictures. My blocks finish at 10 inches square and there are 8 across and 8 down, with borders that each finish at 7 inches.  So the quilt will be 94” by 94”.  Benjamin Biggs Wedding quilt is on the design wall, so these pictures are taken with it on the floor.  I will post a picture of all of it when it is a completed quilt.








I am thinking I want minimal quilting on this quilt after looking at pictures of this type of quilt on the internet.  Most have no quilting that is very evident.  In fact, I found this information:  


It wasn't until the turn of the century that women began to use redwork embroidery for bedcoverings. Preprinted squares ready to embroider were sold. Because they originally cost only about a penny apiece they were commonly called penny squares. 

redwork quiltThe quilt blocks used for redwork quilts ranged from six to ten inches across. They were usually embroidered then sewn together without any sashing between the blocks. Often a feather or cross-stitch was used to cover the seam line. Later a red or red print sashing was sometimes used. Some of these bedcoverings were quilted while others were simply lined without batting and then tied at the corners of each block.


From the website :  Womenfolk.com


I am getting out another redwork UFO this week to finish up.  This one will be a child’s quilt featuring Curious George.   I have 14 squares made and when I made them, all the alternate squares I was thinking of putting with them seemed to outshine them.   I now believe the quilt shouldn’t have alternate squares, and should be sewn together without sashing or alternate blocks.  Some projects have to be UFOs until I decide the best way to complete them.  lol

Here’s one block:


Our son loved the Curious George books when he was a little boy.  I think children like to see the little monkey get into trouble, and it always turns out ok.  I like the  old quilt idea of decorative stitching on each of the block joins, and I am going to try that on this one.  Maybe a stitch like this one:



What have you started….or finished……or moved along the way to completion this week?  Please join in the Design Wall Linky Party below and show us.  Thanks to all of you who participate.  It is so much fun to read your blogs and look at your lovely pictures.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

17 comments:

Gretchen Weaver said...

The flowered redwork quilt is beautiful! I suggest stitching 1/2" on the inside of each square then stitching around each design. You definitely don't want to overwhelm each block with a lot of quilting but you do want stability in the blocks. Happy stitching!

Astrid said...

Absolutely gorgeous Judy! Cute CG block and the decorative stitching is such a great idea. Not much sewing done here the last week since my sewing machine returned from the spa today. Now I'll get busy!

Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting said...

Beautiful finished quilt top, Judy!!! Oh, that Curious George quilt is going to be great! All kids love that monkey business monkey!!! At first glance, I really love that butterfly block, too, but I realize you were showing it for the embroidery over the seams. That is a neat idea--frames the block so well!

maggie fellow said...

interesting about penny squares. Redwork is so classy

Kate said...

Just WOW! Your red work quilt is gorgeous. The border works so well. Looking forward to seeing this one all finished. I like the red stitching on the seams, it's like adding sashing. I agree that some blocks stay UFOs till you figure out how to proceed with them. It's such a great feeling to know you finally have the right path on something. Happy stitching this week.

Churn Dash said...

Quilting the redwork would scare me. It is beautiful.

Helen

Michelle said...

Your embroidery is amazing!

Sara said...

The redwork quilt is just stunning! Great job!

Melva said...

Judy, both red-work pieces will be such treasures when finished. I really like that decorative red stitching over the block seams. It will be STUNNING!

Bonnie said...

What a great finish you have. It looks terrific! My cousin made my daughter an embroidered quilt. It was wonderful. But Jen loved it to death just about. The embroidery began wearing out. I'm pretty sure one of us still has it. (I suppose I should look and make sure she has it. No need for me to store it anymore!) I like the design over the seams. That will keep you busy for a while.

AnnieO said...

Love the redwork stitcheries--lots of time with needle and thread. George is so cute, too! Happy Stitching.

Melisa- pinkernpunkinquilting said...

Judy ,your redwork quilt looks amazing. Congratulations on the finish. I look forward to seeing your quilting in the future. Curious George is as cute as a button as well. Have a wonderful week and thank you for hosting the link party.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

your redwork is amazing. and pretty cool to learn about too. Love that curious George!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Beautiful redwork embroidery and a wonderful finish. Love to see these other patterns. I remember my grandmother having a bag of preprinted patterns ready to embroider and I think she got them from the catalogue, either Eatons or Simpsons Sears.

Quilter Kathy said...

Congratulations on finishing your redwork quilt top! that is an amazing accomplishment! Love the curious George block too...my kids loved those books!

Celine said...

Such beautiful embroidery !

Andree G. Faubert said...

Hi Judy, that was very interesting info about the redwork quilts. I think that a line of embroidery would look lovely. Congrats on your finished top!