How to do Redwork Embroidery
Redwork embroidery became popular during a period of time when colorfast dyed floss was not readily available. It is believed to have come to the United States as a craft during the Civil War period. It was first done in Europe. Red-dyed silk floss originated in Turkey. Women made do with one-color embroidery projects, mainly done on "penny squares," 6-inch cotton pieces sold by dry goods merchants in America. This embroidery was called redwork because red was colorfast and accessible to all needlework enthusiasts. Embroidery pieces were also done all in gold, black or blue, if the crafter had cotton thread that was dyed indigo blue during the same time period. You can easily do redwork embroidery if you know how to do outline, satin, stem, lazy daisy and the running embroidery stitches.
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Things You'll Need
- Number 5 to 10 embroidery needles
- Six-strand floss
- Cotton cloth
- Hoop
- Transfer pencil
- Pattern
Instructions
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1
Transfer a simple embroidery pattern to a piece of cotton fabric with a transfer pencil or iron-on pattern paper. For authentic redwork patterns, search for antique pattern reproduction books with patterns from the American Civil War through World War II.
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2
Test red embroidery floss for colorfastness. Red dyes can bleed into your material and ruin your project. You may use other colors. The project should be done in one color only.
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3
Cut a 20- to 30-inch piece of floss. Separate two pieces of floss from the six strands. Thread the two strands into the needle together. Knot the end of the floss.
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4
Place the interior of your embroidery hoop on a flat surface. Lay cloth over the hoop. Loosen the adjustment screw on the outside of the exterior portion of the hoop system. Place the exterior hoop over the cloth and interior hoop. Tighten the adjustment screw as you keep the cloth smooth and taut.
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5
Push the threaded needle up through the bottom of the cloth. Embroider the line-drawn pattern with an outline stitch.
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Continue embroidering with the running, stem, satin or lazy daisy stitches typically used in embroidery. These are simple stitches that were taught to children during the 1800s through the early 1950s.
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Tips & Warnings
The magazine "Workbasket" published redwork patterns in nearly every issue for decades. Ask your grandmother or other family members if they have back issues of this magazine.
Check colors to see if they bleed or run into the cloth, even if the floss' tag says it's colorfast.
