One of my favorite pastimes is embroidery. I discovered redwork embroidery about 8 years ago and fell in love with it. I embroidered 2 of these glass towels about 6 years ago, and just this past week I finished 2 more while watching the 5 hour version of Pride and Prejudice.
For an extra touch, I crocheted an edging along the bottom of the redwork towels, using a number 10 steel crochet hook (tiny!) and pearl cotton thread. I have the thought of making a few of these towels into pillows. Hmmm... any other good ideas of what I can do with the towels? Of course, I could use them to dry glasses. :-)
Redwork was popular in the 1800's and it has seen a revival in the past 10 years or so. I have found many free redwork patterns online, and there are several yahoo discussion groups for redwork. A redwork primer can be found here. I recently read somewhere that Bluework was popular from about 1910 to 1930, and of course I had to embroider something, anything, in blue thread. I like it almost as much as I like the redwork.
Ruth
Ruth...you do beautiful work! I love my redwork apple towel. I probably won't use it to dry glasses but it will look very pretty in my kitchen.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Ruth, I love your towels!! Very cute! I am looking for something to keep me busy while we are temporary housing, I think I may have to do something like this!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for having us for dinner. It was such a blessing to our family to meet yours!!!
Love, Heather
Lovely! My favorite dishtowels are the embroidered ones I've found at thrift stores over the last few years. I've not done a lot of embroidery, but this seems like an excellent practicing opportunity.
ReplyDeleteSo very pretty! I have a tea towel embroidered with the same tea pot. My sister made it and gave it to me when I got married.
ReplyDeleteRuth,
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get your red stripe tea towels? I would love to find some blue stripe ones, and do some of the bluework. You have inspired me! :)
Michele
Thank you all, for the comments.
ReplyDeleteHeather, you should try embroidery---it's very relaxing and a lot of fun.
Michele, I sent you an email about towel sources.
Annie---I too love all my embroidered towels. Unfortunately, I use them for dishes and they wear out!
Tammy, Did you sister use multi-colors when she embroidered the teapot? I'd love to see a picture of it!
Julie, You're welcome! I'm glad you like it.
Very nice embroidery. I love blackwork and am looking to start goldwork. I love needlework in general!
ReplyDeletegreat work...I have just started to embroider after not doing it for years...I love the look of the redwork too...
ReplyDeleteDeby
Ruth~
ReplyDeleteI love the fruit redwork! Where did you find the stiped towels?
~Elaine