Redwork became popular in the late 1800's because of a colorfast thread made in Turkey, from a secret recipe.

The simplicity of redwork designs, and the fact that they were embroidered with very simple stitches on inexpensive muslins, meant that nearly everyone could have decorated linens. Children often learned how to embroider on "Penny Squares", little designs printed on muslin and sold at the general stores for a penny. Redwork quilts were mostly "summer weight" linens, meaning they had no batting. The Redwork squares were usually stitched together without sashing, and either quilted to a backing with a feather stitch or simply tied with string or yarn.

When synthetic dyes began to be manufactured in the United States, the popularity of Redwork diminished and embroidering with colors became very popular. Redwork can be embroidered in any color, Bluework is still Redwork, only it's done in Blue, and usually called Blue Redwork.

Happy Stitching,
Barbara Parrish

Redwork Embroidery Patterns

I began creating Redwork patterns in 2002 for my mother, who loved all kinds of embroidery, but especially Redwork. My very first set of patterns was "The 20s Kids", and what started as something special for my mother eventually grew into a collection of 20 Redwork pattern sets.

Now that I’m retired and have more time to create, I’m working on Set No. 21! It has been a wonderful journey, and I’m delighted to continue creating new designs for fellow embroidery enthusiasts.

If you click on any pattern on this website, it will take you directly to my Etsy shop, BlueCatStudioShop , where you can purchase my Redwork patterns along with the 300 or so other items I have available in my shop.

Scissors with Fobs

Beautiful and practical, these fine-quality scissors have been thoughtfully paired with a coordinating fob to create a lovely, cohesive set. The fob adds a special touch while making your scissors easy to spot and keep track of your sewing supplies.

Perfect for all your thread-cutting needs, this set is as practical as it is pretty. Each set comes in a gift box, making it perfect for storing your scissors or giving as a thoughtful gift to a fellow stitcher.

Gift Idea

Create a thoughtful gift set by pairing one or more of my Redwork embroidery patterns with a beautiful pair of scissors and a coordinating fob. It's a charming combination for anyone who enjoys embroidery, stitching, and creating something by hand.