Redwork embroidery was a prevalent form of needlework in the early 19th century. The trend started in Europe and from there was brought to America where it was immediately embraced by women everywhere.
Muslin was the material used for redwork embroidery back in those days. Six-inch pieces of this soft cloth were sold in stores all over the country for just a penny per square. This is actually where the term penny square came from.
The inexpensive price delighted American women and is probably one of the main reasons for its instant popularity especially among the middle classes.
Another reason for why so many people were interested in the redwork embroidery patterns is the simplicity of the stitches that are used in the designs. In fact they are so simple that many schools teach this kind of needlework to very young girls at school. These are the most common stitches involved in redwork embroidery:
1. Stem stitch - This is probably the most commonly used stitch in redwork embroidery patterns. Practically all needlework of this type contains the stem stitch.
2. Outline stitch - This is also called the Kensington hemming, named after the exclusive girls' school where it was invented in the late 19th century.
3. Satin stitch - This stitch is primarily used for creating a solid look to some parts of the needlework by filling up certain areas in the pattern and making it stand out from the rest of the design.
4. Split Stitch - This is more popularly known today as the backstitch. It is usually applied on tight curves in the redwork embroidery patterns.
5. Straight stitch - As the name implies, this stitch is for covering short straight lines in the embroidery design.
6. French knots - From afar, this stitch will appear like tiny dots in the pattern.
7. Feather stitch - This stitch works great for joining together separate pieces of cloth to create a quilted product.
With these very simple stitches, women were able to create several redwork embroidery patterns for their bedspreads, pillow cases and coverlets. Many ladies also decorated their dresses and aprons with their own renditions of redwork embroidery patterns.
If you want to teach yourself how to create your own redwork embroidery patterns [http://www.allthingsembroidery.com/Embroidery_Designs/Selecting_The_Right_Patterns_For_Your_Projects.php], you can go to yesterdayschar dot com for instructions on the execution of the stitches that you will need to implement your design. You can also find some tips on the website to help make your project more enjoyable and hassle-free.
