Lewis and Clark - Corps of Discovery

I've always loved Redwork.

Outline embroidery is often called “Redwork". Early women's magazines carried simple drawings, designed for tracing. Full-sized transfer patterns could be purchased by mail. "Penny Squares", available from the local Mercantile were pre-stamped blocks costing a penny apiece. Flowers, animals, and nursery themes were favorite subjects. Commemorative quilts were also made in honor of presidents, historic events and international expositions. Red was the most popular color due to the colorfast "turkey red" cotton embroidery floss that was used in the mid 1800s. After colorfast dyes became available embroidery bloomed in full color. Outline embroidered quilts reached the peak of their popularity from about 1880 to 1925.They were inspired by the needlework display at the 1876 World’s Fair. 

This commemorative quilt honors Merriweather Lewis and William Clark and their west-bound expedition May 1804-November 1805, seeking a Northwest passage to the Pacific Ocean. I drew these scenes after reading the book Undaunted Courage by Steven Ambrose in 2001. Each one features important elements of the famous expedition including leaders Lewis and Clark, Sakagawea, York and Seaman the dog. Also included is a map of the trip, the boat that they used, a representative image of natural history specimens they collected and the peace medals that they used for trade. Lastly there are quotes that give a glimpse into the thoughts of the expedition leaders.

I used brown thread for the embroideries

to go with the outdoor color and design of the full-sized quilt.

This was my second outline embroidery pattern. The first one was called Tillamook Landmarks, in honor of the natural beauty of the county where I live and work. 

And it is red!

Happy Quilting

Denise

Redwork Quilt Blocks

Here is a little treat for Redwork lovers...

At the last Tillamook County Quilt Guild meeting Carol and LaRayne showed me some vintage, redwork blocks that they had purchased at a Portland quilt show. The blocks were sewn together with a big black string. They were very dirty and acid stained, probably from being stored for years in a cardboard box. 

The designs looked very familiar, so I took these quick photographs and checked in my studio library. A lucky guess led me right to the info that the block designer was Ruby McKim, for a quilt titled Colonial History, c.1935. The patterns were reprinted by Leman Publications in a soft 81/2" x 11" book titled The Colonial History Quilt by
Jean Dubois.

These are the kind of blocks that inspired my Lewis and Clark quilt.... see it tomorrow when I gather some photos.

All my best
Denise

Memorial Day Tribute

This has been a working week-end as I am finishing up a quilt for my friend Jo Shapland. She made this quilt in honor of her father, 

Earl P. Shapland, 

B17 Navigator - WWII. 

Sharing this quilt seems an appropriate way to honor and to say 

  Thank You
to all of our military men 

past and present. 

  All my best.... Denise

First Quilt of the Year

After spending Thanksgiving with one son and his family in Oregon, we spent Christmas with our other son and his family in Massachusetts. 

One of the highlights was teaching our youngest grandchild to sew.

All of the other grandchildren have sewn and quilted their own quilts and now the littlest one is on her way. You can see her serious concentration as she sewed.

 I have learned, from many classes with children, that sewing short strips together is the fastest way for them to learn to use a sewing machine.  #Children'sQuilt

 

For her first project, my Granddaughter chose to sew just one row of strips. Her next project is sewing checkerboard patches. 

Can't wait to see her first finished block.

Best of luck with your sewing projects

for the New Year.
Happy quilting
Denise