This is a guide for people interested in recreating or identifying vintage redwork or embroidery quilts.

Redwork became a popular form of hand embroidery in the 1880's and lasted until the 1930's.   Redwork is a design embroidered using outline-stitch, typically done in turkey red.  (Turkey red is a deep rich shade close to DMC #304.)  Red was preferred since this was one color that did not bleed, they used a different dye process than we do today.  Redwork embroidery was frequently used to introduce young girls to embroidery work. Other colors were also used, mainly blue, black and yellow.

The Farm Life Quilt - 1930's Ruby Short McKim Pattern

The Farm Life Quilt, by Ruby Short McKim, was originally published in the 1930's in a series of newspaper patterns.  One pattern was printed each week, and the reader would carefully cut and save each piece until they had a complete quilt set.  These patterns were highly valued, many of them surviving for collectors and quilt historians of today.

The pattern consists of 25 designs, fence border and the quilting design.

Blocks are designed for transfer onto a nine-inch square of muslin.  The designs are six inches square. Each square includes simple coloring suggestions.

Whether you live on a farm in a village, or in a city, you will be charmed with the Farm Life Quilt. Each block pictures some friendly scene or faithful animal and all of them together make a quilt that is as interesting and homelike as it is comfortable to use.

Designs - Farm Home, Farm Father, Apple Tree, Well-Filled Barn, Faithful Dobbin (horse), Friendly Cow, Sheep for Wool, Donkey, Pig in Sty, Billy Goat, Loyal Dog Shep, Family Cat, Struttin' Rooster, Busy Hen, Goose in Pond, Turkey, Barn Pigeons, Greedy Duck, Boy Fishin', Mother, Girl, Scarecrow, Harvest Field, Old Oaken Bucket, Farm Music.

Here is an original newspaper square and one done with colored thread embroidery

A quilt square, colored with crayola crayons.

Sqaures in red embroidery (redwork).

Squares in colored embroidery.

Many quilters recreate this pattern today!  The  pattern is suitable for coloring, painting, appliqué work, embroidery or a combination. You can choose redwork or bluework and make  your quilt as simple or elaborate as you wish. At that time, the quilt was designed for redwork, no color suggestions are given.

Any of the designs can be used separately for pillow tops, runners, tablecloths and other pieces for your home or for gifts.