Do you embroidery? Many of the Quilters at First enjoy embroidering and we have several embroidered items for sale at the October 21-22 Sale. Some of us began our love of fabric by being introduced to embroidery at a very early age. Others picked up needles and floss to embroidery daisies on our bell-bottom denim jeans in the ’70s. The days of embroidered pillow cases and chest of drawers scarfs are over! But the months of COVID isolation created a surge of all ages starting to embroidery and to embroidery all sorts of items.
Embroidery has a fascinating past. Check out https://mymodernmet.com/tag/embroidery/ for the fascinating international and ancient history of this needle craft.
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Simple floss and a needle can be used to create hundreds of different stitches. Entire books are devoted to the art.
The majority of our embroidery is the most basic stitch–the outline or stem stitch. This stitch results in a design that looks “colored” with floss rather than crayons. Satin stitching is used to cover a space completely–not as easy as it looks. I have probably ripped out more satin stitches than I have left on a project.
Tea towel–or dish towels are a favorite to make. The unbleached muslin is easy to work on and it is something practical, right?
Marge made these vintage inspired towels. The cow’s spots are an excellent example of satin stitches. Each towel is $10. She also embroidered a fun set of seven towels with a clown theme. This colorful set of seven is $65. SOLD
Other towels will be at the Sale that have a holiday theme including some Fall themes not pictured here.
Towels make a great enviromental-conscious gift wrapping solution. This wrapping won’t end up in the trash but will be enjoyed for years.
This table runner combines embroidery with patchwork –sawtooth stars and flying geese. It does have trees and snowmen but the green color combination makes it perfect for the entire winter. The table runner measures 22″ x 57″ and is $75. SOLD
We have two quilts that have embroidered blocks.
Both of these quilts use blocks gifted to us—and in both, the embroidery work is perfect. The Butterfly quilt is 50″ x 55″ and $175. The Cats quilt is 50″ x 55″ and also $175 SOLD
Another sub group of embroidery is “Red Work”. Red Work is a simple embroidery stitch using only red floss. In the 1800’s, “turkey red” was the only floss that was fade proof and was inexpensive for the pioneer homemaker. Every general store carried “turkey red” and it was used for everything-pillow shams, aprons, towels, table linen, etc. Red is my favorite color —and it is easy to do while watching TV–so there are several red work items for sale this fall.
Having grown up in a rural area with lots of “creeks” this was meant literally. My aunt and uncle couldn’t leave their farm if the creek flooded. But later, I discovered that it might have referred to the Creek Indians.
18″ x 18″ $30
I have not finished this piece–can’t decide if a pillow or wall hanging would be best. The piece measures about 12″ x 12″ and is embroidered on white linen. What do you think? pillow or wall hanging?
A cousin to red work is blue work—used a lot with snow or winter themes. Bird Brain Designs, an embroidery design company, features hundreds of red and blue work patterns.
The banner of six different snowmen is $30. The trio of snowmen pillow measures 14″ x 15″ and is also $30. SOLD
Machine embroidery has become very popular with the advancement of computerized sewing machines. We were gifted these ABC blocks that were machine embroidered to resemble cross stitch. The block were used to create a child’s quilt with a flannel backing.
The quilt measures 43″ x 72″ and is $125
Janis used her domestic sewing machine to free hand embroidery the wording on these coasters. The six valentines are $40.
Embroidery has been used since the beginning of time to add something special to our ordinary lives. Embroidery is relaxing to do, special to gift and fun to use.
Quilts, Etc. 
I vote for wall hanging!
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I vote illow
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