I'd like to thank Sarah@ Confessions of a Fabric Addict for the opportunity to participate in this 12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop. This is my first blog hop it has been a lot of fun. Sarah continues to give directions for a quilt-a-long each day. Our complete blog schedule is listed below. Be sure to visit today's other blogger Cindy@ Stitchin at Home.
For my project, I decided to do a redwork table runner. I first searched for a free image I could copy onto my fabric and I came up with this guy:
I traced him onto my fabric which I cut out at about 9 inches, and proceeded to embroider the image with a backstitch using DMC #8 Pearl Cotton, color 498. When I do redwork embroidery I always back my fabric with a piece of thin batting the same size, so the threads won't show through from the back, especially with light fabrics. I embroidered 2 of the same image. If I were to do it again, I think I would have tried to reverse one of them so they were facing each other. This was what it looked like after my embroidery was done:
Next I string pieced some 8" blocks to make some Christmas trees. I used 1.5 and 2" strips of fabric. I am working completely from my old, old stash. One piece was from 1991, I have no idea of who the designer was. My fabrics included Mary Ellen Hopkins Classics for Moda, Kathy Schmetz Hand Stiched Holiday for Moda, Folk Art Christmas I, II, III and IV by Robyn Pandolph for Moda.
I next cut out the trees going different directions out of the string-pieced blocks. I drew a pattern and cut out the background pieces and trunks:
I then assembled six trees, I later realized that was way to many for the table runner. So I have 3 leftover to make another one.
This one has a wonky trunk but I like it that way.
Next I put 1.5 inch sashing between the blocks, two santas at the ends with the trees in between. With all the 1.5 and 2 inch strips I had leftover from the string-piecing I randomly sewed them together and attached them to the table runner, making them 2.5 inches, with corner pieces 2.5 inches squares. I then quilted it. The table runner ends up being 45.5 x 14 inches.
Back
Also for this blog hop I did a little mini quilt. I found a free primitive nativity scene, and embroidered it, again using a backstitch and the DMC #8 Pearl Cotton, Color 498.
A good source for redwork designs and patterns is Bird Brain Designs. I have gotten these patterns from them before, and made my giveaway ornaments from the Long and Tall Holiday Ornaments pattern. I also bought the redwork book Just Be Claus by Robin Kingsley. I am not affiliated with Bird Brain Designs in any way, just a happy customer.
My giveaway is these 2 redwork ornaments
In order to be entered in the giveaway, be sure to leave a comment below. I will pick a winner on Thursday, July 26th the day after our hop ends. Also if you are a no-reply blogger and wish to be entered, please be sure to leave your e-mail in your comment so I can contact you.
Saturday, July 14th
Joy @ Days Filled With Joy
Selina @ Selina Quilts
Sunday, July 15th
Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt
Jan @ The Colorful Fabriholic
Monday, July 16th
Carole @ From My Carolina Home
Jamie @ L'Fair Quilts
Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels & Eats
Tuesday, July 17th
Sharon @ Vrooman's Quilts
Mary @ Made by Marney
Wednesday, July 18th
Karrin @ Karrin's Crazy World
Thursday, July 19th
Christina @ Christina's Handicrafts
Sherry @ Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc.
Danice @ Homespun Hannah
Friday, July 20th
Kristi @ Confessions of A Fabric Addict
Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts
Saturday, July 21st
Marian @ Seams To Be Sew
Meloney @ Mel's Quilting Blog
Sunday, July 22nd
Anja @ Anja Quilts
Moira @ Quilted Snail
Monday, July 23rd
Brenda @ Songbird Designs
Amy @ Sea of Estrogen
Bonnie @ In Stitches With Bonnie
Tuesday, July 24th
Kathy @ Kathy's Kwilts and More
Summer @ Summer Lee Quilts
Wednesday, July 25th
Susan @ Quilt Fabrication
Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSusanpshaffer@gmail.com
It's been a long time since I put down my needle on my last redwork project. This is such a cute Santa and I'm feeling tempted. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteKarrin, this is such a cute idea! I love the Santa redwork piece all on its own, but it is genius in the table runner! Thanks for all your hard work for the hop....
ReplyDeleteI love your Santa!! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great embroidery Santa project !! I will definitely try it since there is plenty of time til Christmas !!
ReplyDeleteYour Santa tablerunner is fantastic! I have the book Just Be Claus, but haven't made anything from it yet. You have inspired me to give redwork a try.
ReplyDeleteI love your embroidery and have just recently returned to it. Thank you for the link to free designs. Thanks also for sharing your good ideas. I am currently working on a Christmas tree quilt and I realize now that I always cut and sew in the same direction. I will have to make a conscious effort to reverse some. Thanks. Janice.snell@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI am currently working on a redword project too! Thanks for the tip on Bird Brain designs.
ReplyDeleteSweet little design, and so perfect for a country decor.
ReplyDeleteI haven't done redwork in a very long time, yours is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteKarrin = beautiful embroidery work and lovely tablerunner. I can tell you love Christmas. Your work is a great inspiration for me to sincerely think about Christmas crafts. I'd love to start on hand embroidery for Christmas tablerunners. I'd like to make a Christmas quilt with some of the blocks being hand embroidered and that's for another year at this stage of my life. Thanks for participating in the hop and being a great inspiration. Merry Christmas in July
ReplyDeleteBeautiful redwork. A table runner is a great idea. Thanks
ReplyDeleteSuper cute ornaments Karrin!
ReplyDeleteThat is a really cute set of mini wall hangings and table runner.
ReplyDeleteVERY CUTE ORNAMENTS, THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE NOT TRIED.... YET
ReplyDeletehjrogers@sympatico.ca
Very cute!
ReplyDeleteyour redwork is wonderful. and your quilting is lovely. i have not embroidered in a while. may have to give it a try again.
ReplyDeletequilting dash lady at comcast dot net
Such a pretty giveaway! radosevichr@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteLovely redwork and cute table runner!
ReplyDeleteI love your table runner; nice idea for the redwork and scrappy trees. It's lovely. Embroidery and quilt blocks go together so well.
ReplyDeleteI'm not very good at embroidery, but you make it look so lovely! Perfect Christmas gift ideas, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYour work is beautiful! I've never done redwork embroidery although I've embroidered but it's been years. I just might have to find my supplies and try this. Great table runner idea!
ReplyDeletekthurn(at)bektel(dot)com
I cant wait to embroider the santa , thank you for the pattern
ReplyDeletesharongalli(at)gmail(d0t)com
What a lovely runner you made. What a great idea to make some ornaments too. I have always loved hand made ornaments.
ReplyDeleteLove your runner. I do at least 1 redwork piece per year, primarily at Christmas. This looks like it could be this years project. Just love it. Would love to win one of your beautiful ornaments. Thanks for the chance and for sharing your ideas and talents.
ReplyDeleteI love your redwork and how you used them in the table runner
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the table runner. I love that Santa.
ReplyDeleteI forget how much I like doing redwork until I start doing it again. Thank you for giving me some inspiration to get another piece going.
beautiful stitchery....would love to know where the pattern is for the nativity scene....
ReplyDeleteHow nice of you to give away your own handwork! I like the Santa Moon design you chose, too. Redwork is funwork.
ReplyDelete:) Linda
Lovely trees, a super way to use strips, and have the redwork at each end of the runner is really pretty.
ReplyDeleteYour table runner is just delightful. I love redwork,especially this time of year as it is great for traveling. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLovely table runners -- love the name Bird Brain Designs....I may have to use that one!!! lOL
ReplyDeletemumbird3atgmaildotcom
Beautiful redwork. I also love the bird brain designs and have stitched many of them. I haven’t tried the 8 perle cotton with embroidery but I really like how yours came out. I will have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea to incorporate embroidery in a quilting project. It looks great. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis may sound unbelievable but the Santa's that you embroidered for the ends of your runner, I have a Christmas decoration of the very same design. My decoration is about 4" tall and has a little bell that hangs from Santa's hat. I've had the decoration for over 30yrs. Not sure where I got it from but it's been with me from Abilene, TX to Omaha, HE to Corpus Christi, TX and through 3 more moves around Corpus Christi. This year it will be handed down to either my daughter of my youngest son. It has a story of it's own.
ReplyDeleteJeri Oldtisme@aol.com
I like how the redworks makes everything look vintage. What a fun project!
ReplyDeleteLove your scrappy redwork table runner.Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely table runner! I also like to do embroidery. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love your red work embroidery. Embroidery always is a favorite of mine, however, I'm not very good at doing it. I may have to try it again though!!
ReplyDeleteI love your red work embroidery. Embroidery always is a favorite of mine, however, I'm not very good at doing it. I may have to try it again though!!
ReplyDeleteGreat runner. Love the primitive nativity wallhanging!
ReplyDeleteYour redwork is beautiful !! Trees are adorable, what a great gift idea. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas. 😉
ReplyDeleteVery nice projects! I especially like the primitive nativity scene. Would you mind sharing the link to where you found this image?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration, I think I need to try some red work.
Happy stitching!
Hi Karrin! This is a very cute project. I really like the trees! For redwork, my preferred method is in my embroidery hoop! LOL I have done a little hand embroidery in the past and really need to brush up on that technique sometime! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThe Santa tablerunner is lovely, but the nativity scene is the one that steals my heart. I enjoy stitching redwork projects, but never thought of using a thin layer of batting on the back when stitching. Thanks for the tip. I will definitely try it with my next redwork project.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy doing redwork and really love the nativity scene
ReplyDeleteYou have reminded me that I have some Christmas tree potholders that I need to finish.
ReplyDeleteI already loved it from IG, but seeing the whole post here, and seeing it bigger makes it even better! I like Bird Brain Designs, too. I used to subscribe to their newsletter and it got expensive because I had no resistance. LOL Now I go once in a while for a look. All your stitchery is wonderful, and you are so good at it. My backstitch isn't perfectly even, but I enjoy doing it. I'm much better with outline stitch. =) Primitive is a style I enjoy, too. Thanks for the chance to win a couple of your stitchings.
ReplyDeleteI've never done redwork. It is really lovely! Your table runner and ornaments are outstanding!
ReplyDeletenikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com
Im having blogger issues again, trying to get comments sent to me
ReplyDeleteI have never done embroidery work, my Mom used too, but I never really learned how and I don't have an embroidery machine, but I just love your Santas and the table runner. I love seeing what others can do. Thank you for sharing and for the giveaway! I hope I can win!! deb.meyer77@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteYour redwork is so pretty! I love simple embroidery of all kinds... just finished some gingerbread houses in brown - not sure there is something called brownwork but there you have it!! Hope you get your blogger issues sorted... xx
ReplyDeleteLOVE those ornaments!!
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to do redwork embroidery for awhile now but I need to stock up on my red floss before I start on that. Nice designs. shades000 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI love the table runner, the wall quilt, and the ornaments!! Perfect for redwork -- thanks so much for sharing! I always like to have an embroidery project going, and these are great ideas!
ReplyDeleteRed work is just so classic for Christmas. Lovely work and thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSomeone made me a redwork mini in a swap several years ago. I love this style of creative design.
ReplyDeletetushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
What a great idea for a table runner. It looks darling. I've never thought of looking at free designs to use as an embroidery. wonderful post even if I am very late getting to reading it!
ReplyDeleteI love Bird Brain Designs! They have some cute designs available. I love what you did by finding images online to make what you want, and the string pieces trees are a fantastic idea, and a great way to use up our Christmas scraps! Thank you for much for sharing your project, and participating in the blog hop!
ReplyDelete