Free Redwork Embroidery Patterns and Designs

If you enjoy embroidery or are just starting to embroider, redwork embroidery is an excellent change of pace and a good way to learn to embroider!

This page has an explanation of redwork embroidery, as well as free redwork embroidery patterns.  

I am currently working on a blue redwork embroidery design of adorable snow people which will eventually become a winter table runner as a gift for my mom.  Although this is called redwork, the snow people design is in blue, which is called blue redwork.

What is redwork?

Redwork is an American form of embroidery developed in the 19th century. It was very popular from about 1880-1920.  Redwork embroidery was done only in red stitching since red dyes were the first colorfast dyes available for purchase.

As redwork embroidery became increasingly popular, women started using this type of embroidery to embellish items like pillowcases, table cloths, dishtowels, quilt blocks and anything else they felt would benefit from this decoration.

Close up of panel from a redwork bed cover (Shevlin, 1908). Now in the collection of the Minnesota Historical Society.^[1]. License: CC BY-SA 2.0

Redwork embroidery designs were often given to children in the form of “penny squares”.  These were squares of fabric with a preprinted design and were used to teach kids the art of embroidery. The squares are aptly named since they cost a penny each.

Often, when the children had made enough squares, the penny squares would be stitched together to form a bed covering.

Redwork embroidery designs are still most often worked on muslin or other white fabric, so the red embroidery floss is stark and vivid against the background fabric. 

What stitches do you use in redwork?

Embroidery redwork uses very few stitches, which makes it great for those just learning to embroider.

Redwork embroidery designs are outlined with little to no filled areas.  The free redwork embroidery patterns on this page are, therefore, quick and simple to complete!

One of the main stitches used in redwork embroidery is the stem stitch, also known as the outline or back stitch. Because the redwork embroidery designs are outlined, this is the stitch most often used.

Other stitches include the satin stitch, which is used to fill small spaces in the design. There is also the split stitch, and French knots are used to add small details to the redwork embroidery.

This page is full of resources to learn the basic stitches used in redwork embroidery!

Scroll down for free redwork embroidery patterns, tutorials for the stitches used, and more history of this striking form of embroidery. If you are interested in redwork products, take a look to see all that is available.