| This pillow incorporates a redwork panel and patchwork.
Here is the image that was used for the Redwork:
This drawing was adapted from an illustration by Bertha Corbett Melcher. It depicts the Sunbonnet Babies following each other, pushing a doll in a carriage. Click on this link to print the full-sized image for the embroidery. Cut a piece of light fabric (I used bleached muslin) at least 6" x 13". Center the drawing on the fabric and trace the Sunbonnet Girls. Using DMC #304, embroidery the design using the vine stitch. Because red embroidery floss has a tendency to run when washed, I soaked my floss overnight in a mixture of 8 ounces of water and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. I allowed the floss to air dry the next day and then I embroidered the design. I surrounded the embroidered block with patchwork that was done by my Great-grandmother, Myrtle Whitney. She was the wife of a poor farmer in Alfred Station, New York in the early part of this century. She cut scraps of clothing and "crazy" pieced them onto foundation muslin. These crazy blocks were sewn together and a backing fabric was placed on. The "quilt" was tied with yard. No batting was used. No quilting was done. These coverlets were used everyday in lieu of blankets. My mother remembers them. A trunk of the coverlets were found in the barn of my great aunt several years ago. As the quilter in the family, I inherited them. Normally, I hate the concept of cutting up quilts. Many sunbonnet sue quilts have been cut in to individual blocks and made into pillows or small wall hangings. Occasionally you see a "baby quilt" that is really a cut down full-sized quilt. So much is lost when this is done. Often the Sunbonnet figures on a quilt give a wonderful history of the maker. Each figure may represent a person in the maker's life. The cloth used for the dresses may be made from clothing that was once worn. I know of a Sunbonnet quilt where the maker stitched in locks of hair from her children and grandchildren into the bonnets of the blocks. Cutting the blocks apart destroys this collection and family history. I agree that some blocks age better than other, certain dresses hold up to age while other deteriorate. Instead of cutting the quilt apart, appliqué a new dress over the vintage one. Preserve the collection of blocks as the maker intended. Don't make various pillows to be scattered. But my great grandmother's coverlets were a different story. These "quilts" had been well used and then improperly stored in a barn. My father wanted to throw the entire collection away. (Thanks Mom for putting your foot down!) There were huge holes in places. Fabrics were deteriorated and the quilts were unusable. A family of field mice had found a home in these quilts. So, I washed and sorted. Some of the quilts are stored in my attic. Others were just too far gone. This pillow is made from one of those quilts. I cut sections that were usable and pieced them together. Since it was crazy pieced to begin with, it worked. The redwork block is surrounded with the pieces of this quilt. The backing fabric held up well, so the pillow is backed in that. I cut the pieces of patchwork in various sizes and sewed them around the redwork block. You can use solid fabric or piece your own to surround your redwork. ENJOY! Kim Bunchuck |
