Red & White: American Redwork Quilts & Patterns [Hardcover]

Deborah Harding (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 14, 2000

Red & White: American Redwork Quilts and Patterns is the most comprehensive look at redwork available. Redwork, a type of needlework popular during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, is once again the hottest trend in the quilting world. In this two-volume, heavily-illustrated work, best-selling author Deborah Harding traces pattern sources and design inspirations for antique quilts with original catalog offers and period advertisements to help collectors identify, date, and document their own quilts. Blocks on twenty antique quilts are analyzed in detail. In the accompanying pattern book, 100 actual-size patterns and detailed instructions enable readers to create their own redwork quilts and linens.

"Red & White... is a testimonial to the prodigious research conducted by author Deborah Harding. This excellent book's publication, occurring during a time of ever-increasing fascination with the old time needleart redwork, will be welcomed by many, including quiltmakers, quilt historians, quilt collectors, textile experts, appraisers, antique dealers, art historians, and designers."
--Cuesta Benberry

"Red & White... is the first book to explore redwork quilts in a systematic manner. This book is a must for anyone specifically interested in American quilt history and more generally in American textile history and culture."
--Lee Kogan, Museum of American Folk Art, New York

"As one who loves embroidery, I have discovered that Deborah Harding's Red & White is a treasure! Each of the 100 actual-size patterns is its own little piece of Americana-and all it takes to recreate them is one basic stitch."
--Julie Nixon Eisenhower

"At last-a fascinating book that explores the patterns, sources, and methods of creating those enchanting, figural redwork embroidery quilts. How helpful to have such a delightfully written and comprehensive reference work for this increasingly popular collecting area."
--Laura Fisher, Antique Quilts & Americana, New York

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Deborah Harding is an author and editor specializing in vintage textiles and Americana. She was crafts and needlework editor at Family Circle and editor-in-chief of several national consumer magazines. She is the author of three books, including the best-selling America's Glorious Quilts. A frequent magazine contributor on the subjects of collectibles and American folk art, Deborah lives in New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (July 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847822443
• ISBN-13: 978-0847822447
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 1.3 x 10.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #601,948 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding -- Well Worth the Price!, June 27, 2001

By 

Megan Cooke (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red & White: American Redwork Quilts & Patterns (Hardcover)

This book would make a lovely gift for anybody interested in textile arts, even for someone with little or no quilting or embroidery experience. The presentation is lovely -- two nicely bound, wonderfully illustrated books nestled inside a snug cardboard jacket. One book features a short discussion of redwork embroidery along with illustrations of exquisitely executed quilts. The other supplies brief instructions (perhaps too brief -- especially the section on transferring the patterns)and a lovely collection of redwork patterns so that readers can create their own redwork quilt. My only quarrel with the book is that a beginner (like me!) might not feel confident with the brief instructions. However, a quick trip to the fabric store to talk to a knowledgable salesperson should dispel any doubts. Despite this small problem, I give the book 5+ stars -- it was great fun to browse through, then to read intently , then to pore over as I selected possible designs for my very first quilt!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Red & White, October 4, 2000

By 

N. Mortellito (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Red & White: American Redwork Quilts & Patterns (Hardcover)

Once again Deborah Harding shares a piece of history with us. Her beautifully organized and prodigiously researched book on redwork quilts is a welcome addition to any quilt lovers library. It seems that no stone was left unturned in her search to bring us a comprehensive documentation of this needleart. I recommend this two volume book to anyone interested in quilts. Not only is it a lovely publication to look at, but it educates us in an area of quilting that little has been written about. Bravo Deborah!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, well researched book set, August 21, 2006

By 

D. Sample (Fredericksburg, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Red & White: American Redwork Quilts & Patterns (Hardcover)

Often it is difficult to get accurate, well documented information on traditional crafts and handwork. Much of that art form was passed down from generation to generation with very little written record. Deborah Harding has done a wonderful job of finding old newpaper and magazine articles on Redwork, as well as fantastic old patterns reproduced here. A friend of mine loaned me this set of books, and I could never bring myself to return them to her, so I knew I had to have my own set!