Antique redwork squares
 

A friend has inherited 27 hand-done redwork squares, about 6x6" each. According to a note with them, they were worked on by her great-grandmother's church group back in the 1920s. At this point they're just squares, not made up into a quilt.

She's undecided what to do with them. I told her we could work them into a quilt, but she's afraid that might diminish their value. IMHO, they're not particularly valuable right now as 27 small pieces of embroidery in a plastic bag. :p

What would you do with this material? It's in excellent condition and I don't think would be harmed by using it.

Thanks in advance.

The chances are quite good that they were worked on in the first place for a quilt. Hundreds of them were made in those days and many magazines and booklets contained the designs.

She might even find her squares among these images: https://www.google.com/search?site=&...56.Scnvu-Ffk7c

Jan in VA

To me they aren't worth much until they are put in to a quilt. I guess you could frame each one and sell them as small pictures. As they say on the various shows, just because something is old, does not mean it is valuable. So they should decide to do something with them, sitting in a bag they are not even being admired which is too bad.

I was given 25 red and a dozen blue redwork blocks. I had 3 grandchildren to make quilts for. These made terrific quilts for them and they knew that they were handworked by their great great aunt and cherish their special quilts, even at their young ages. I can only find two of the pictures just now.
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I would make them into a quilt (hand quilted of course!).

Great advice here. There is no value till it's in a quilt it's simply a UFO with potential value.

What most non quilters do not realize is that blocks left undone can slowly lost their shape slightly. The best thing for them is having the support of being sewn into a quilt. Hand quilting would be the best way to finish the quilt. She is lucky to have your support.

being single, they have a better chance of being lost or thrown out.
when they are made into a quilt, it is more valuable, and will not
be lost, misplaced or thrown out. it will be treasured and used.

I wonder what she means by value. If it's historical, would she like it if some period fabric were used to combine them? If it's aesthetic, I can't imagine anything better than what QuiltnNan has posted. I wonder if she means monetary value, thinking "Antiques Road Show."

Hugs,
Charlotte

27 squares is a bit much to frame and hang on a wall, so they would be best seen if they were finished into a quilt. I'd photograph each square so I could keep the image, and them make the quilt, photograph that, and use it. The best memories would be using the quilt as it was intended to be.

Exactly; she's seen too many Antiques Road Show programs where people are distraught that they "destroyed" heirloom furniture by repairing making it useful...

These squares have no significant monetary value, as far as I can tell--they were very very common and are worked up nicely, but there's nothing extraordinary about them. I hope I can convince her that as a quilt, they will be infinitely more valuable in emotions and memories than they'll ever be monetarily.

Thanks, everyone!

I literally have hundreds of these donated to the museum each year and as the collections manager says "they are a dime a dozen"!

redwork squares
 

funny you should ask, I just finished this UFO red work I just need to do the binding

Personally, I would make them into a quilt, as I have a red work quilt on my Roundtoit List for some day.

I had red & white embroidered squares that my grandma & her sister had done. Made 2 quilts, 1 from each set. Both came out well & I was glad I did them. I would do the same with yours. Have fun making a quilt

I would definitely make them into a quilt. That way they can be admired! Anxious to see them when finished!

I would put them into a quilt.

my first thought is to stay out of the mess. If she sees more value in a plastic bag, let her do as she pleases.

Designing a quilt with the squares is the logical answer, however.

I agree with everyone else that they should be made into a special quilt, BUT... they are hers and not yours so be careful of being too pushy on making her do something she isn't comfortable with. Ultimately it's her decision.

Don't worry; I'm not pushing this at all. SHE mentioned them to me and SHE brought them for me to look at. I was just asking, on her behalf since she's not on this board, whether there was any reason not to put them in a quilt.

I'm going to show her some of the examples people have posted, and I suspect we'll be working together this year on making a new quilt for her. Thanks, everyone.