Redwork question
 

I am going to make a redwork Sun Bonnet Sue quilt. Should I use an iron on lightweight interfacing on the back of the blocks before embroidering or what would you recommend?

If you chose to do that I would recommend Pellon 101 SF - it irons on nicely and isn't too heavy or too sticky to sew through. Having that kind of backing ensures you won't see the tails or carry over of your thread.

I just finished a quilt with all blocks embroidered. I used a tearaway stabilizer.

One day I saw a vendor who sells embroidery patterns at a show. She had backed her embroidery project with a layer of muslim. She just hooped both layers of fabric when she was stitching. This way all the threads, knots, etc. didn't show. I have embroidered that way ever since. It makes great blocks for quilting.

I've done lots & lots of hand embroidered blocks/projects over the years- I've always just backed my embroideries with a light weight muslin- just like 'kathdavis' said- was taught to do it that way 45 years ago. some people choose to use some sort of stabilizer- but to me muslin is less $$ easy to stitch through, and works fine- so I do not spend the extra for some 'specialized' product. your choice- any lightweight stabilizer will work- I never heard of anyone using a 'tear away' behind hand embroidery before (snipforfun) said she did- I would be afraid of 2 things- the hand embroidered stitches being pulled out when I tried to tear that stuff away- and the show through- after removing it- since the extra layer hides the threads from showing through on the front of the finished block- seems like you defeat that purpose by removing it. (maybe she meant she did machine embroidered blocks & removed the stabilizer???)

I also do alot of hand embroidery, and I always use Quilters Dream batting on the back of mine, it hides the threads and gives the embroidery a nice look. And it needles beautifully. Its thin enough, that I still use another layer of batting when the stiching is done and its ready to be quilted.

This is probably a dumb question but.....do you wash (shrink) the muslin before using it as a backing?

At the last quilt show I went to, the one vendor had red work done for display. Some of hers had muslin on the back and some had flannel on the back. I asked her why she had both and she told me she does whatever the pattern suggests. I would prewash all the fabric before I start muslin, flannel and top fabric. I think I'm going to try flannel on my next project.l

For hand work I use a layer of muslin.........calla