Fast, inexpensive, and easy to create, this Redwork Chicken Tea Towel makes a fun addition to your kitchen or a lovely, thoughtful gift.
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If you know me at all, you know that I have an entire room full of sewing, painting, drawing, and other craft projects to complete. (Don't even get me started about the writing projects that I have "in-progress.")
How about you? What's in your "Project Closet"?
Don't you ever just want to start and finish a project in the same day? That's how I've been feeling lately. So I started cruising Pinterest for some creative inspiration, and I ended up finding a huge board of old-fashioned redwork like my great-grandma used to do, including an adorable chicken pattern. Eureka!
A chicken tea towel was a perfect afternoon project! Fast, inexpensive, and simple to create. Plus - so cute!
These little ladies joined our family last week, so I've had chickens on my mind lately. Meet Mamie Eisenhower, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Lady Bird Johnson, Rosalynn Carter, and (for all you history buffs) Harriet Lane Johnston.
With just a quick search, I found a collection of free vintage embroidery patterns. Even better, the images themselves are from the 1940's and are all in public domain! I drew up my own version of "chicken & chicks" for this project, and you can download the pattern PDF here → FREE Redwork Chicken Pattern.
[NOTE: You are welcome to share this pattern with others if you link it back to this webpage.]
Here's my finished towel. Isn't this just adorable? If you want to make one of these lovelies, it will cost you just a few bucks and a couple of hours.
Redwork Chicken Tea Towel
Fast, inexpensive, and easy to create, this Redwork Chicken Tea Towel makes a fun addition to your kitchen or a lovely, thoughtful gift.
Tools
Instructions
- Download and print the FREE Redwork Chicken Pattern.
Transfer the pattern to the front of your flour sack tea towel. For a design this simple, I usually just trace the main parts of the design directly onto the fabric with a soft pencil or removable ink. You can do this by using a light table, or just holding it over a window. - Hoop it up and embroider. Most of the needlework is done in a simple outline stitch using 2 strands of floss. The chicken eyes and the small flowers are worked in french knots, and the larger flowers are a french knot surrounded by lazy-daisy stitches.
Notes
Material Notes:
Tea Towel - I used a cool retro tea towel that I bought at Joann’s (3 for about $5 with a coupon). You can also use a plain flour sack tea towel, or just make one out of muslin.
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Carolyn Smith says
How do we download a free pattern when you. have your 'name' printed across the edge of the pattern. I would like to see if this pattern is compatible on my Cricut - to draw the image and than embroider the image. Not able to do this with you signature across the pattern!
Renée says
This pattern is for hand-sewing, which is easily done with the watermark. You can, however, edited it in Photoshop or PicMonkey if you would like.
Julia Wright says
Renee- Just love this darling red work pattern! Let me know if you are ever up in Bellingham, WA- I love doing red work and would love to meet for tea and crafting!
Julia
Marlynn @UrbanBlissLife says
Um, the ONLY projects I ever want to do are projects that I can start and finish in less than a day! 🙂 This is adorable! And so are the chickens!
Sherri says
My craft room is full of unfinished projects too! Glad to know I'm not alone 🙂
Abigail says
I am not very crafty but I love this towel! I'd be proud of myself if I am able to make it. 🙂
Renée ♥ says
I always tell people, "I'm not very athletic," because I've never been any good at sports. But lately, I've been trying to become more fit, and it is interesting to me that even though I'm no more coordinated or "sporty" than I've ever been, I feel more athletic, just be virtue of how I see myself. So maybe you will feel more crafty just by virtue of trying more crafts. It isn't how well you do something that defines you - it is your inner image of yourself.
Tirralan - Tinseltown Mom says
This towel is so adorable and so are the chicks, named after the First Ladies. Such a cute post!
Renée ♥ says
We had originally planned to name them after famous historical women, but when we started brainstorming and the First Ladies came up, it all came together. "Mamie".. that is just a name made for a chicken. (She's my favorite, by the way.)
Charlene Asay says
Love this. I have a bunch of tea towels that I should do this to.
Renée ♥ says
You really should check this Link. (It's also in the post.) She has a tons of old patterns in many different themes.
Sandra - The Foodie Affair says
My grandmother used to sew her tea towels with fun patterns like yours. I think I should pick up a needle and thread 🙂
Renée ♥ says
It is so rewarding to do - especially simple patterns like this one that come together so fast. I love the feeling of accomplishment, even if it is just a little one. 🙂
Crystal says
I love the embroidered tea towels from my grandmother-in-law. I can't decide if I show embroider or crochet when I get older. Right now sewing and blogging are too much! The striped towel makes them extra cute.
Renée ♥ says
I totally understand what you mean. However, I made this one in the evening while I was relaxing after work, so it wasn't really time-consuming at all in the traditional sense. I find this kind of thing very soothing.