Feathers also work really well for borders. For this one I made a center spine (with a slight curve), and did the lobes on one side and then the other.
Feathered Wreaths are a bit more tricky, but only because of the lobes in the center of the circle. Normally lobes are wide at the top and narrow towards the spine, for the center of a curve the lobes are narrow at the top and wide at the spine. They always seem to look odd when I am stitching them, but they seem to look fine in the end.
The outer lobes of a circle need to have very wide ends and be very narrow at the spine to get the lobes to go around the circle, and not to have the lobes coming off the spine at a 90° angle.
I usually mark the center circle of a feathered wreath to make sure it is more even.
This one has an oval center, with a spine that I echoed before adding the lobes. The lobes also filled in the diamond shape of the block. I echoed the center because the feathers created an odd puffy center that I didn't like the look of.
This feathered wreath is so small (in a 4½" block) that I didn't have room for center lobes. The center circle is echoed.
Here are some other feather variations -
big border mini quilt
a heart created by two curved feathers
applique fruit basket mini quilt
Pea pod surrounded by feathers for the corner design. This feather has a slight space between the lobes and the whole feather is echoed to create a different look. The spine is just a single spine but an echoed spine is nice too.
applique fruit basket mini quilt
A feather with a small feather coming out of the lobes. The slight space between the lobes also.
free motion quilt sample
This feather was echoed and then I went back with another colour thread over the spine and into the lobes to create veins in the lobes.
drunkard's path wall hanging
flying geese mini quilt
a heart created by two curved feathers
Pea pod surrounded by feathers for the corner design. This feather has a slight space between the lobes and the whole feather is echoed to create a different look. The spine is just a single spine but an echoed spine is nice too.
A feather with a small feather coming out of the lobes. The slight space between the lobes also.
This feather was echoed and then I went back with another colour thread over the spine and into the lobes to create veins in the lobes.
The next two quilts have little "feather style" variations -
All the quilts are quilt with Invisafil, except for the applique fruit basket mini quilt and the free motion quilt sample which were quilted with Aurifil #50.
I also have an older tutorial for beginning free motion quilting.
One of the best ways to improve at free motion quilting is to take a "7-day challenge". Make up 7 little quilt sandwiches (at least 12" square), and every day for a week, free motion quilt for about 10 mins (try to fill in the square). You will be amazed at how much you improve by the end of the week. Like Diane Gaudynski always says "Keep quilting! Your work gets better everyday."
The free motion quilt sample above is one of my practice pieces from last year when I was learning this style of quilting (my friend Wendy (Inky Threads) and I challenged each other to quilt every day for a month) - I was so pleased with how it turned out that I added binding and turned it into a table mat.
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥
16 comments:
Lovely, lovely, lovely! You do such nice work!
What a beautiful variety of feathers! Yes, the more you do it, the better you get! Yours are wonderful!
Beautiful... just beautiful! I'm gonna have to try that sometime when I'm not working...
Thank you again. Didn't have time to try today, but will be sure to try tomorrow. Hugs
All I can say is, WOW! Beautiful!
LaDonna
I am still trying to get the hang of it, i do one and then the next is all wonky!! Your work is fabulous Joanne, thanks for showing us how to try and copy it!
I love how you've given lots of tips and shown lots of examples. I think I've learned more from your tutorial than in what I've been able to gather in my books. Thank you!
Thank you very much for all your great feather designs and tips.I've never tried doing free motion feather for I thought they were too difficult. Now, thanks to you I'm going to give it a try.
Thanks so much! I think with these tips and examples, I will have something to go on (without spending money for DVDs & classes). I really appreciate your tutorial!
Great feathers tutoral and general resource. I really caught on to making feathers when you did the 14 day challenge last year. It really does help to practice, practice, practice. I made up small placemat size sandwichs of fabric to practice on. My samples kept getting better and better. Thanks for such a great blog. Gail M.
Thanks for the tutorials. You've inspired me to actually try feathers. They've always seemed so intimidating.
You make it look so easy. Guess I need to follow Diane's advice.
I am so glad I found your blog. You have been so helpful. Big THANKS.
thank you so much for showing us how to do this on our regular machines as I will NEVER be able to afford a long arm. at last someone can show us how to do those lovely things on our home machines,
Cheryl
Your tips are so valuable to me - thanks very much for sharing. It really helps me. Greetings from Germany
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