Free Motion Quilt Feathers

As I mentioned before I have been taking some quilting lessons. My lessons so far have mostly consisted of Teri telling me not to worry so much, believe in myself more and please would I drop my shoulders from down around my ears ....

One of our conversations went a little like this.

T:    You should practice quilting using a color.
Me: But I like using the invisible thread - it hides all your mistakes.
T:    Exactly. You should practice quilting using a color.

After my first lesson I was left some homework. Feathers. Ugh. Feathers? Really?

At first I couldn't even draw them with a pen - let alone quilt one.

While I was drawing feathers madly I came up with an idea of quilting a Peacock - lots of feathers on those. And so I created this little chap.

Now I know by using multiple colors and repeating the lines so many times I'm actually masking all my whoopsies. I will be told off for saying this as another part of my homework seems to be not immediately (if ever) pointing out every single flaw in a piece of work!

I still can't nail a traditional free motion feather - I'm still making dodgy banana shapes. But with practice I'm hoping to nail the basic feather soon.

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Please do not forget about the charity I Spy quilt - we are still looking for scrap fabric donations. 

Learning to Free Motion Quilt

 Image from TerifiCreations (Teri Lucas)

I am currently taking some free motion quilting lessons with Teri Lucas. Teri is lovely and she is cheering me on.

Despite the projects I seem to take on these days - I have not been free motion quilting for very long.  Here is my complete history of free motion quilting. And Teri - I'm scared you might be reading this - I really haven't quilted very much at all!

I took my first lesson in 2007 which in truth freaked me out and I didn't go back to it before stippling a small makeup case in 2009.

At the time I was extremely pleased with myself - but I have to admit I had trouble posting this picture at all!

I then began popping out babies and concentrate largely on my knitting skills (I just love to knit!) Any quilts I made I just opted to sew in the ditch or tie. I was still very scared of free motion quilting.

Then in 2012 (yes it took me 3 years to try this again) I took a leap of faith and made a playmat for a cousin and quilted it by stippling.

 

Then later in 2012 I made a memory quilt for a 90th birthday celebration. This was a monster sized quilt - I must have been crazy to take it on.

In these 3 widely spaced projects I could already see a vast improvement in my stippling. This year I have completed the following projects.

Valentine Quilt with quilted swirls.

Mother's Day Pillows with quilted swirls & Teacher Appreciation Pillows with quilted echoed hearts.

Fallen Soldier Quilt - stippled.

and our first in a series of Kid Painted Quilts quilted with swirly flowers.

That's it. Not too much experience really. And this was a good post for me to write as it reminds me that I have come a long way with not so much experience. So tomorrow when I sit down to fight with an amazing project I am honored to be working .... I will remind myself. I am getting better - but it takes practice. Hours and Hours of practice .... and I am on a total mission to conquer this free motion quilting!

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Please do not forget about the charity I Spy quilt - we are still looking for scrap fabric donations.