Friday 3 May 2013

FMQ Challenge - Feathers (WIP)

SewCalGal is again hosting a few challenges this year.  The one I was quite eager to try out is the feathers challenge.


I really enjoy quilting feathers, and after taking Angela Walters Free Motion Quilting with Feathers on Craftsy, I felt a lot more confident to try it out.  I love the motion of quilting feathers, and the look is so elegant and adds so much texture.


To find all the guidelines and tips for this challenge, click HERE.



So I started out by making a few quilt sandwiches cutting a fat quarter into four pieces.  


First I  quilted different styles of feathers, adding background fillers to fill in the sample.  Here I added swirly lobes to the feather, and inside the stem I quilted pebbles/pearls.   


This feather is quite curvy, and I find it very hard to add the petals/lobes of the feather on the inside curves, it never seem to work out the way it should.  So in my final quilt, I'll avoid adding curves that are too round.


This is the finished piece of the first feather sampler I made, note that these feathers are really small, the finished size of this mini quilt is 9 x 10½ inches.


My second sample I played around with a larger feather and concentrated a bit more on the background designs.




I really like the effect of the 'checker board' and the pebbles, so I'll definitely use that in my final quilt.

The next two samples  (same size as above)I still need to add binding, but I wanted to show you how I played around practicing my technique and getting into the motion of quilting feathers.



I've started quilting my final piece that I want to submit to the challenge, here is a sneak peak of what I've done so far.  

I really like quilting feathers, it is such a pretty design.  I sure hope to see more quilters joining in this challenge. This is so much FUN!


Happy quilting.

38 comments:

MBMathis said...

This is beautiful work!!!

Quilter said...

Beautiful!

Linda Wulf Koenig said...

HOLY COW. Your stitching is absolutely amazing.

Gwyned Trefethen said...

Outstanding! I am speechless.

straythreads said...

Amazing!! love the checkerboard

Pat Merkle said...

Absolutely AWESOME!!!!

Ray and Jeanne said...

Beautiful!!! ~Jeanne

Susan at TheBoredZombie.com said...

You have some really great stuff here. I particularly like the checkerboard pattern. Good luck!

Climbing to the Higher Calling said...

Ditto to comments above! I really liked the checker board with the feathers! Beautiful work! Wow!

Carla said...

WOW. I'm speechless. Thanks for sharing. You are an inspiration!

Laura said...

You do amazing quilting! I am so impressed!

Kelly said...

WOW! These are beautiful!!

Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts said...

Your feathers look incredible! I love that checkerboard background. I've just finished quilting a quilt with triple stitch behind feathers - the contrast in texture works really well.

SewCalGal said...

I hope your beautiful "little" quilts are not wet...I'm drooling. They are absolutely beautiful. I knew I should have come up with a FMQ Mug Rug Swap. Gosh, these would be fought over by everyone if I hosted such a swap. Great job! I'm looking forward to seeing your next piece.

SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

A Little Heart 4 U said...

Amazing patience and beautiful work.

Unknown said...

holy moly those are beautiful! I can't even draw feathers, I'm not sure what it is I'm doing wrong. I will have to take the craftsy class!!!!

Kelly Vetch said...

The checkerboard structure with the flow of the feathers are genius!

Tina said...

Spectacular, Love All Your Pieces. I Love Your Checkerboard Too.

Karin said...

Stunning...you are such a natural. I am always amazed at your work.

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

Beautiful feather work. I love the checkerboard!

Unknown said...

Just awesome and gorgeous quilting. Wow! Is this by domestic machine? What brand machine? I am guessing you must have a Bernina with a stitch regulator. Beautifully done! Thanks for sharing.

Stitchinscience said...

These are amazing. Do you mark them in any way first?

Ann said...

Your samples are just lovely. I can't wait to see what you do on a full size quilt! Thanks for the thought process too.

What Comes Next? said...

beautiful work! Those are all pretty small feathers, based on the size of your sandwiches, and so wonderfully executed! I'm a fan of the checkerboard background, too

Nicky M said...

Your final piece is absolutely beautifully done, also love the checkerboard effect

Kristin said...

WOW I watched the free 1 week trial of Angela's class on craftsy and they look just like hers. Amazing stitching!!

LindaB said...

Your feathers a beautiful!

MalinisQuilts said...

Wow! your feathers are fabulous. These samples look really AWESOME!

Anonymous said...

These are absolutely wonderful and inspiring!

LindaB said...

Awesome quilting!

Ivy, Phyllis and Me! said...

Good Morning Marelize, My word, I love hand quilting and never machine quilt, but I think I will change my mind as your quilting is absolutely stunning. It must have taken a long time to learn how to be this accurate. You have inspired me to try machine quilting.
I have absolutely loved visiting your blog and I have popped over via Karen at Sew Many Ways. I have enjoyed my visit so much that I have become a new follower.
I would like to invite you to visit me at Ivy, Phyllis and Me! as you will be most welcome.
Best Wishes
Daphne

Joan said...

Fabulous!

sarah elizabeth :: {no} hats said...

W.O.W. These are incredible!!

Sara said...

I would really like to to get into doing feathers as well. Yours are just so pretty to look at!

Lynette said...

Nice feather work there, Marelize! :D Whoop! Whoop~!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Amazing!!! All of those are just fantastic -

Angela Walters said...

Fabulous Feathers!!!

Unknown said...

I really really love these pieces. I have been dreaming of doing something similar to this for sometime. I think you have inspired me to give it a try.

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