Friday, October 24, 2008

Feather Quilting Class

As some of my blog readers know, I have quite a pile of UFO's. Don't ask me how many because I have never ventured to count them. On occasion I make a list of 10 or 12 to work on, but haven't been brave enough to make a complete list for several years! Part of the problem is that I make more tops than I can quilt, and it is so expensive to hire out the quilting that I just didn't want to do it...I'd rather buy more fabric than pay for quilting. So the only alternative is to continue to do my own quilting. I was bored with my regular routine of stitch in the ditch and stipple, and have been trying to experiment with quick and fun designs. I love the spirals that I used on my husband's quilt (see this blog entry) and for the last year I have been practising to quilt various types of feather designs.
This afternoon I taught a group of adventurous quilters to try free motion feather designs on their quilts. Here they are with their practise pieces - Brenda, Lorelei, Gail and Judy.
We sure enjoyed quilting in the lovely new classroom area at Reichards which has a high ceiling, with lots of windows and natural light. Everyone got a great start on mastering the technique and I hope they continue to improve their confidence, to try more feather quilting, and believe it when I said that the key is practise, practise and more practise! Each time I have feather quilted I have enjoyed it more, and like the end result more.
I used my mystery quilt to demo how to quilt one type of feathered border and I am totally amazed that this quilt might be finished for my next guild UFO meeting! This is an amazing turn around time for me...it has only been pieced for less than a month and hasn't had hardly any time to ripen!!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kathy

You are doing such a good job on those feathers. I like to see your quilting on one of those unfinished quilt tops. It will be so beautiful.
Millie

Gina said...

Beautifuk feathers

love and hugs Gina xxx

Cathi said...

Those feathers are fantastic.

Brenda said...

Wow - maybe I'll get brave enough to try feathers! They look great!

Comfort Cove Designs said...

Hey I hear ya about getting tired of doing the same kind of quilting. Normally I stitch in the ditch or quilt 1/4" from the edge of a design. Tonight I am stippling!!! I am breaking out of my mold. I too have too many UFOs to count and the quilt tops are too many to count. I want to try doing more free motion quilting in my quilts. I too need lots of practice, but I am definetely up for the challenge!! Have you got any good tips????

Quiltingly Yours
Andrea

Helen in the UK said...

I'm working on improving my free motion quilting this year. Haven't been brave enough to try feathers yet, but will soon! Looks like your class went really well :)

Katie said...

Ripen! LOL I almost fell off my chair. :-D I have so many ripe things in my sewing room. When do they start to ferment I wonder??