feather quilting
 

I would like to get better at feather quilting on my machine (not a long arm) Do most people use a stencil and were is a good place to get one? I have a simple one I have done a little but it is not as wide as some of the beautiful ones I have seen. Thanks for your help

I use my embroidery machine to quilt with...is this cheating? I have purchased many feather quilting patterns from Embroidery Library for $1.00 each and put them into my embroidery machine....resize if I want to...hoop up and stitch! I just started doing this this summer and love it and the results and evidently everyone I show my quilts to love it as well!
I did buy buy some stencils for free motion, but I really am not comfortable yet with free motion, so this works for me.

great idea-using embroidery. I think stencils would help-and use chalk to get lines to follow.

Ive used my embroidery machine also, but also use my domestic. sometimes I draw them before quilting. Or I'll just draw the spine of the feather and freehand the feathers. I do the same on my frame machine.

I bought and use the Hooked On Feathers book.

I guess I am with you gals bought anetagoodesigns about 6 months ago use them on my singer 400xl the look really nice. maggie

For those of you using the embroidery machine for quilting, was it a big learning curve

After buying several books I bought Patsy Thompson's DVD about feathers and that's was the ticket for me. It helped to see someone quilting feathers. There are many different ways to make feathers and you have to find the one that works for you. I found the DVD at Joann's and I was able to use a coupon. Good luck with your feathers!

To practice ...I traced some on tissue paper and placed it over the area( scrap sandwiches) . It was just to get the hang of it ...

I haven't really done any feathers yet. I am trying my luck at QAYG but may have to try the feathers on the borders.

here are a couple of pix...these feathers are all freehand, done on nolting 24" longarm...lots of practice, most on paper... the action of pencil on paper is much the same group of muscles... one of the advantages of doing your own feathers is the ability to make them fit any shape and the ability to move them in and out like real feathers...stencils normally make the feathers symetrical, which they are not naturally...just play and practice, practice, practice... you will love feathering all those special places... i had to shrink the pix to get them on so i am hoping you can see some of the color in the thread...it is all the same hot neons that is in the fabrics.....

It's not harder than using your embroidery machine...you just have to loosen the tension on your hoop a little more. I have just recently started doing my own "quilting " on the embroidery machine and really like it as does everyone else that sees it. I have done paisleys, feathers, snowflakes, puppy paws, pond life, swirls, etc. on differnt quilts, etc. So ar I have purchased most of the from Embroidery Library and am very happy with them.