Conquering the fear of feathers!
10-15-2012, 01:48 AM
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: FL
Posts: 7,084
Conquering the fear of feathers!
A while back (year or two?) I bought this book. http://www.amazon.com/Hooked-Feather.../dp/1574329731
I had every intention of teaching myself how to do feathers. I practiced on my little sandwiches occasionally, but never had the courage to do them on a "real" quilt until now. I must say, it was so much easier than I anticipated and I am thrilled with my results! No where near perfect, but that's ok. I have learned that one of the keys to success is not to try to have things perfectly symmetrical. If you try to get a mirror image from side to side, it probably won't happen, especially if you are a newbie at it. If you intentionally make variances, you will be happier with your outcome.
I drew a wavy line all around the border and feathers on the corners only on Sulky Solvy to give myself a guide, pinned to the quilt and quilted all around the border. I got into a rhythm very quickly. Good thing...two of my corner sketches were facing the wrong way and I had to wing it. oops! But I was able to ignore the lines I had drawn and just stick to the wavy line as my guide. I couldn't get it bound and washed quick enough! It was worth staying up for.
The pics aren't great - it's 5am and I can't get daylight pics till the weekend.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]369864[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]369865[/ATTACH]
I had every intention of teaching myself how to do feathers. I practiced on my little sandwiches occasionally, but never had the courage to do them on a "real" quilt until now. I must say, it was so much easier than I anticipated and I am thrilled with my results! No where near perfect, but that's ok. I have learned that one of the keys to success is not to try to have things perfectly symmetrical. If you try to get a mirror image from side to side, it probably won't happen, especially if you are a newbie at it. If you intentionally make variances, you will be happier with your outcome.
I drew a wavy line all around the border and feathers on the corners only on Sulky Solvy to give myself a guide, pinned to the quilt and quilted all around the border. I got into a rhythm very quickly. Good thing...two of my corner sketches were facing the wrong way and I had to wing it. oops! But I was able to ignore the lines I had drawn and just stick to the wavy line as my guide. I couldn't get it bound and washed quick enough! It was worth staying up for.
The pics aren't great - it's 5am and I can't get daylight pics till the weekend.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]369864[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]369865[/ATTACH]
10-15-2012, 03:20 AM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Maple City, MI
Posts: 2,135
I have played with feathers off and on for quite a while, but still don't feel confident to put them into a "real" quilt. I think because piecing the top itself is so much work, I hate the idea of screwing it up with my own learning curve for fmq. Looking at yours makes me think I need to pull mine out again, and give it another try...I need to get practicing--Thanks for the inspiration.
10-15-2012, 03:30 AM
#8
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Spring Green,WI
Posts: 14,637
Wonderful. I am so thrilled for you. I love feathers. And you are right, be consistantly inconsistant and your feathers will be beautiful and so much more interesting. You have beautiful curvatious feathers. My first feathers on a quilt were where I knew they would not show and then of course they turned out well. I practice any new design where it won't show. Then when I finally do it where it shows, I have had a lot of experience and am no longer afraid to let it show.
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