I made my first Dresden Kaleidoscope last week and thought I would use it as a practice piece and add some quilting around it. I have long been a fan of Sharon Shamber's style of quilting, and thought I would have a go. I don't think moving fabric around under a needle can ever be as smooth as moving a needle around over the fabric, so some of my feathers are not the best of shapes, but then this is my first effort. Up to now, I have only done some feathers on the sides of placemats, and in a few fillings on one other quilt.

OK, the last couple of photos seemed to come out back to front, but I think you can get the gist. Here are a couple of close ups of the quilting.
I have been using the 'over the top of the feather' method, but some of mine could be better, as I didn't find it all that easy to stitch the second line directly over the first, and I wish I could get the feathers more even, but I will keep practicing!!!

I also think it would be easier to make it look nice if the same colour thread was used, rather than a contrast thread.

I made eight of the placemats Loretta, so by the time I had the last one done, I was getting reasonably even with the feathers.

Very pretty!

No, I made them for myself, though I do give some things away, if I think they are going to be appreciated

Oh sew pretty! Your machine quilting is very good. I think it takes practice! Love your Dresden Plate, also. :lol:

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/s...shocked016.gif OMG!!!! That is gorgeous!!!!!!! You did this free motion on a domestic machine? Wow!!!!

That is an awesome job.
You did good on the feathers as far as I could tell.

Thank you for the lovely comments. I do have a Bernina with a stitch regulator, which helps, but I had already got the hang of FM quilting fairly evenly before I got this machine. I just wish I could get the feathers to look more even, but I intend to keep at it with the practicing.

Those feathers sure look even to me!

I'm impressed. I'm still working on stitch-in-the ditch.