Wendy, your work is beautiful! I had a fear of making feathers until I took a class in FMQ at my LQS a few years ago. Judy Woodworth was the teacher, and it was a privelege taking a class from her. One trick she taught the class was to pretend you are going around a coin when making the outer loops. As you go down, make a curve towards the spine and then back up and make the next loop. It did not take long to feel comfortable making the feathers. Before you know it, you will transfer this knowledge to making leaves, ferns, etc.

I have heard that some practise with a marker or pencil taped to the machine, as if it was a needle, then manipulate paper around as if you were sewing to get some practice and "muscle memory". I have not yet mustered the confidence to even get practising feathers, so good luck to you and congratulations on getting started!

Used it. Loved it. My first one turned out quite well.

If you want to learn classic feathers, here is a link to a 6 part tutorial posted in June 2012. I haven't tried it yet, but have seen what others have done. They turned out very well.

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2012/0...ather-lessons/

I love doing feathers on my longarm, the best way to learn is hand and pencil on paper , repeat to yourself "half a heart, half a heart" your heart halfs will be curvy and sloping to the spine. Now that you got that in your brain, go to the machine and do the same chant-"half a heart, half a heart" It really works, and it will look wonderful!

Maggiemay, I am not ready for the feathers, but I do like the stars all threaded together. I may just give that a try soon. Thank you for the photo!

YUP get it

Lazy Featherer...
 

At first I was afraid of feathers - and it turns out that I was running into the center spine, instead of making teardrop shapes and following far enough down the center line. I've finally decided I'm a lazy quilter - I leave the center spine out! I use cheap white school chalk (no wax) to chalk a curvy spine, then quilt teardrop shapes on both sides of the line, and dust off the chalk when I'm done. Also, I am not concerned if the feathers meet at the sides, I leave a space in between. I like the look of it, I can relax and breathe, and this seems to work great for me!

Sometimes you are more comfortable making feathers from the bottom up, (or from the top down), so one side of your motif looks great and the other, not so. Practicing will help, or just tie off at the top and start again at the bottom if it's more comfortable.

I also go to my local newspaper and ask for newsprint bolt ends, which makes great doodle paper. I roll it out across the kitchen table, grab a pencil or marker and practice my motifs. Really helps with muscle memory. The smoother your lines are in practice, the smoother they'll look on the quilt.

Feathers don't have to be curved on the end. Come to a point and you've got sunbursts, ferns or peacock feathers.

Deonn....you are exactly the lazy quilter I strive to be...oh well, it's back to "practice, practice, practice."

not bad for the first one. practice!

My first feathers looked like finger grapes hanging from a vine!!!!!! It takes practice with paper pencil, and I have found "think half a heart" sometimes helps......There are several designers/teachers and each has a trick or two that works for them so you just have to try them all, and find the best way for you, but it does not happen overnite, at least not with most of us....and even when you think you know what you are doing, every so often, those finger grapes sneak it!!!!!!!!!