Question on doing feathers
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1,141
I start with a curvy line, spine around the entire quilt, then do 'bump back' petals on the right side, all the way around, and once I've come all the way around, i do the left side the same. Occasionally, I'll add a swirl or something to fill in a gap, but mostly just differing sizes of petals to fill the sides.
On one quilt, I worked out making two ropes of feathers intertwine. It was fun, but nerve wracking. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/535083999460677467/. It's a wide border on a Radiant Star quilt.
On one quilt, I worked out making two ropes of feathers intertwine. It was fun, but nerve wracking. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/535083999460677467/. It's a wide border on a Radiant Star quilt.
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Thornton, Colorado
Posts: 1,023
It took me a long time to grasp doing feathers, but my biggest breakthrough came from Judy Woodworth. I was taking a class from her when she passed on a tip to imagine going over a coin for the top of the curve before going down to the spine. It was priceless!
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 1,398
I went through a video series called Feather Boot Camp and she has you do a LOT of drawing. You might like it.
I'm no expert, in fact I'm taking a class next week to work on this, but I've seen people do the length of the quilt and join then in the centre, making the curve of the spine match on either side.
For myself, I find the "bump back" feathers tend to be more symmetrical when I do them than others. But, they are never really perfect and I think that's good.
Watson
I'm no expert, in fact I'm taking a class next week to work on this, but I've seen people do the length of the quilt and join then in the centre, making the curve of the spine match on either side.
For myself, I find the "bump back" feathers tend to be more symmetrical when I do them than others. But, they are never really perfect and I think that's good.
Watson
#17
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
I don’t remember where I saw this idea, but this is an idea to do feathers that I found on a blog, that even I could make work. Start with a piece of tissue paper the size of the area (border, block,etc,) that you want to fill with feathers. Draw a “spine” line where you want the feathers to go, then using a coin (or something round of the desired size), trace coins down both sides of the line, and one at the terminal end of the line. See first example. Now, using another color pen or pencil, retrace the coins but terminate the lines in the top of the next coin. See second example. Please remember that I sew because I can not draw. Now pin your tissue to your quilt section and follow the second set of lines only. Feathers made.
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: kansas
Posts: 6,407
yes, I try to start at the half way point of the sides and go to half way of the top/bottom--it frames the quilt and on larger quilts I personally think it's more interesting. and that does put some head "south" I've also done Angela Walters' "wild feathers" and gone from the side of the main part of quilt and go out to the edge of border (remember to leave your 1/4" for the binding) and then done straight lines to fill in the spaces. (this was a customer quilt that had 10"borders!)
Last edited by quiltingshorttimer; 10-24-2017 at 07:20 PM.
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
I went through a video series called Feather Boot Camp and she has you do a LOT of drawing. You might like it.
I'm no expert, in fact I'm taking a class next week to work on this, but I've seen people do the length of the quilt and join then in the centre, making the curve of the spine match on either side.
For myself, I find the "bump back" feathers tend to be more symmetrical when I do them than others. But, they are never really perfect and I think that's good.
Watson
I'm no expert, in fact I'm taking a class next week to work on this, but I've seen people do the length of the quilt and join then in the centre, making the curve of the spine match on either side.
For myself, I find the "bump back" feathers tend to be more symmetrical when I do them than others. But, they are never really perfect and I think that's good.
Watson
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