FREE MOTION QUILTED FEATHERS

Free motion quilted feathers may be one of quilting’s most admired designs, yet they seem to intimidate quilters more than almost any other motif. Beginners worry they’re too difficult, while experienced quilters often become frustrated trying to make every feather perfect. Personally, I think feathers are slightly overrated in the quilting world but they are still beautiful when stitched with confidence and flow.

Image 1 (left): FANCY FEATHERS & Image 2 (right): FEATHERS WITH FILLERS

HERE’S THE SECRET!

The secret to successful feathers is not perfection. It’s movement, rhythm, spacing and angle. Slightly uneven feathers often have far more life and energy than stiff, over-planned ones. Once quilters relax and stop trying to create ‘perfect’ feathers, their quilting immediately becomes more natural and expressive.

NOT PERFECT FEATHERS

WHY FEATHERS?

What I love most about feathers is that they can be traditional, elegant, playful or completely contemporary. They can fill a quilt with softness and movement or become bold design elements in their own right. There is also far more to feathers than the classic formal style most people think of first!

Image 1 (left): TRADISIONAL WITH A DIFFERENCE & Image 2 (right): A CLAMSHELL FEATHER

EXPLORE, PRACTICE AND GROW…STITCH BY STITCH!

I hope that all the ‘feathers’ posts that I put on social media along with the Fabulous Feathers classes that I teach, will allow and encourage students and quilters to explore the different feathers and that their confidence will grow, stitch by stitch!

Image 1 (left): A VERY FANCY FEATHER & Image 2 (right): LEAVES CAN BECOME FEATHERS

Till next time, enjoy quilting feathers!