Apr 22 11
Eye Candy for Quilters
I was able to spend about an hour working on a quilt that has been so much fun for me. I’ve got a long way to go on the quilting part of it, but here’s what the top looked like just after I’d finished spray basting it on my spray basting wall:
Many of the applique shapes were trapuntoed, and it’s always so much fun to see textures evolve as you go about quilting it:
You can see that the heart and the bird seem a bit “poofed up.” You may not be able to tell from this photo, but I used a thicker batting for the heart trapunto than I used for the birds. I really like how you can create different textural effects by doing something as simple as altering the loft of battings that you use. This next shot shows a smaller heart that’s also been trapuntoed:
I did a very poor job of satin stitching around that heart when I added the trapunto layer, so I ended up couching a heavy decorative yarn along the edge to cover my crummy work. Not only did it work, but I like the end heart much better! Here’s an off-kilter view of a block that features a “quartet of feathers:”
There’s no trapunto on that block, but I love it anyway! And last but not least, here’s a shot of one of the birds from the bottom panel. You can start to see how “poofed” up he is but I used a very low loft batting for him:
…and here’s his partner from that same block:
I’ll be sad when I finish this quilt; it’s been so nice to have it close by and to work on it!
Nice, Patsy! I’m looking forward to seeing MORE as you have fun with it. Love the birds, especially… maybe that’s cuz they’re finally singing in my yard, even through the snow! Gotta love it!
I have enjoyed watching the progress of this quilt. Your willingness to share photos, and information as it has progressed has been greatly appreciated. (at least by me)
I also love your “corrections” when you are not please with something. Good to know how to “fix” something that may not be up to par. That couched idea looks fabulous!
Hearts, birds, feathers, its all good!
Really beautiful piece and beautiful fabrics. I got a yarn couching foot for my machine and tried it, but need to figure out what yarns work best, before I do a full piece. It is fun to use though.
Debbie
Neat! And thanks for admitting you sometimes even do crummy work–though you’d never know it. A quote from a great teacher whose mantra is “it’s not perfection, it’s the illusion of perfection” to help those of us who obsess over perfection.
What a fun quilt! Thank you for taking so many pictures and sharing them with us. It’s really neat how couched yarn can make a wonderful texture–I never thought of doing that on a quilt!
Like all your quilts this one shows your amazing imagination and how you can turn a boo boo into something really great. I love your fabric choices too for the different rows (?) on the quilt. It is nice when you get to see people taking a designing chance and it pays off.Well done, looking forward to seeing more quilting excellence. PS I keep looking for your new dies but still none on the site. Cheers Pamela
I’m loving it Patsy!!!
I’m working on some feathers now….I’ll let ya know when I’m done 🙂
Kelly