Karen's Quilts, Crows and Cardinals: #Benartex #RedbirdQuiltCo

March 11: Left and Right Panels

Following right along from last weeks' "Simple is Good" motto...

I quilted the left and right panels with Pebbles and Echo stitching..

In Wendy's Stitching Pathways book you'll find pebbles on page 50 and echo quilting and outlining on Page 30.

For consistency -- I decided to continue with a 40wt Aurifil color #2024.

Here are a few images:

Be sure to follow Wendy's advice and stitch pebbles of varying sizes.
It adds much interest to the piece.

You can echo the ewe first -- or do it after you've stitched all the pebbles.

I didn't think it was necessary to stitch between each ewe -- but you can if you like.

Don't worry about filling up every small space.

As long as the spaces are small -- your eye will go to the pebble area.

Take your time, have fun with it.

If you need a few extra Pebble Tips -- visit the post I wrote about the Center Panel ...
where I included my tips and a YouTube video for pebbles.

That's it for this week...

We're nearly done... Yippee!!

I can't wait to see what Wendy quilted.

You can jump over to Wendy's Blog <== here.

If you have any questions, please leave them below -- I'll respond as soon as I can.

Future Posts...

March 18: Narrow Sashing

March 25: Outside Border

April 1: Binding, Labeling, Hanging if applicable

Happy Stitching!

Karen

*************

Learn more about how to use various thread weights in these Facebook Live Sessions

hosted by Aurifil at International Quilt Market:

Redbird Quilt Co Mini Trunk Show

Redbird Quilt Co Fast Feather Demonstration

***

Follow me on social media:

Redbird Quilt Co. on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube

Join my FMQ Frenzy Community Group on Facebook.

See my other Moda Bake Shop Recipes

Click here to see my upcoming events.

*** Guilds, Groups and Shops ***

I'm booking Lectures, Trunk Shows and Workshops
for 2020 and beyond!

If your Shop, Group or Guild is looking for programs or workshops I would love to hear from you.

Free Motion Quilting on Home Machines
Basics ~ A Quilters Doodles ~ McTavishing
A Full Day of Feathers
*
Aurifilosophy
*
Wool & Needle turn Applique
Technique or Project Oriented Workshops available.

Click here to see my upcoming events.
*

Send email inquiries to karen at redbirdquiltco dot com

or redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com

Note: The FTC requires that I tell you.... I occasionally use affiliate links on my blog and website. I may be compensated for purchases made using the links. Rest assured I will only share sales and promotions for products I know and love myself. Many thanks for your support of my very small business.

Monday, February 25, 2019

2019 Free Motion QAL: Part 6 - Fun with Feathers

Greetings & Welcome to Part 6 of the
2019 Free Motion Quilt Along
featuring Lewe the Ewe
fabric panel by World of Susybee..

I've teamed up with my dear friend and mentor Wendy Sheppard of Ivory Spring to bring you this fun stitching event!

This week we're going to tackle those pretty top and bottom rectangles.
I've been anxious to add feathers...
Now's my chance!

If you're just tuning into the QAL it's not too late to join us:

Catch up with these Lessons...

Jan 7: Announcement Post ✅

Jan 21: Setup, Planning, Basting ✅

Jan 28: Stabilization Quilting or Catch Up ✅

Feb 4: Inside Center Panel ✅

Feb 11: Progress Pics ✅

Here's where I left off at the end of the last lesson:

So...

Grab your fabric, book, and thread and get ready to have some fun!!

Today we'll cover:

Feb 25: Top and Bottom Rectangles

I couldn't wait to add some free motion feathers to this project and as I inspected this section of the panel the print kept reading oval - oval - oval...

I wanted to highlight the space without taking away from the sweet gathering of sheep.

So.... out comes my supply of all things oval...

Including my MacKenzie Childs!!

(Yes I am addicted to MacKenzie Childs Courtly Check)

I was in search of "just the right" oval to encompass the sheep but leave room for feathers.

Do you do this too ?
Rulers
Templates
Measuring Cups
Dinner Plates
Anything I could find...

In the end I was able to achieve just the right oval shape to prepare a paper template.

I didn't have card stock on hand so I improvised by ironing two pieces of freezer paper together (no steam) to make heavyweight paper.

Download your printable oval template PDF by clicking here.

I traced the oval on the fabric with a purple air soluble marking pen.

Working with the outside of the oval cut-out gives you a "window" into the fabric.
Center the oval over the sheep and mark.

You can see that I folded my oval in half and marked the center of the fabric panel to align those two reference marks.
NOT required -- just another guide to follow.

Next -- I prepared my machine for Top Stitching (again!).
*
I loaded the luscious Aurifil 12wt thread,
color #6722 from The Subtle Sampler
with a complementary color
40wt or 50wt thread in the bobbin
and using a Superior (or Organ)
Titanium Coated Top Stitch Needle size 90/14 or 100/16.
and my walking foot
(aka even feed or dual feed) and
set a stitch length of 3.2...
I slowly stitched a beautiful oval line.

You'll need to lower your top tension a bit - give it a whirl on a scrap sandwich first.

To start and stop the top stitch I normally set my stitch length to 1.0 and take 4-6 stitches to "lock" the stitches in place -- always bringing the bobbin thread to the top beforehand.

At the end I'll do the same -- set the top stitch length back to 1.0 and take a few more tiny stitches to "lock" my threads. I then trim my threads flush (top and bobbin).

One round of top stitching done...
I think I'll add another !

It's like with FMQ -- If you're not sure what to do next -- ECHO IT!!

Using my foot as a spacing guide I placed a 2nd line of top stitching on the outside of the first line.

That 2nd line will act as a spine for the
soon-to-be-quilted feathers.

I absolutely adore how this 12Wt thread stitches out.

Next ...

Let's Talk Feathers

In Wendy's book you'll find some amazing instruction and inspiration for feathers!

Turn to page 55 and take some time to read through the 10+ pages of awesome information!

From the anatomy of a well-formed feather plume

to
feather wreaths and sashings...

Wendy's detail and instruction are fantastic!

About the thread

...for most of the remainder of the quilting on the panel you can choose to use a 50wt, 40wt or 28wt thread similar in color to the 12wt #6722 we've used for the top stitching.

Besides #6722 some of my favorite white-tone colors are #2021 & #2024

-- but there's also grey-tone colors that would work like #2600 and #2615.

There are also gentle green-tone colors like #2912, #2800 or #2830.

If you're using The Subtle Sampler -- you could even try out green-tone #2880 in 28wt or blue-tone #5006 in 40wt.

The weight and color you choose
depends on how much you want the thread to take center stage.

If I want the thread to blend into the background -- I'll use 50wt top and bobbin.

If I want the thread to be a little more noticeable -- I'll use a 40wt on top and 50wt in the bobbin.

If I really want my thread to stand out -- I'll use a 28wt (or a 12wt) on top and 50wt in the bobbin.

Fair warning -- if you've not FMQ'd with 12wt in the past -- you'll want to practice this a bit using at least a 90/14 needle -- 100/16 is preferred.

The reason you increase the size of the needle is so the eye of the needle is large enough to support the weight of the thread you choose.

When you FMQ with 12wt thread you'll stitch MUCH SLOWER than normal.
The results are amazingly beautiful but you want to take care to NOT shred that yummy embroidery weight thread.

See below for why I choose to use 40wt thread for the feathers...

As I mentioned, we'll use the outer ring of the top stitching as the spine for feather plumes and we'll follow the backtrack method (as Wendy shares) to stitch feathers around the entire oval.

I recorded a simple video of me stitching out the feathers.
To watch click here -- or click the image below

FMQ Tips from the Video

Did you notice...
I use machingers gloves
and a suprememe slider.
*
I always align my nose to the needle -- in other words... sit square in front of your machine.
*
Frame your stitching space with your hands.
*
Don't be a twister --
in other words...
the fabric should remain square in front of you while you're stitching -- just move BOTH HANDS in the shape you want to stitch out.

When your hands (or frame) get too close to the needle STOP with the needle in the down position, smooth out the stitching area and make a new frame.

These little things make a BIG difference in your results.
***

Audition

It's always good to "audition" your design on a practice sandwich.
Be sure to use the same batting as your primary project.
This gives you an opportunity to test your needle size and tension settings.

In the "test drive" sample below I stitched inside feathers with 12wt and the outside feathers with a 40wt.

On the Lewe rectangles I choose to stitch with a 40wt thread. The buildup of the 12wt thread was a little much for the small space I was quilting in.

Do what looks good to your eye though.

On the image below notice that I started my feathers by stitching an "orange peel" base at the bottom center of the panel. That base acted as the 1st feather in the backtrack method that Wendy describes.

I stitched counter clock wise from bottom center to the right and up and then locked & cut my threads and started at the bottom again this time working clockwise back to the top along the left side of the oval.

Be sure to watch the
Lewe Feather video --> here.

If you need a little more instruction for free motion feathers reference the detailed tutorial I wrote for Moda Bake Shop...

"Let's Quilt It -- A Valentine for You"

There are supporting YouTube Video's for the Valentine.
Click here for them.

Lewe Rectangle detail...

More detail...

Once you're done with feathers you'll want to go inside the panel and echo quilt around the subject areas. You can use most any weight for that step.
I stayed with the 40wt thread.

To make a little definition I also stitched between the heads of the ewe.

Final step... I thought the grassy area needed a little something so I added a few loops with the 28wt Aurifil color #2880 from The Subtle Sampler.

You could also stitch the grassy spikes.

Or just pebbles...

You can see how Wendy stitches loops on page 31 of Stitching Pathways.

Well there you have it...

We used our 12wt thread for top stitching,
40wt for feathers and echo quilting,
and 28wt for a few loops.

Don't worry about making the top and bottom rectangles EXACTLY the same...
*
I do NOT count feather plumes or make sure my design is exact.

And I Love, Love, Love the way it frames the subject area!

Do you ?

That's it - We tackled another section of the panel!!

Woohoo!!

Is this helpful ?

I can't wait to see what Wendy has in store.

You can jump over to Wendy's Blog <== here.

If you have any questions, please leave them below -- I'll be sure to respond as soon as I can.

Here's a reminder on the upcoming schedule:

Future Posts...

March 4: Top and Bottom Squares

March 11: Left and Right Panels

March 18: Narrow Sashing

March 25: Outside Border

April 1: Binding, Labeling, Hanging if applicable

Happy Stitching!

Karen

*************

Learn more about how to use various thread weights in these Facebook Live Sessions

hosted by Aurifil at International Quilt Market:

Redbird Quilt Co Mini Trunk Show

Redbird Quilt Co Fast Feather Demonstration

***

Follow me on social media:

Redbird Quilt Co. on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube

Join my FMQ Frenzy Community Group on Facebook.

See my other Moda Bake Shop Recipes

Click here to see my upcoming events.

*** Guilds, Groups and Shops ***

I'm booking Lectures, Trunk Shows and Workshops
for 2020 and beyond!

If your Shop, Group or Guild is looking for programs or workshops I would love to hear from you.

Free Motion Quilting on Home Machines
Basics ~ A Quilters Doodles ~ McTavishing
A Full Day of Feathers
*
Aurifilosophy
*
Wool & Needle turn Applique
Technique or Project Oriented Workshops available.

Click here to see my upcoming events.
*

Send email inquiries to karen at redbirdquiltco dot com

or redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Tutorial and Giveaway - Chickadees and Berries Gift Trio

Greetings and Welcome to
Christmas in September !!

If you've been following along on Instagram and/or Facebook you know I've been working on a surprise using the awesome Chickadees and Berries Fabric Panel by Jackie Robinson for Benartex.

I'm excited to share my creation with you today on the Bear Creek Quilting Company Blog.

The neat thing about this fabric panel and tutorial is that, with just one panel and a bit of yardage, you can make a beautiful coordinating Christmas Gift Trio that includes a wall hanging, a table runner, and a set of 4 coasters.

Share it with someone you love or keep it for yourself. Either way - it's really charming!

This is the wall hanging we'll be making:

And the table runner and coasters:

As always, I had a blast free motion quilting the Trio using my Aurifil 50Wt Mako Cotton thread and including some decorative top stitching with Aurifil 12Wt Mako Cotton... Oh! The joys of having a growing stash of Aurifil thread.

Maybe you've heard me encourage others to use panels for practicing and enhancing their free motion quilting (FMQ) skills -- this tutorial and trio is a great place to start. It doesn't matter if you're quilting on your domestic machine or just learning a long-arm... practice makes perfect.

A panel allows you to play and learn and grow your skills with little investment in time or money. Also, when you're done stitching, you have a sweet gift to give to someone you love or donate to a charity organization. It's a win-win situation.

On the Bear Creek Quilting Company blog - I share the fabric requirements and a step by step process for preparing the Christmas Gift Trio that uses this *beautiful* panel.

But, before you run off to the Bear Creek blog to see the step by step tutorial, let me share a few FMQ images and tips.

I pieced, quilted and finished the Trio on my home machine -- a Janome Horizon (7700).

The quilting process is always the most fun for me - I love scrutinizing the fabric and thinking about where and how the piece will be used to help determine how to quilt it. If the fabric is really busy, often the quilting details won't even be noticed -- keep that in mind when you're deciding how to quilt busy fabrics.

On this particular panel - much of the quilting design came from studying and listening to the fabric.

Enjoy these close-up images and tips:

I used Aurifil 12 Wt to avoid

Stitching in the Ditch:

Often, before free motion quilting a pieced quilt, I will stitch the seams in the ditch to stabilize the quilt (domestic machine quilting). With this particular piece I decided to stitch outside of the ditch with Aurifil 12 Wt thread.

Don't you just LOVE the texture and sheen the Aurifil 12Wt thread provides -- a beautiful decorative element to the overall quilting...

Keep these things in mind when top stitching with Aurifil 12 Wt thread:

Use a 90/14 needle
Use Aurifil 50Wt thread in the bobbin
Take advantage of your machine Walking or Even-Feed Foot
Choose thread colors that complement the fabric
Set your stitch length higher than normal

To top stitch with 12Wt Aurifil thread, I set my Janome straight stitch to 3.0 or higher and took smaller stitches at the beginning and end to "tie-off".

It gives such a wonderful accent:

Once done stabilizing the quilt sandwich I'm ready to begin stitching with a finer weight thread.

Aurifil 50Wt is my go-to cotton
thread for Free Motion Quilting!

On this particular piece, I LOVE the way Aurifil #5001 made the panel shimmer!!

I free motion quilted around every bird and nearly all the leaves and berries -- what great FMQ practice!

If the panel has a subject that I want to highlight with movement, I almost always use echo stitching to do this. Echoing involves quilting around the original subject several times in even (or not so even) increments. For the Chickadee -- it added beauty and movement.
Try it out yourself - sew much fun!

On the table runner quilting, the background in the panel fabric was perfect for stitching little mini C's or swirls.

If you were following along on my Instagram feed -- this is what I shared.
Notice how the quilt design was actually inspired by the fabric background.
It's good to let the fabric speak to you -- quiet your mind so you can hear.

Let's talk Free Motion Feathers:

Often when I quilt feathers I use a air or water soluble pen or a Clover Hera Marker to mark the feather spine.
With this panel the pine boughs were screaming "Quilt me with feathers!".
Never pass-up an opportunity to quilt feathers!

Mark the feather spines:

Here's another section marked:

To begin quilting a feather I always start with a pearl or paisley at the bottom of the spine. Now work up one side of the spine, creating "bump-back" feathers as you go and remembering to make rounded plumes as best you can. After I've stitched one side, I use the spine to travel back to the beginning and work up the other side of the feather.

Once you get a rhythm going they are so fun!!

I don't fuss too much with perfecting feathers -- I just have fun!

*** Note: 10/18/15 ***
I've recorded two Curled Feather videos for your learning pleasure.
Click here to watch the stitched version.
Click here to watch the "practice on paper" version
Have fun with it!!!

And thank you for subscribing to my channel: Redbird Quilt Co. YouTube

On this particular piece, filling the negative space with echo quilting seemed appropriate.

On the smaller sections of the wall hanging I let the fabric speak to me.

I quilted those wispy lines that were already printed on the fabric - love it!

On the table runner -- I quilted little C's or mini swirls in the panel ends and decided to practice feathers on the Cream/Red center. The Cream/Red Scroll fabric is beautiful and can really stand on its own. Quilting feathers or any motif here is great practice because no-one can see your mistakes ;)

Winding down... so you've seen all sorts of detail images and read fun quilting tips -- if you still have questions about the Trio feel free to leave me a comment (include your email) and I'll be sure to get back to you...

To close and before the Giveaway details are revealed -- No quilt is complete without a photo-shoot at the lake...
We love our summertime cottage, the water, the air, the neighborhood -- and especially the view.

Table Runner

Wall Hanging

****

Its a Giveaway!!! CLOSED

Now for the fun part -- the wonderful folks at Aurifil thread and the Bear Creek Quilting Company have sponsored a giveaway for one lucky winner!

How would YOU like to win a collection - that's right, 12 Spools of Aurifil 12Wt Cotton thread. This particular designer collection was chosen by Victoria Findlay Wolfe and is called "Fresh Modern and Timeless". The colors are amazingly beautiful and I KNOW you'll be thrilled to top stitch or hand stitch with this lovely collection of threads!

Also, you can't practice your Free Motion Quilting on this Trio unless you have the fabric. The generous Bear Creek Quilting Company added a Chickadees and Berries Christmas Trio Fabric Kit to the giveaway mix. Yes! You'll win the exact kit I used to prepare the Christmas Trio - woohoo!

For a chance to enter the giveaway -- jump on over to the Bear Creek Quilting Company blog, check out the Chickadees and Berries Christmas Trio Tutorial, and leave a comment there letting them know what part of the Trio you liked best and why.

When you return here -- leave me a comment too-- any comment at all.

Please be sure I have a way to reach you - NoReply bloggers, leave an email address.
(It breaks my heart when I have a winner with no way to reach them)

The Giveaway is open through end of day Sunday, September 27th and a winner will be announced Monday evening, September 28th.

Entries are open to ALL participants - We love our International followers too!

Here are some extra entries if you so choose:

Please let our sponsors know how much you appreciate them by "Liking" or leaving a comment for them on Facebook.
Aurifil shares inspiration daily including awesome projects, tutorials and events.
and the
Bear Creek Quilting Company shares the latest fabrics and lots of fun!

Leave me an extra comment if you follow one or both!

As always -- I appreciate your support.
*

Did you know you can visit me on

Facebook at Redbird Quilt Co

and/or

Follow Redbird Quilt Co on Instagram

I post all sorts of fun things there!!
**

If you love to Free Motion Quilting consider joining my Facebook Community Group

Free Motion Quilting Frenzy group

Plus

I share quilting related

videos on my YouTube Channel

I'm also on Pinterest, Twitter

and I share other tutorials and patterns

on My Tutorials (above) and

on The Moda Bake Shop

and on my Craftsy page...

Have a blessed week all -- Happy Quilting!!

Karen

Pages

Monday, March 11, 2019

2019 Free Motion QAL: Part 8 - Side Panels

Catch up with these Lessons:

But today we'll cover:

Future Posts...

Monday, February 25, 2019

2019 Free Motion QAL: Part 6 - Fun with Feathers

Catch up with these Lessons...

Today we'll cover:

Let's Talk Feathers

About the thread

FMQ Tips from the Video

Audition

Future Posts...

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Tutorial and Giveaway - Chickadees and Berries Gift Trio

I used Aurifil 12 Wt to avoid

Stitching in the Ditch:

Let's talk Free Motion Feathers:

Its a Giveaway!!! ** CLOSED **

Its a Giveaway!!! CLOSED