How to Machine Quilt Ferns and Fiddleheads

How to Machine Quilt Ferns and Fiddleheads
Good Morning, Quilters!

Today we are going to learn how to machine quilt Ferns and Fiddleheads!  This is a great background fill or border motif.  Try this motif in place of traditional feathers for a  modern, whimsical leaf pattern!

Before we get to work….

Teaching at Wisconsin Quilt Expo

I will be teaching  Easy Machine Quilting at Wisconsin Quilt Expo this week!   If YOU live in the area, I would LOVE for YOU to join me Thursday or Friday at 1:00 for a one hour lecture and demonstration.  Please come say “Hi”!

I’d love to meet YOU in person!

How to Machine Quilt Ferns and Fiddleheads

Begin by stitching a short, wavy line.

Wavy Line, Step one

Add scallops along the wavy line.

How to machine quilt Ferns and Fiddleheads, Step 2

Complete the scallops on one side of the centerline, then add scallops to the opposite side.

Step 3

Create a loop at the top of the Fern

How to machine quilt Ferns and Fiddleheads, Step 3

Next, add a spiral Fiddlehead  and overstitch the spiral to create a heavier line.

How to machine quilt Ferns and Fiddleheads, Step 5

Stitch another wavy line.  This line can travel in any direction.

How to machine quilt Ferns and Fiddleheads, Step 6

Add scallops on both sides of the wavy line. Stretch the scallops to fill in the space fully.

Ferns and Fiddleheads, Step 8

When there is a large gap between the ferns, fill it with a spiral, fiddlehead.

Step 8

Odd shaped scallops give the pattern more personality–so don’t worry about perfection!

Ferns and Fiddleheads, Background Fill
Ferns and Fiddleheads as a Border

Stitch a line of Ferns and Fiddleheads to create a fun border pattern!

How to machine quilt Ferns and Fiddleheads, Border Motif
Fast, Fun and Fabulous, Ferns and Fiddleheads!

Say that free fimes fast!

How to machine quilt Ferns and Fiddleheads

Fappy Fuilting,

Lori

PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for  personal use.  Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to Lori Kennedy Quilts.  For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com. Thanks!

(For more about copyright and use of LKQ photos and information, read HERE) .

You might also like the tutorials in my books available in my books:

MORE Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3!

 

20 responses to “How to Machine Quilt Ferns and Fiddleheads”

  1. Good Design Morning! Feathers are quite intimidating to me, so this modern interpretation is not only fun but easier to master. Thanks so much for this, and the step-by-step pictures which make it so doable!

  2. Beautiful design, I am just getting into free motion machine quilting. Love your site and instructions. Easy to follow.

  3. Feathers – I don’t think I have ever practiced anything as much in my life as feathers. Sometimes I have a “good feather day”, sometimes I am plucked.

    Re the ferns, I love ferns – at our last house I had a separate fern garden. I think I might add a little more taper to the scallops either side of the center line to see how that looks.

    Lori – see you in Madison!

    Arvilla

      1. Thanks, Suzanne! It makes nicer wrinkles to laugh than it does to cry. And I try not to take life to seriously – it’s not permanent. 😁

      1. We will get to Madison mid-Wednesday afternoon, and we leave when the spirit (or the hotel management) moves us on Sunday. I’ll be easy to spot – I’m the old broad with purple hair. I am in an all day class on Saturday and a half-day class (9 – 12) on Friday, but the rest of the time I will be wandering the vendors, trying desperately to exercise some self-restraint. Will you have a booth, too? What #?

    3. You are so cool. Arvilla !! LOL… wish I could see yall in Madison. Miss Wisconsin so much!.Will be there in spirit ! ……….hmmm will it be live…maybe facebook?

  5. Very interesting design. I tried mine as an all-over first, but I don’t like it. I added them to a main stem, more like the way it grows on the plant, and I really liked it. This is why I like your site – you show me how to draw, and I can turn it into something that works for me.

  6. I wish I lived close to Madison!
    Your work is so engaging and clever. As someone else said, feathers can be intimidating. I remember when I saw some for the first time and thought I’d NEVER be able to do that. I’ve been trying with moderate success only, so I’m going to practice with this darling ferns and fiddlesticks pattern. Hopefully that will give me some confidence and help me “feel” feathers. I’ll keep trying.
    You are such a WONDERFUL inspiration. Thank you so much!!!!!

  9. I really like the idea of putting this in a narrow border. You come up with the best ideas for quilting designs, I always look forward to learning something new to add to my quilts. Thanks for the great instructions!

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