Steampunk Quilting Tutorial

April 10, 2018
Steampunk Quilting, Lori Kennedy

Steampunk Quilting, Lori KennedyGood Morning, Quilters!

Today we are working on a complex-looking quilting pattern, Steampunk Quilting.  Don’t be daunted!  It is much easier when it is broken down into steps!

(NOTE–This is a reader-requested motif–If YOU would like to request a motif please let me know by leaving a comment!)

Today’s tutorial is a little different from the typical step-by-step tutorial for the other motifs. I guess that’s fitting since Steampunk itself is a little different.

Steampunk Quilting, Lori Kennedy

STEAMPUNK DEFINED

First of all, what is steampunk?  Steampunk is a literary genre that mixes science fantasy with a historical period–often the Victorian Era or the American Wild West.   In fashion, steampunk is usually a combination of Victorian era fashion, (petticoats and bustled dresses) mixed with steam-powered technology.  In design, steampunk is frequently a mix of gear like elements.

In short, steampunk is romance meets technology.

Basically, add gears to a quilt and you have steampunk! LOL  (Soft quilts + gears = steampunk!?)

Read more about steampunk at Wikipedia HERE

Steampunk Quilting, Lori Kennedy

CREATING THE DESIGN

I recommend doodling first!  (Don’t I always???)

This tutorial is a combination of three doodling tutorials:

Circle Doodles, Lori Kennedy

 Staggered Circle Doodles

Lori Kennedy Circle Doodles

Adding On-More Circles

Grid Doodles, Lori Kennedy

Easy Doodles for Those Who Think They Can’t Doodle

COMBINE GEARS AND FILLERS

When you combine the three in one pattern, you get this more complex background–Steampunk Quilting!

Steampunk Quilting, Lori Kennedy

STITCHING STEAMPUNK

Stitching Steampunk is easiest when completed in three passes.  Each “pass” adds more detail.

Begin by drawing a 2 inch or bigger grid on your fabric.

First Pass

Add the circle motifs first.  For simplicity, you might just add Silly Spirals.

 

Silly Spirals, Machine Quilting, Lori Kennedy

Second Pass

For the second pass, use your doodled embellishments to add interest on the outside of the circles. Echo stitch the lines to travel from one circle to the next.

Leave some of the circles plain and change direction at any time.Steampunk Quilting, Lori Kennedy

Third Pass

Fill in the empty spaces with a background fill like Straight Line Quilting or The Twist.

Free Motion Quilting, Tutorial, Border, The Twist
The Twist
Free Motion Quilting Tutorial
Straight Line Variations

 

BACKGROUND FILL

Steampunk Quilting is a unique motif that will add character and interest to any quilt. It is best for areas of quilts that have a minimal pattern.

The key is drawing a grid first!  And of course, to doodle!

What about YOU?

Do YOU like romance?

Are YOU drawn to technology inspired motifs?

Do YOU have a Steampunk Quilt in your future?

Do YOU have any motifs you’d like to request?

We’d LOVE to hear!

For MORE Free Motion Machine Quilting Tips, Tricks and Motifs–Order YOUR signed copy today!!Lori Kennedy Etsy Shop

Signed,

Your Gear-head Quilter,

Lori

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

 

 

 

 

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Share:

30 comments

  • I love the Steampunk too, thanks Lori

  • Love it!!! Thanks for sharing your insight!!!!

  • mindi

    Love this! You are so creative and generous! Thank you! 🙂

  • Lori! Your new book arrived yesterday! Thanks for the autograph and the two FMQ “bookmarks” – a lovely surprise, to be cherished! I’ll be taking the book to my quilt guild’s retreat this weekend to show my friends and sing your praises (which I already do at every opportunity!). Thank you, Lori! Quilt on!
    -Linda (“Lil”) Koster, Wilmington, DE (where we are also still waiting for spring to arrive – 38 chilly degrees here this morning!)

    • WordPress.com Support

      So glad you like it! And thank you for being a wonderful agent! Lol

  • This would be a great way to quilt something like Jen Kingwell’s Gypsy Wife quilt…or others like it. Definitely filing this one for future use!

  • Kelly Ashton

    Love the Steampunk, Lori!!! ????

  • Carol Sorvig

    I am looking forward to trying this one, I love the variety.

  • quilter1522

    I like this, Lori! So outside the box for me. Smart to start with a grid and work in details from there. I’m going to give this a try!

  • M anders

    Sorry, it is not clear to me what you are doing in step 2 as opposed to step 3? Do you have a stitched pic after step 2?

    • WordPress.com Support

      Add details to the outside of the circles.

  • janbevan

    I love the steam punk. I’ll be trying that out soon. Thanks for the ideas.

  • T’ell Ess

    Love the Steampunk! I am new to quilting and your blog. Your tutorials are the best …can’t wait to check out your books!!!

  • Marilyn D.

    I will never watch Wild Wild West again without thinking steampunk.

  • Rosemaryflower

    Oh my gosh, this is so incredibly beautiful and yeah, snazzy.
    Now i want to try!!!!!

  • DorothyB

    love sci-fi, this is right up my alley!!! Love it!!

  • Totally not quilting related…Visconti Van Gogh Red Vineyard fountain pen?

  • So fun!! Must doodle more….

  • bbquiltmaker

    Love, love, love, love, love!

  • paintedthread

    Neat. I love Steampunk stuff. Never thought to apply it to quilting.

  • This is really cool!

  • carol S

    amazing…so, it does not matter to run the quilting over previous lines of quilting? Or were you able to not do that with each pass?

    • WordPress.com Support

      I did cross some lines.

  • Suzanne G

    Lori, you’ve outdone yourself! This is amazingly creative as well as inspiring and I love it!

  • Lori Hope

    Wow!! Mind. Blown. DEFinitely gonna find a use for this motif!!

  • Deb Peterson

    I really like it!

  • Verena

    I love this! Steampunk is so cool and has many genres, not just Victorian. Did you know there is a Old West Steampunk, Safari Steampunk, etc. It can encompass a lot of combinations of design and literary genres with sci-fi.

    • WordPress.com Support

      No I didn’t know that! I read about Old West but not the others!

Comments are closed.

Discover more from Lori Kennedy Quilts

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading