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Steampunk Quilting Tutorial

April 10, 2018

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!

 

 

 

 

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Categories

Machine Quilting

Tagged

Gears Steampunk Quilting

30 responses to “Steampunk Quilting Tutorial”

  1. Verena says:
    April 10, 2018 at 6:35 am

    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.

    1. WordPress.com Support says:
      April 10, 2018 at 6:45 am

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

  2. Deb Peterson says:
    April 10, 2018 at 6:43 am

    I really like it!

  3. Lori Hope says:
    April 10, 2018 at 7:08 am

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

  4. Suzanne G says:
    April 10, 2018 at 7:26 am

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

  5. carol S says:
    April 10, 2018 at 7:28 am

    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?

    1. WordPress.com Support says:
      April 10, 2018 at 7:44 am

      I did cross some lines.

  6. Vivian Lewis says:
    April 10, 2018 at 7:32 am

    This is really cool!

  7. paintedthread says:
    April 10, 2018 at 7:54 am

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

  8. bbquiltmaker says:
    April 10, 2018 at 7:54 am

    Love, love, love, love, love!

  9. emily says:
    April 10, 2018 at 8:02 am

    So fun!! Must doodle more….

  10. quiltbabe (@quiltbabe) says:
    April 10, 2018 at 8:03 am

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

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      April 10, 2018 at 8:32 am

      LOL! Yes! How did you know?

    2. Kathryn Dahn says:
      April 10, 2018 at 11:41 am

      Thanks for the name of the pen, love it!

  11. DorothyB says:
    April 10, 2018 at 8:13 am

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

  12. Rosemaryflower says:
    April 10, 2018 at 8:17 am

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

  13. Marilyn D. says:
    April 10, 2018 at 8:29 am

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

  14. T’ell Ess says:
    April 10, 2018 at 9:56 am

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

  15. janbevan says:
    April 10, 2018 at 10:07 am

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

  16. M anders says:
    April 10, 2018 at 10:27 am

    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?

    1. WordPress.com Support says:
      April 10, 2018 at 12:01 pm

      Add details to the outside of the circles.

  17. quilter1522 says:
    April 10, 2018 at 10:37 am

    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!

  18. Carol Sorvig says:
    April 10, 2018 at 10:53 am

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

  19. Kelly Ashton says:
    April 10, 2018 at 12:20 pm

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

  20. Sandy S says:
    April 10, 2018 at 1:23 pm

    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!

  21. lilquilter says:
    April 10, 2018 at 2:13 pm

    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!)

    1. WordPress.com Support says:
      April 10, 2018 at 2:25 pm

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

  22. mindi says:
    April 10, 2018 at 3:03 pm

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

  23. Beth says:
    April 11, 2018 at 11:32 am

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

  24. Jana Malanikova says:
    April 12, 2018 at 12:07 pm

    I love the Steampunk too, thanks Lori

Comments are closed.
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    Lori Kennedy

    Hi! I’m Lori Kennedy, machine quilter, & author from Minnesota. Check out my monthly newsletter & my articles. Machine quilting is my passion. From doodling to quilting, I’m here in my Minnesota studio to help you get quilting.

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