The Easy Feather-A Machine Quilting Tutorial
Good Morning, (Focused and Organized) Quilters!
There are more than 100 tutorials in our FREE Library. Everything from beginner motifs to advanced patterns and from modern to traditional. There are whimsical motifs and classic borders…but up until now, there has not been The Most Popular Motif Ever–The Feather.
Why no feathers you ask???
Because I have really concentrated on original motifs and tutorials you can’t find else where. There are books and videos galore on fabulous feathers…
However, because so many of you have asked for a step-by-step photo tutorial… today I offer a very basic feather…
THE EASY FEATHER TUTORIAL
There are many, many ways to stitch a feather. Often one side of the feather is stitched, then a center design is created and finally the opposite side is stitched. (Three pass motif.) The Easy Feather is stitched in one pass–stitching a right petal then a left petal and back and forth up the center line. Each petal nestles into the petal below it-by echo stitching.
MARKING AND STITCHING
Begin by drawing three vertical parallel lines to serve as guidelines.
Begin stitching on the center line. Stitch up several stitches, then sweep to the right line. The sweep from right to left is fairly shallow.
Sweep the right guideline and immediately curve around.
Stitch down to the center line.
Taper up along the center line and then sweep to left guideline. Sweep the side one and curve around toward the center.
Continue to the center line just above the previous petal.
To form the next feather, echo stitch the right feather below it and curve around.
Echo stitching the previous “petal” gives the motif a very compact and neat look.
After stitching three or four petals that reach to the side lines, stitch a few smaller petals, then begin again with larger petals.
End the row of Easy Feathers with a vertical “petal”.
EASY? BEGINNER?
The Easy Feather is easier than other feathers, but it can be challenging to get the curve of the petal. While this is not exactly a beginner motif, I think every quilter should learn Feathers as soon as possible in their machine quilting career. Add them to your “doodle” list…be patient and doodle Feathers every day!!!
The GOOD NEWS–even imperfect feathers look nice! Don’t wait to add this motif to your quilts...Add a feather to every quilt–you can never go wrong with feathers!!
CRAFTSY’S NEW LOOK
Craftsy launched a new website over the weekend–all new look and all new functionality. It’s rolling out this week so be sure to take a quick peek…Try the scavenger hunt to win 5 free classes HERE.
And if you notice any broken links to Craftsy, be patient and check in with their wonderful customer service tab…
For 50% off Divide and Conquer Quilting and my second video, Creative Machine Quilting…try this link
More quilting all week!
Doodles,
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!
Yay I was hoping for the feather veing “Lori”nized ???????????
I love this kind of feather. I call it a spineless feather. They are so fun and easy to quilt. You can change the size of the feathers, add curls and really make them unique.
Sadly at the end of the hunt, where you put contact info, they are requiring an answer to “Apartment or Unit” – many of us don’t have an answer for that. I contacted Customer Service (which is harder to find on the new platform.)
Thanks for the info. I’ll let them know
Glad you can help other quilters… Am I only one in the world who is bOred with feathers after seeing them for years? But I love YOU, Lori. Your dedication is so amazing.
Feeling like a FA Yet-to-be OQ-Seamstress (Focused and Yet to be Organized Quilter)…but working on it! 🙂
Feathers have been the bane of my FMQ efforts, and I don’t really know why. I seem to have trouble maintaining the proper angle of the leaves and with consistently smooth curvatures. I’ll definitely try this approach. Thanks!
They can definitely be a challenge!
I’ve been doodling your poinsettia motif to use on a Christmas wall hanging. While some of the individual lines seem a little bit wonky, the final whole motif amazingly looks like a flower. Going to doodle a few more and then maybe a practice sandwich. Can’t wait to try it, but don’t want to mess it up either. Feathers will have to wait.
The poinsettia is always gorgeous! Can’t wait to see what you create!
I clicked on the link for half price savings and it takes me to the class. $39.99 on sale for $24.99
Not half price.
Check in with customer service please. I will contact them as well. Let me know!
Thanks, Lori! I have been working to resolve my ‘Feather Phobia’, but haven’t been very satisfied with results so far…Can’t wait to try these!
I love feathers, so glad you posted this today!
This is such a cute feather, I haven’t seen a “spineless” feather before, thank you for posting, I do struggle with feathers, and am apt to use a more freeform ferny type feather.
This is just a fyi. I did go and check out Craftsy’s new look and did the scavenger hunt. Unfortunately I didn’t realize until I finished that you have to be US resident to be eligible for the contest. Oh well, I guess I learned a bit about the new site.
I didn’t know that!
I just knew if you gave a tutorial on feathers I could do it, thank you so much!!!
Where they ask for Apt/suite/etc I typed home and it was accepted
I love this more informal, perky feather! Thanks!