The Feathered Leaf: A Mini Quilt in Free Motion Quilting

28 responses to “The Feathered Leaf: A Mini Quilt in Free Motion Quilting”

1. It’s just beautiful. Visiting your posts every day is so inspirational for me. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to create and share.

2. Gorgeous work Lori. I love every little bit of it.

3. I have to start doing table toppers like this. Gorgeous.

4. Rosemary B here:
   Oh my goodness, Lori!
   This is the cutest thing ever.
   I love Kona cottons. I buy them when ever they are on sale at JA, even though they have a “limited” (to say it kindly) selection.
   This is very cute.
   I have a great idea now. I will make small quilted motifs for my parents door
   at their new (2 weeks now until the big move) swinging pad at Ashby Ponds.
   I hope you have a lovely Wednesday

5. Lori, when you “draw a grid,” are you using a stencil? Or a ruler? I am working on The Quilt Show’s BOM quilt (A to Z for Ewe and Me by Janet Stone) and would like to use a diagonal grid in the background (just like you are showing here), but I think 1-inch gridding is too large for this quilt, and I cannot find a 1/2-inch grid stencil. Do you have some advice or thoughts for me? (I love ALL of your FMQ designs, and am planning to bring some of them into this quilt yay!)

   1. I used a stencil from The Stencil Co. If you already have a one inch grid, draw all the one inch lines then move the stencil over 1/2 inch and draw all the lines again to create a 1/2 inch grid pattern. I have tried to draw grids with a ruler but it is surprisingly difficult.

      1. Red face here – that is such a great solution, and I am embarrassed that I didn’t think of it. Thank you, Lori! Btw, I used several of your FMQ designs in my first long-arm quilt, and oh my goodness, what fun! 🙂

      2. Love to hear it!

6. It is absolutely beautiful….as usual!!! What is the tiny fill around the leaf border? I thought is was micro-stippling but looks more like hand-stitching or a seed stitch…or maybe it’s “just me old eyes”…lol. I’m looking forward to the flower tute…’course truth be told…I look forward to your posts each day…thanks so much.

   1. The background is very close straight stitching with green thread. Glad you like the posts!

      1. Thanks for this Q&A — it was my question too — would love to see close-up of that corner — beautiful effect! 🙂

7. This is simply stunning! I can’t wait for the tutorial on the flower. Your beautiful way of filling the open spaces just makes everything pop. Love your tutorials! Such talent!

8. Lori, do you quilt with a ruler (the thicker long-arm type) to keep the lines straight on your grid work? I can see that you free motion at the ends of some of the lines and your lines are so straight! I have to use a walking foot when I quilt grids so I’m interested in how you create yours. Lovely quilt! Your quilting and creativity are awesome! Thanks for sharing.

   1. I free motion quilt on the lines without a ruler. It’s not perfect.

9. Inspiring as always!!! “Grids” give such a traditional/old-fashioned feel to the finish!!!

10. Hi!!!! Beautiful!!!! I have not done any actual quilting yet!!!! Soon though!!!! I check your post daily and I am inspired by your amazing quilting!!!!

11. You are so good!!!! Love it! Green thread in the background! good idea…muted but texture for interest. I learn something new every week from you…thanks for sharing.
    I’m sticking with quilted flowers from now on…stupid hail!!!

12. Love your work, but why do you use two different threads for bobbin and top?

13. I am going to put the feathered leaf in a pieced border section. Thanks for sharing such great designs. I especially appreciate the step by step photos.

14. Not only do I love your blog and all it has to offer, but the comments, questions, and answers give me the information I was about to ask. I have used free motion for a grid before and it wasn’t pretty but It does look great from a foot or more away! Yours always looks so wonderful even when I blow it up on the computer to see just how you did those wonderful fills. Will try the back and forth on a small piece I’ve just finished. thank you for your inspiration. Every day is a new day!

    1. Thank you for your kind words Judy! Stitching a grid with a straight foot is probably the best way to stitch straight and even. I’m lazy about changing my machine when it is set up for FMQ. That’s the only reason I do it that way.

15. Have you ever used twin needles? I see pics of it but never have tried it. Or would it even work with FMQ? thanks..love this green project..

16. Love it! Learning so much from you and so appreciate the time you take to share your work!

17. Great little quilt, Lori. You’ve created so many different textures in a relatively small area. It looks lush! I have always loved the look of grid backgrounds, but I find so hard to believe you did that free-motion! I can’t sew a straight line with my walking foot.

18. This is gorgeous! I do so love all of your work. I have pics of many of your motifs downloaded in a “practice” file on my laptop. Thank you so much for teaching us and for sharing your breathtaking works of art.

19. This is just beautiful. You work is just perfect, always!

20. Your site is the first I read every morning, I love it and am so inspired. I have wanted so long to learn how to actually quilt, by hand or by machine. I have “played around” with both but with so much roaming around in my head I have not accomplished much, just diddling. Piecing I do and love it but the blocks keep piling up. And up.
    Now I want to learn how to quilt as you go and use your lessons.
    Thank you so much for all you do,
    Phyllis

21. Thank you , Phyllis. The best way to learn is to jump right in! Once you get going you won’t stop!