Feathered Heart.....Machine Quilting

Machine Quilted Feathered Heart

White Cotton Fabric, Cotton Batting, 

White Cotton Aurifil Thread,

80/12 Sharp Needle

Trace heart shape onto white cotton fabric

Question mark shapes......feathered spine lines

I stitch from the bottom of the heart...

I can see better when stitching out the feather plumes

Begin stitching plumes up the right side of the heart...

The right side of the heart is all stitched with plumes

I am ready to begin stitching plumes 

on the opposite side of the heart...

I would normally stitch this out without stopping,

but I am taking it out so you can view the progress.

On the left side is my sketch on paper...

on the right is the heart ready to stitch the next section.

Both sides of the heart have been stitched with plumes

I will begin stitching in the center area of the heart...

My sketch will show you where I plan to stitch next.

I have filled up the right side of the center area...

I will begin filling in the opposite side of the heart center...

It's almost done...

The heart is completely feathered...

I sprayed water and removed the blue markings.

Here is a chocolate heart I feathered.

I am working with a Bernina Artista 200

Before machine quilting...

I usually warm up with a feather design.

Gunnr....a 93 pound boxer, keeps me company...

he snoozes under the sewing machine.

You are welcome to print out the sketches below

and follow along with me:

CLICK HERE to view my online Quilting Sketch Book



CLICK HERE to view my Machine Quilting

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Fabric Dyeing.....Thrift Store Style

A trip to town is not complete without stopping

at the thrift store...

I have been picking up lots of white cotton pillowcases

for a dollar or two...

They take the dye really well...

This case has battenburg lace on the edge...

Because these are previously used pillow cases,

the fibers are roughed up and ready to receive the dye

more readily than new textiles.

All of these cases were soda soaked, pleated,

then placed in long narrow trays

for the dyeing process.

The stitching on the edge of this case must

be done with polyester thread,

which resisted the dye...

This case was a white on white stripe pattern...

You can see in this image how the stripe 

acted as a resist to the dye...

This series of blue cases would make

perfect water and sky fabrics for landscape projects...

but I will use them for pillowcases.

This looks like a sky with a few clouds drifting by...

It was a FUN day fabric dyeing...

thrift store style.

CLICK HERE to view more pillowcase dyeing

CLICK HERE to view my pinterest dye page

CLICK HERE to view my surface design techniques

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi