Ooo! I did so enjoy meeting Trudi Wood and taking part in her workshop last Sunday. Trudi quilts the most beautiful feather designs using a domestic machine as well as her long-arm. The workshop was very relaxed, Trudi gave us all confidence as she explained how to free-motion-quilt feather designs. We had plenty of time to practice – a bit of pencil to paper muscle memory work to begin with then our sewing machines began to whir!

It was amazing to come away with a credible free motion feather wreath – I had no thought of creating anything so ambitious by the end of the day.
As usual, I have more than one project on the go! Three have all reached the same stage at the same time: as a result I’ve spent quite a lot of time spreading out fabric and wadding on the sitting room floor trying to figure out how to piece backings and working out if my wadding pieces will be big enough. Here is the backing (including label!) for the ‘Chocolatier Variation‘ quilt.
Then, of course, comes the dreaded basting.
I finished basting the Beginners Course quilt (and attached a label!) – it’s up on my design wall to brighten the place up while there’s no piecing going on.

I also basted ‘Carrie Nation Variation’ – it is pretty large at 76″ square and weighs a tonne!

My ambition with this quilt is to enter it in The Festival of Quilts (an annual event held at the NEC, Birmingham). I’m hoping I’ll be able to stitch some half decent feather patterns across the quilt. This morning I’ve been stitching in the ditch around some of the patchwork, mainly to stabilise the layers but also, I have to admit, to put off switching to free motion mode!
It’s time to do a bit of housework but those feathers are calling 🙂
Linking with Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday. Kelly is sharing memories and photos of her time at the recent Quilt Market.
Allison