I’m glad you came back to find out about someone I am delighted to call a friend and I who am convinced is one of Chicago’s best kept secrets, Kathy Matthews!
Kathy is a member of our Naperville Modern Quilters Guild and looks after our social media and communications. By day she is a wonderful wife, grandma (she excels at that position) and a blogger with Chicago Now. Life hasn’t always been kind to Kathy and she blogs with heartfelt honesty which inspires me to try harder myself.
Read how she describes herself.
“My passions are quilting and sewing. Add to that French, Spanish, books, swimming, travels, new restaurants, yoga and chocolate and you have me. All of these are best shared with family and friends. Except for chocolate, don’t touch my chocolate.”
Don’t you want to know more?
Kathy blogs very regularly and I am sew happy (her phrase) that she agreed to watch and review my DVD.
We are on Day Nine of our hop and today I want to show you some feathers.
On the DVD I demo unmarked feathers, both with and without a spine. I add a little embellishment, just because I can, and then I show a more ferny sort of feather.
I sometimes add a feather to the outer border of a quilt. Here’s a close-up of that piece with the hour glass quilting on it with the feather under construction.
I put the spine in first using my walking foot. Notice I had narrowed the border just a little with the echo quilting. Then I stitched one side of the spine all the way around the quilt before doing another pass around for the other side. Another two circuits added the embellishment!
Because it’s unmarked I don’t worry too much about keeping the corners symmetrical. What will be, will be (!) and I will be happy with it.
Here’s an older quilt of mine from 2010. It’s a thousand pyramids quilt inspired by Jan Krentz‘s design and put together after she stayed with me that year. Can you believe I had all those flower fabrics in my stash? I used a fern style feather for a quick and fairly easy all over quilting motif. I made it as a sample to teach at Pieceful Hearts. Apparently we called it Indian Summer.
A few hours of summer would be very nice right now…
Here’s a close up to show the quilting a little better.
Feathers aren’t always considered Modern but I like them and everyone loves to learn how to stitch them.
The featured image at the top of today’s post shows a spineless feather underway on the machine. They make a great filler in an irregular space and feature on the front of the DVD cover.
Just one more day to go. Here’s the complete list of blogs again if you want to catch up.
I have been updating the list each day so you can find the specific post more easily. Some of our bloggers have already moved on and written lots more entries since they did ours.
I’m guessing you probably didn’t win the PowerBall this week or you would be too busy to be reading this. Remember a comment could win a prize. In addition to a DVD our grand prize winner will be receiving a Stella task lamp from Stella Lighting.
If you don’t like black you can choose a white or a pink one instead! I have two lights from Stella, one upstairs that clamps on to my machine table and one that stands on the floor next to my preferred hand stitching seat. They really are my favorite task lighting and the people from Stella are the nicest, friendliest people you can imagine. They are the funnest crowd to hand out with on a quilt show floor!
So, don’t miss out. Check out all the blogs, subscribe to bloglovin’, like me on Facebook, leave a comment, and then go stitch!
It’s our last day talking about the DVD tomorrow. Thanks for sticking around.
Love the squares with the tiny stippling!! Thanks for the chance to win!!
You have some feather variations that I have never seen before. Tha task light looks great but I really would like the DVD! Here’s hoping!
I’m not too good with feathers yet. Love your little extras inside the feathers!
oh. my. goodness! A PINK Stella lamp?? Wouldn’t that be lovely???
It’s just beautiful! I’m glad I found you, thanks to Bonnie Hunter!
Beautiful feathers and beautiful quilt; such talent. I think the ‘walking foot spine and two pass method’ sounds brilliant and maybe even I could manage that…. Thank you for sharing
I love, love, love feathers and am always looking for new variations to stitch!
I am off today and planning to use the two pass feather shown on a wall quilt border. Having trouble getting over the fear of starting but today is the day! Have stitched a lot on this quilt with the walking foot but need to move on…could really use the DVD to learn more!
Thanks for the chance.Would love to win. I am planning on working on my machine quilting this year.
I am a big gardener so needless to say I want to make a floral quilt now that I have seen “Indian Summer”. Absolutely gorgeous! I want to learn how to machine quilt, right now just using a walking foot. I would love to win your DVD!
Love your style of quilting.
Feathers are so intimidating! Would love to learn!
The stitching is gorgeous! And that lamp is a dandy!
I love feathers and I would love to learn tips on how to make them better.
I have the first DVD and found it very helpful. Catherine’s pacing of the info and her lovely English accent add to the experience.l
Kathy and I have the most important quilting vice-chocolate. Just started free motion feathers on my home machine and I can’t quilt enough. Each new finished product is better than the last. And the lights are a must to chase away all the shadows. Thanks for putting the blogs in a series and the introduction to other wonderful quilters with such extraordinary talents.
I have done quilting with the walking foot, but only once did I do free motion. Eager to learn more. Oh, a pink Stella. That would be nice.
Thank you Catherine, I am ready to win!!! Thank you for all the scrumptious ideas to make my UPF’s look radiant!
Kathy said to check in here – your are an Illusionary in the quilt business and funny!!!
I love your feathers and mine could use some help! Especially love the detail work.
I’m really enjoying seeing all the different machine quilting on the placemats…I’m going to start something similar this weekend! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of your DVD.
I need that DVD to get out of my squigglies and into feathers! Thanks for the giveaway.
Love your stitching. Regulating the stitch length has been a problem. Hoping your DVDs will cover that topic.
I like the idea of doing the spine first. I will try that way next.
Thanks for the chance to win your fabulous sounding dvd!
Feathers are a design I haven’t tried yet! I will, one of these days! Love those lights, it would help so much for my nightly sewing!
Oh boy, feathers! I have a love/hate relationship with them. 😀
Just hoping to win that DVD so I can use some of your techniques to get over my fear of feathers. M
I’ve never thought about doing one side of the feather and then come back to do the other side — sounds like a great idea to me. That’s what I love about these blogs — new ideas!
I would like to master feathers quilting.
I need all the help I can get to get over my fear of free motion quilting.
I will have to give feathers a try.
You make it look so easy!
I love quilting feathers and it never occurred to me to use my walking foot to make the spine first. Who knew, what a great idea. I’m really looking forward to getting this DVD and I’m going to recommend that we get it for our local modern quilt guild’s library.
Beautiful feathers – love the little curl inside them!!
Your quilting is beautiful!
I am in awe of the wonderful quilting you have shown here. Not sure I will ever achieve the success you have reached but I would love to learn the process from the very beginning. Thanks for sharing and look forward to the DVD to get started.
I am eager to give your techniques a try. Thank so much for sharing your gift.
Love the idea of making the spine for feathers with the walking foot! That might be motivation enough to finally get me to try making feathers!! Thanks for yet another chance to win your DVD!
You are so amazing ! Feathers look so intimidating but it won’t hurt to try!
Thank you for all this.
Wow!! Your Feather’s are soooo cool! Knoooow I absolutely need this DVD! 🙂 Thanks for chance to win too! Love your Summer quilt….Awesome quilting…on all you have shared with us thru this Hop too!
Oh, I so want to learn feathers! Need to win that DVD!
Kathy Matthews has a way of making whatever she’s writing about sound so compelling! I have to confess that I’m one of her fans but I still really enjoyed her post. Sounds as if you two have a mutual admiration thing going on!!
Feathers, feathers, if only I could master them! I know that your DVD will help me get there! Thanks once again for allowing me to have the chance of winning one. Betsy (sent by Bonnie Hunter).
I tried my hand at some FMQ yesterday and was happy that I did not devolve into a meander stitch. I’m not perfect by a long shot but am happy enough not to rip out the stitches. Thanks for the chance to win your DVD.
Love the feathers with what I call teardrops in the middle are great, this makes me want to go play at the machine, thanks for the giveaways and I hope to win a chance.
Thank you, again, for sharing so much about free motion quilting. I am really excited about the DVD because I am sure it it packed with a lot more inspiration. I am also intrigued by the Stella lamp that you use.
I love feathers on quilts. Someday I hope to be able to quilt them in my quilts.
I tend to do the “traditional” feather, but I love the ones you’ve shown us today (especially the one with the echo on the inside, with a loop)!! Thanks for the chance to win!!
Wow, I love that Indian Summer quilt!! Gorgeous! Thanks again for doing the blog hop and giveaway. I would love to have your DVD to help me get started with free motion quilting, which I find so intimidating. Also like the Stella lamp. 🙂
You inspire me! I like the spineless feathers.
Jo N.
When I grow up, I want to be just like you. Beautiful work
Great blog network. Appreciate the quilting tips.
I love your pyramid quilt – and the feathers quilting is great. I appreciate your info. and feel inspired to give them a try.
Your feathers are de-light-ful! Nicely done.
Love your quilting. Following along each day has made me see that I need a copy of your DVD. Thanks
I love feathers!
Where has the time gone? One day to go, really. I have been enjoying coming to your bloig each morning and checking out what your guests have to say. Don’t know why, but feathers are my nemisis. Look forward to seeing what advice you share for conquering them.
I love feathers n a quilt with Feathers would be a dream come true.. I like the feathers with spine more 🙂
I love your feathers on modern–it mixes it up a bit. I love Kathy’s blog, too!
Love your feathers. I really need to practice.
I am interested in learning more about free motion quilting. A friend of mine is an avid fan of yours. Would love to learn more.
No, no lottery winnings, but sure am enjoying your beautiful placemat quilting!
I love your work. Bonnie Hunter recommended you, and I can see why. I’d love to win either prize, Helen
Your feathers are beautiful. I have tried making them on practice pieces but definitely need much more practice. Would love to be the winner of the DVD.
Thanks for the chance to win.
I think you described Kathy and Kathy described you perfectly! It’s inspiring to see both of your works up close. I better get back to my drunkard’s path now.
I think I need to work on my feathers, thanks for the inspiration!
This looks like it would be SO helpful! I’d love to win
feathers…. always such a variety….. need to get my placemats made so I can practice… and so I can have samples to put on the wall… I struggle to remember what I’ve already learned 🙂 these senior moments …..
I love stitching feathers and the variety looks interesting.
I love quilting feathers too. I’ve enjoyed learning about your new book.
Love the feathers…especially like the part about not having to mark them! Thanks for a chance to win your DVD!
I’ve learned a lot this week, and got some inspiring ideas. Now to find time to make things happen!
I’m great at quilting small pieces but have no luck transferring that to a large quilt. I need to make some lap sized quilt for kids to hone my skills. Between Thanksgiving and today I’ve made 12 quilts for kids to donate and now am a pro at stitching the binding down by machine. Practice truly makes perfect.
Very cool love the feathers but really like the stapling idea…[email protected]
Thanks for sharing your way of doing feathers. I am so excited because I plan to buy a new sewing machine by the end of the month. Then I am going to start FMQ and straight line quilting. I think I likely have lots of mistakes to learn from in my future, I am still excited. Sure hope to win so I have someone to teach me.
Your feathers are great. I love all the variation. Thanks for sharing!
I really like your way of doing feathers. I always have lopsided outcomes.
Feathers are timeless so I’m sure glad you included them in the DVD. I read Kathy’s great blog review of you and your DVD and found her style such fun. I so wanted to leave her a comment but it seemed I could only do it with a Facebook account. Since I don’t do Facebook, I was left out. Please tell her that her sentence that read “Learning new techniques from a stellar quilter” was spot on!
Love the loops in the feathers! Feathers are the one thing I want to learn the most in free motion quilting!
I love feathers! Thanks for sharing and the giveaway. The DVD sounds great! I’ll be buying one in the near future.
Modern feathers, how fun!
I would love to win the DV – in the meantime I will be following you and all the others on the hop!
I haven’t been brave enough to try feathers yet. I need your help! Hopefully I’ll win this ‘lottery’! Thanks again.
You make it look so easy! And beautiful! After watching the DVD and TONS of practice hopefully my machine quilting will look half as nice as yours.
I’m really wanting to do this!
I so enjoyed Kathy’s blog and had to sign up. Would love to win. Bonnie Hunter sent me here.
Love your feathers in the border.
I need all the help I can get when it comes to using my machine for fmq. Would love to win. Found my way here through Bonnie Hunter.
So many ideas. Would love to try some.
Bonnie Hunter said that I NEED this video. Thank you for the opportunity to make that possible.
Thanks for all the great information
I am so excited! Looks like a great addition to my video library!
I have always had difficulty doing ‘feathers’ – thanks for the great info!!
I love your feathers, beautiful!
Love the feathers and the use of the walking foot. A very nice DVD!
I loved “meeting” new to me bloggers as I heard more about you and your DVD.
came over from Bonnie Hunter’s. Glad I did.
Love your quilts and the quilting. i need all the help I can get with my quilting, but still trying hard and enjoying it.
The blog is awesome! Too bad I’m just now taking time to venture through always late but still so awesome!
Really like your hint on using the walking foot to straight stitch first (before) FM. THAT is something I need to remember and DO! 😉
Love looking at the derail shots. Thank you.