Playing With Background Fills

I finally quilted some of my doodles onto fabric.  Thank you Ann Fahl for your inspirational tutorial hosted by SewCalGal.  I decided to divide up the space on the fabric with small channels and create designs within the spaces.  Often, background designs need to fit around and within other elements.  This helped me to practice quilting various designs with a little backtracking within a defined space.

Some March doodles.

Thread doodles.

I used King Tut thread, 40 weight, 3 ply, with 50 weight Coats and Clark in the bobbin.  I used the 90/14 topstitch needle that was recommended on the King Tut label.  I'm seeing just how important it is to have samples like this to test tension and threads on a regular basis and as a reminder of designs.

March Doodles

I borrowed Ann Fahl's book from the local Quilt Guild.  She includes very detailed information about thread sketching as well as thread quilting.  I'm looking forward to playing with some of her techniques.

Throughout March, I've been practicing a variety of doodles that would work for background fills.  Soon, I will combine some of the information from the book and information from Ann Fahl's tutorial on SewCalGal's blog to create a sampler.

Now, on to a few more doodles.

A Finish

Late last night, I completed the last stitch on this little whole-cloth quilt.  I really enjoyed working on this.  It's the right size for thorough and sustained practice but not too overwhelming.  Thank you to Diane Gaudynski for her tutorial on how to create feathers with an echo and for her images of an echoed background.  Thank you as well to SewCalGal for hosting the challenges.  I look forward to the March challenge.

When I had created the spine, my echoing was a little uneven, but once I added the feathers, it became impossible to see where the spine narrows and widens.  I still find echoing the outside of the feathers very challenging, but I'm determined to continue practicing.  Now, on the the March challenge with Ann Fahl.