Feathered Rainbow Star

This is a Feathered Star that is the December 2012 Free-Motion Quilting Challenge, isn’t it a beautiful star!

This bonus used Kaleidoscope Kreator 3 software which I don’t have but would love to get as it can do so many neat things. Edit: I bought this software and it is fun to use and unfortunately it is no longer available.

There was a free PDF file you can download and print to practice quilting around this Feathered Star. The file has a dark purple background which is beautiful but…..I didn’t want to use that much ink in my printer. Marjorie from Marjorie’s Busy Corner printed out the actual piece if you want to take a peek.

I love manipulating photos in Photoshop so…..that is what I did and then used a gradient to get the rainbow effect. I printed it on a creme Colorfast Inkjet Fabric sheet by June Tailor that….gulp I’ve had for about 4 years. The sheet has a special sizing on it that makes it very stiff. I am going to print another feather star in a different gradient but this time I am going to use a piece of batik and freezer paper.

I use my 15-91 Singer sewing machine for all my piecing and quilting. Someone asked about the darning foot I use….I bought this foot about 22 years ago to fit a Elena sewing machine at the time I was first learning how to do stipple quilting.

I have several other free motion feet but keep coming back to this one. I used a 70 needle and just regular thread, I thought afterwards I should have used one of my new shiny Coats & Clark Trilobal Polyester but I forgot. I hit a 50% off sale at Hancock Fabrics and stocked up, aren’t they beautiful!

It was very easy to free motion quilt through the sizing on the fabric but the feathers didn’t puff up. I used just one layer of Warm & Natural batting.

Here is a closeup of the back of my quilting.

When I put the binding on, Inspector Simon was there to keep an eye on everything. He surprised me as it has been quite a while since he felt the need to get UP on my sewing table but it worked out well as he is hiding the Christmas placemats I have finished but haven’t blogged about yet.

I had no idea what I wanted to make out of the piece so I just put a narrow border on it and made a small wall hanging.

I originally thought of a journal cover but it was too big.

Here is a photo of it quilted before I washed it. I like the way the shadows hit it.

Once I finished it I heat set the ink and since it was so stiff I decided it had to go in the washing machine with some delicate items. This is a photo of the stitching BEFORE washing.

Here is a photo after I washed it, dried it for a bit and then ironed it. The photo isn’t showing the exact same part of the feathers, sorry. The colors actually didn’t fade much…..normally someone wouldn’t wash and dry it the way I did but I was experimenting.

Here you can see the whole piece after washing. It is a little softer and the needle holes have shrunk some also. The next time I use the Colorfast sheets I think I will print, heat set, and then gently hand wash to see if I can get the sizing out before I quilt.

I always make sure to use a Color Catcher sheet if I wash a quilt project like this.

If you like the way I made this quilted wall hanging, be sure and check out a couple of these posts!

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About Connie

Hi, I’m Connie Kresin Campbell, the quilter, writer, and photographer behind Freemotion By the River. I enjoy inspiring others with my quilt tutorials and patterns. You’ll also see my sweet adopted dogs from time to time.

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29 Comments

I love what you have done here – I too have played with the image in photoshop but my editing skills aren't nearly as good as yours! Well finished too!

You did a beautiful job on this!

Such a beautiful star, Connie!!! Lovely quilting!!!

And Your inspector is so cute:)

This turned out lovely Connie

Absolutely fabulous Connie. Your machine quilting is so skillful. Beautiful. Cheers, Karen

You, my dear, are amazingly talented. And your thread collection is one to covet!

Fabulous Feathers! Wonderful FMQ. Good advice to heat-set and wash the PFD fabric b4 quilting. Thank you for the tidbit.
Hope all of you… your Dad, B.Bob, and you are all feeling up to snuff again.
Merry Christmas from my home to yours.

Te ha quedado una estrella muy bonita. ¿Utilizas tela con papel de congelador para poder imprimir? ¿en impresora de inyección? Gracias. Felices Fiestas.

You did a great job! Looks wonderful! Any chance you could share your PDF without the dark background?

Connie, this is *gorgeous*!! I'm going to have to give this a try, because it's simply beautiful!! 🙂

This turned out really lovely! I like what you did changing the background – very effective with the border fabric you chose. Beautiful job!

This looks gorgeous Connie! I too have saved the pdf and put it on my 'to-do' list.

Absolutely stunning!

This look amazing!

WOW!! Winner!!

This is so beautiful Connie…love it!!! :o)

Love the rainbow effect! Such a great idea. I did see Marjorie's too, and it's also wonderful. Well done!

This look beautiful. I had read the tutorial and saved the PDF. I need to put this on my to do list.

It's beautiful! That's my goal for 2013 is to learn how to FMQ, I'm starting with stippling!

Connie, it turned out beautiful! I love the color you chose for the border! My Fiance saw me reading your post and he told me to tell you that he loved it too! Simon is such a cute helper:) Your 15-91 looks really pretty:)

Connie, once again, you amaze me. That piece is so very simple, yet complex and beautiful all at the same time. You've given me some inspiration…..again!

It looks beautiful! I hope I can free motion like you do when I grow up!!!

That really looks amazing. I love the rainbow effect on the cream. Very elegant and pretty as is your quilting.

Lovely, Connie, as are all of your projects!

That star is very pretty and I love the colour of the border you've added. I started the FMQ challenge but I'm so far behind.

that is so pretty Connie.xx

That is just absolutley stunning!

Hi ! Connie,Every time I see your FMQ It is so beautifully done.It is amazing .I don't think I will ever get a hold of it.Lovely feather wallhanging.

Just beautiful Connie , thanks for explaining how you created this project ,I was wondering how you have a cream background and Marjorie's is blue 😉

Feathered Rainbow Star