Quilt artist Heather Thomas shares all the techniques needed to make a fun, funky, fantasy tree quilt, complete with swirling leaves and filigree roots.
First she’ll show how to use loosely woven fabric to form the trunk and major limbs of the tree. Then she’ll show how to extend those limbs into branches using thread sketching techniques to extend the limbs into branches. At the same time Heather will discuss the placement of the branches and stitch them out.
Next, Heather will teach you how to machine quilt fabulous filigree swirls for the roots. She will also share her tips on ow to deal with the fullness in the trunk while stitching in a bark like texture. She will finish up by using torn and twisted strips of fabric to form the swirling leaves of the tree, discussing her color and size choices.
This class is geared toward growing and building a tree quilt, but the skills and techniques you’ll learn have endless uses.
Class Sessions
Introduction
4:21
Meet Heather Thomas and see a sample of the Swirly -Do Tree quilt that you will make. She introduces the products and fabrics needed to make the quilt and walks through the various techniques used to make the quilt.
Preparing the Base & Prepping the Trunk
12:07
Heather walks you through layering up the quilt sandwich and shows how to create the trunk using gathering, folding, scrunching, and ruching techniques. Then she introduces ideas on how to stitch the trunk as well as the negative space on the quilt.
Quilting the Trunk Stitching Branches & Roots
17:06
Learn how to stitch down the trunk and major limbs of the tree, then how to deal with the fullness in the trunk while stitching in bark-like texture. Heather talks about options for quilting the negative space. Once the trunk is completed, she shows how to use thread sketching techniques to extend the limbs into branches.
Making Swirly-Do’s
18:56
Heather reviews her thought process when choosing colors and fabric for her swirly-dos or foliage on the tree. She shows you step by step how to create your swirls and shares her tips and techniques.
Finishing Up
2:21
In this final session, Heather reviews the steps to create the Swirly-Do Tree along with some information on squaring up the finished quilt and adding a twisted fabric edging.
Meet Your Instructor
2:22
Learn more about your instructor, quilt designer Heather Thomas.
Your Instructor
Heather Thomas
Heather is a mixed media fiber artist with a passion for color and a dedication to teaching. After a decade of making original yet traditional work, she began venturing out toward art quilting, embellishments, and mixed media work. With more than 12 years of studying and teaching color and design under her belt, she wrote her second book, A Fiber Artists’ Guide to Color & Design, which came on the heels of her very popular first book, Fabric Embellishing: The Basics & Beyond. In 2011 Heather was a guest writer for Quilting Arts magazine with a multi-part feature on Free Style Machine Quilting. She also participates in group and individual instructional DVDs produced by the Creative Crafts Group. You can visit Heather’s blog at heatherthomasblog.blogspot.com.
Bonus Material
Swirly-Do Tree Quilt - Pattern
Bonus Materials available for download after purchase.
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