Last week Heather and I went to the quilt show and took a couple of classes. We both took the pet portraits class and I took a class on free motion quilting. They were both good classes. I didn’t take pictures during the class (was working too hard to just keep up), but do have a couple of things to show. Not very interesting, but I promised some pictures.
For the pet portrait class our homework before class was to take a picture of our pet and then using an on-line tool to process that into a chalk drawing. I did our cat Boots:
Here is her chalk version:
The next step was too put a transparency over the chalk picture and use a marker to draw patterns of the pieces of her face:
The idea is to get the general shape and pick which features will be cut out of fabric. This isn’t the complete pattern, but is where I am at the moment.
Then you select your fabrics, transfer the pattern to the fabric and cut those out:
As you can see this is a process of layering fabric pieces on top of each other to get a fabric version of Boots Kitty. Some elements of the final portrait will be down with fabric pens and some with thread painting. The class was about teaching the method, not getting a final portrait and this is where I am at the moment – just putting in some of the color highlights on her face.
The fabric pieces are stuck together using a repositionable heat activated fusible web — your basic iron on stuff but this has a tacky side that holds things together so you can move things around until you get it where you want it. Then a final ironing sets it all in place. This picture shows the portrait being built on parchment paper. When the head is done, it will get placed on a fabric background.
The free motion quilting class was all about learning how to setup the machine and getting the basics of movement, thread tension and basic shapes. Not really much to take a picture of during this class, but here’s one of my practice squares:
Not the best, but I’d only had 10 minutes practice at this point. I will say that I did find a number of similarities between this kind of work and using my scroll saw to cut wood. The tools are different, but the motions and attention to detail are similar.
That’s it for this week – if you need me, I’ll be practicing loop-de-loops until I’m brave enough to quilt one of my quilts.
Andrew's View of the Week 
You’re just getting started an already the results are really impressive. You’re going to have fun with future projects. I think taking classes at the different quilting shows is a wonderful way to proceed with such a productive hobby!
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I’m enjoying this so far.
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Wow, Andrew! So cool!
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I like it!
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Great job, Andrew! Boots is adorable! You have many skills and talents.
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Boots is my lap cat and will follow me around the house until I sit down.
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Wow!
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Thanks!
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I think you’ve made a very good start there! That is a recognisable portrait of your cat, Boots.
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I’m like how this one is turning out. Now it’s just a question of how much detail do I do.
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Andrew, as I was reading this I was wondering if your carpentry skills helped as there seemed to be some similarities and hey ho, they did! It seems you learnt a lot in the classes and enjoy putting into practice! 😀
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I feel that my skills in each area strengthen the other and I’m amazed at how many skills cross over between crafts.
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Did you do the chalk coloring in? AMAZING! This is such a wonderful process. The cat’s head in fabrics looks fabulous. It’s always interesting to learn how you do things on the “back end” to get the final result. I hope you finish this so we see the final cat blanket or pillow. BRAVO!
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I used some software to create the chalk drawing. I’ve been wondering about this method for awhile and now I know.
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That’s fascinating! I am not artistic at all. But I sure admire those who are. Great job!
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Thank you!
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That Boots is a pretty kitty. I can certainly see the value in the free motion practice 🙂
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She’s is. and it takes practice to do it.
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That is very cool, Andrew.
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I’m enjoying it!
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Very cool, Andrew! I never would have thought of doing a pet portrait in fabric. What was the name of the online tool you used for the chalk outline?
You have my respect and admiration for your freehand quilting! I’m happy if I can just sew a straight line most days. 😉
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It’s IMGonline.com.ua They have a lot of effects you can use, chalk is one of them.
and yeah, I don’t do straight lines very well either. I am enjoying this project.
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Both of these techniques are pretty cool. I don’t know how much I would like to do the freestyle quilting. I like having something to follow After only ten minutes’ practice, I think you did a far better job than I would have.
The piecing and needle painting of Boots is right up my alley. I really love doing this kind of art, as it is so much fun to be able to choose appropriate fabrics, etc. to match the fur and colors. Are you doing the needle painting by hand or using the machine? I have only done it by hand and it is quite relaxing actually and a lot of fun.
Thanks for taking a few photos for us. I know it is hard when you are in class and learning new things, But they are very much appreciated. They look wonderful!
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I’m planning on using my machine for the thread painting. Mostly because it will be faster for me and it’s really just another form of free motion quilting.
I don’t think I’ll be doing a lot of freestyle quilting, but will be using rulers and templates to create patterns and follow those. I got a type of erasable fabric marker that I’m going to use to draw the pattern and then try to follow along. We’ll see how that works.
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Your Boots Kitty has an interesting little mustache.
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She does. Of our three cats I think her face has the most color in it.
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I continue to be intrigued by the similarities between your quilting and your woodworking.
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I’m amazed by that myself. The more I do both, the more they seem the same – except sanding and painting fabric is a lot harder … 😉
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LOL!
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