Sunshine! (And Couching!)

What better time to feature (in more detail) a table runner I have titled “Sunshine and Satin.”  It was a lot of fun to do, because I got to do three major techniques I really enjoy, employing my love of color. Free Motion Couching.  Free Motion bobbin play, and just fun free motion thread play in general!  Every last stitch on this piece is free motion, and there are at least five different thread choices, and many multiple quilting motifs, too.

And if you would like to learn more, I hope you will go to the BLOG for THREE CREATIVE STUDIOS and see my detailed post there tomorrow as Guest Artist for the Technique of the Month: Free Motion Couching.  

It will begin with the free motion couching foot — the Bernina Foot #43.  Update 6/22/11: See it HERE at Three Creative Studios!

In that post, I have also set out my ‘how-to’s’ for free motion couching! 

It was delightful to quilt on this luxurious cotton sateen fabric. Love how the quilting adds little poofs of dimension and shine!

And the free motion couching adds not only more color, but a texture that I personally find creative and attractive.

I like to try to attempt ‘the unexpected’ in my quilting and design process.  

The variegated yarn I’ve used in my free motion couching foot (foot #43 from Bernina) is a wool, beautifully hand-dyed from Mountain Colors Yarn Company in Montana.

And I have also used a smaller, and a bit more delicate, hand-dyed yarn, from Artfabrik, made by Laura Wasilowski; Queen of the Chicago School of Fusing.   Such pretty colors! This is a slightly thicker thread, meant for hand stitching or bobbin work… and since it doesn’t ‘fill up’ the hole in the center of the #43 foot, I let it have it’s ‘wiggle room’ and it ends up being a wavy presence on the edge that I like alot.  Enjoy those happy, and unexpected results!

I decided to add a touch of country to the satin… so on went the crochet trim — free motion applied, of course.  More couching on the edge of the trim… just for FUN … and because… I CAN!

Don’t stop there! I also free motion couched around the outside edges right next to the binding. I like how it adds a framed look to many of my pieces.

Here’s to hoping you will want to try your hand at embellishing, and find your very own… free motion couching style!