luv2kwilt Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Hi everyone, I am in need of either a DVD or book on formal feathers to help me do them better. I would like some suggestions on what is the best. It seems like everyone out there has written something on doing feathers and I can't buy them all!! I have quilted part time for a couple of years now, and can do basic feathers well, just haven't done any freehand formal ones. I would be willing to buy some books or DVD's off anyone who is done using theirs and looking to "Spring Clean". Thanks so much! Luv2Kwilt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 I have Jamie Wallen's Cotten Tracks DVD which is excellent. Darlene Epp's Feather workbook is also excellent but no DVD. Kimmie Brunner's new DVD is on my must have list. I've had her class, Twirly Whirly Feathers, and it was excellent so that DVD will be found at MQX... I hope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sspingler Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Also check out Suzanne Earley's books.....Meandering Magic and More Meandering Magic. She is also coming out with a new book specifically on how to do formal feathers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs.A Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Karen McTavish's books come with DVDs and they have been helpful to me. Nancy in Tucson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollyrw Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 I took a class from Karen McTavish and it was great. If you get the chance you should go for it. Barring that, I suggest her books/DVDs like Nancy said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethDurand Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 I vote for Myrna Ficken's "Fowl Proof Feathers" DVD. Fabulous stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Butler Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 I just took Myrna's fowlproof feather's class. IT'S A MUST! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Read this thread...it went on for days...It is on my must have list too.... http://www.apqs.com/quiltboard/viewthread.php?tid=15656 I am making a list of videos to purchase at MQS, I usually go for books, but I'm thinking a video would be nice too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renae Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 I vote for Myrna's DVD's........they are fabulous!!!!!!:) And so are her classes!!! Believe me take them if you get the chance because they are well worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraJ Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 I just bought Kimmy's Twirly Whirly Feathers, spent the last week at night doing the ppp she shows how to do and am doing my first feathers on the latest quilt. Not perfect by any means but they are easier to do free-motiong now using a stencil as a base and following Kimmy's guidelines. Now I feel like I can move onto Myrna's Fowlproof Feathers a little easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darlene Epp Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 There are MANY books and DVDs on the market on how to do the heirloom style of feathers and I'm sure all of them are great. In my books, I took the feather right from the beginning, how to do the basics, but then expanded on that into 23 shape variations and 17 "inserts" variations. The price may seem high at first ($50), but it's so complete, it may be the only feathers book you ever need to buy. There is a 68 page Pocket Guide to the shape variations and a 63 page workbook that expands on how spine shapes affect the "feel" of the feather, whether formal or informal. There are pages on how to do inner and outer curves, how to "twist" your feathers and how to "plume" them. Pages on wreaths and borders/sashings and allover designs. I show you how to "combine" different shapes from the variations and inserts to achieve something truly unique and uniquely yours. MANY of the designs don't need any backtracking and look very difficult to do. The secret is in the pathway and they're very EASY to do. Your customer should never know that! Everyone's doing feathers now! Why not make YOURS stand out from the crowd? You can purchase from my own site, Kim Brunner, Kingsmen, The Quilting Connection, LongarmSupplies.com and many other sites and quilt shops. They will be at all of the major machine quilting shows from one or more vendors. Sue Schmeiden will have them at HMQS, where I'll have extras in my van, just in case she needs more. Here's an example from one of the more advanced pages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeoldeforest Posted April 11, 2009 Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 Beautiful Feathers Darlene! I am having fun playing with feathers...even without the SR. I like Karen McTavish's bump bump back method. I have Darlene's books and Sherry Rogers-Harrison's books and like to play with their style of feathers too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmoore1223 Posted April 11, 2009 Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 Kim Brunner's DVD is wonderful. I have several books on doing feathers but there's nothing like being able to watch them drawn and then done on the machine. As someone else said Kim gives you, as she calls them, training wheels. After practicing, I'm on to Myrna's fowlproof feathers with more confidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoryJM Posted April 11, 2009 Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 Biggest thing you should consider, IMHO, before you buy a book or DVD, is "how do you learn?" I've had Darlene's books for a long time and have practiced a bunch (really, Darlene, I have) but I just couldn't get my feathers to be anything but FAT. Then I got Myrna's DVD and my feathers became much betteer. After thinking about it for awhile, I realize that I learn better from watching the feathers executed on the machine and then mimicking that myself. I learn visually, so the DVD was a must. That said, it wasn't until I got Kim Brunner's DVD, that my formal feathers started to look really good. Its basically the say Darlene teaches in her books, but I get to watch Kim draw them and then sew them. Seeing that was imperative for me. So...how do you learn; better at reading or better at watching?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoleneK Posted April 11, 2009 Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 I agree with Dory, I've practiced feathers but just wasn't really getting the formal feathers. Once I got Kim's book/DVD and seen her first draw them out and then stitch them on the machine and now practicing them, I can actually do formal feathers. I still need to practice more to get them as pretty as I want. ...doesn't matter which you choose - practice is the only way you'll improve. I am horrible at drawing but find now I can draw out the feathers and actually look at the paper and say "those look good". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg_marsh Posted April 11, 2009 Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 I have decided that all of the above mentioned are great. For me the bigger issue is that with time all of the great teaching materials get better and better - mostly because I am doing better. The more you practice and you should practice more than one method, the quicker the light bulb will come on. Mine are not great yet, but see constant improvement. I also have become a firm believer in marking areas that are difficult. Better to know where you are going than winging it and then frogging because it is too wonky............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen G Posted April 11, 2009 Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 I agree with Dory's statement "how do you learn?" I am the kind of person who learns by reading, and then by doing myself. To watch a video does not seem to compute as quickly for me. I love Darlene Epp's books, she takes you from very basic to way over the top. Without a doubt they were the best investment since I got my long arm machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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