Princess Feather Quilts (and FREE pattern)

I keep coming back to my Princess Feather quilts. The first one I made was for Windham Fabrics in 2007. It is owned by them and hangs in a prominent place in their offices in New Jersey.

Princess Feather with awesome longarm quilting by Leslee Evans of Atlanta

Here is a process shot of me trying to come up with an assembly:

Trying out a different assembly

I also made one using Kaffe Fassett fabrics and it appears in my second book, Supersize 'Em Quilts (2009). Notice the different assembly from the first one.

Princess Feather #2

Then I had a bunch of leftover plumes from my playing around with this Textured Leaves collection a few years ago.

Textured Leaves by Windham Fabrics

I let time get away from me (hello? how are things in YOUR sewing room?) and only cut out 10. Not to worry, the 11th one is traced. Here is what I'm up to:

Freezer paper template ironed to fusible web backed fabric

I drew the template onto freezer paper. I cut it out. I iron it to the RIGHT side of the fabric, which has fusible webbing on the back. (Yes; I will be sharing the pattern with you.) Now I cut it out:

Princess Feather plume spins to the left

 And the mirror image:

Princess Feather plume spins to the right

Why? I don't know. I always let the fabric tell me what it wants. And who has to be all matchey-matchey anyway?

Here are the random plumes (minus the 11th one) scattered on my quilted pillow sham:

Oh, the possibilities!

Some spin right:

6 plumes spin right

I changed my mind on the way to the table runner I had in mind.

Dancing Leaves made with a Princess Feather plume template

I decided to work with blocks. I didn't like my first plan with the background fabrics competing with the plumes. These are too ho hum, don't you think?

First plan

 I cut 6-1/2" x 8-1/2" rectangles of each of the prints. I also cut two 1-1/2" x 8-1/2" strips of the same fabric as the plume. This way the block will become a square. This is how a block looks with a contrasting print behind it:

First block plan

I pulled out some light khaki solid fabric and this is what I got:

Second plan with the first block: much better!

I used fusible webbing to adhere the plumes to the background rectangles and then used matching thread to zigzag appliqué them to the background. Quick is my method here!

And now what do I have? A quilt center that measures 24-1/2" x 32-1/2" (unfinished). I have a plan for borders, but ran out of time. What? That never happens to you?!!

Dancing Plumes made with Textured Leaves fabrics by Windham

But, I had abandoned this post and came back to it this morning. I had added borders to the quilt above a few months ago and here she is: 35" x 44".

Playful Princess Feathers

Here is the link to the FREE Princess Feather pattern that I made for Windham back in 2007. I used the large top half of the plume which is included full size in the pattern. Of course, you can make the entire Princess Feather quilt if you like. And whatever you make, please do send me a picture!