The Art Quilting Process
Other than a precision sewing machine, ironing board and a place to spread out your work, there is not much else required to create a quilted art piece. I carved myself out a small niche near the attic and set up racks for a fabric stash, a table for thread and other supplies. Being a fan of Sulky, I set up a thread rack (according to color), for both the rayon and cotton thread spools. I often bead my quilts so have two or three plastic, compartmentalized containers for seed and bugle beads, beedles and several small, orange-handled Fiskars scissors.
When creating a new quilt, I give my brain a chance to visualize a design. Visualization takes a few days before it "gels" into a picture. Once I get the "picture" I start the design using avariety of commercial and hand dyed fabrics. Occasionally I'll draw and cut out paper templates, especially for primary components. But, if it's a landscape, those elements, such as rolling hills are usually cut out on the fly without detailed planning.
Next, all the fabric pieces are laid out to create the design and adjustments are made. I cut out a piece of cotton batting slightly larger than my design, and then begin the quilting process. I use an applique technique, create the background first, and then sew fabric layer on top of fabric layer. I use free motion quilting a majority of the time. After sewing the tip of my finger, I am very careful to do this part of the process a little slower.
Once the quilting is finished I add beads or other embellishments, paint, stamping and then more quilting. The entire quilt is a work in process until the very end. I constantly evaluate the design and color balance plus the placement of fabric objects and beads. Like the writing process, I often let a piece "rest" while I busy myself with something else. This gives me time to think about how the major fabric compenents work together and compare what I originally envisioned with the overall result.
When the quilt is complete I add a backing (with sleeve) or binding. Handwork may be in order to finish the binding, add additional embellishments, etc. I prefer to hang my quilts on a bamboo rod with a picture wire which give them a slightly more informal appearance. Some smaller quilts are sewn on a cardboard backing then framed.
The quilt pictured below was made using over ten differnt cotton fabrics, ten colors of thread (silk, cotton and rayon), and cotton batting. I used fabric markers, stamping and dye discharge techniques.
