Module 5-Chapter 5 Quilting, Padding and Stuffing

Wadded Quilting techniques

 5a

 5b

 5c

 5d

5e

 5f

5g

5h

Samples 5a to 5 f were done using the traditional wadded quilting technique. For the 1st and 3rd layer I used coton poplin and for the  padding a thicker polyester wadding.

Straight and curved lines were used to stitch the 3 layers together in samples 5a to 5f, while I did free motion quilting for samples 5 g and 5h. In 5g I filled the spaces with more stitching so that the shapes would show more. Of course all kinds of shapes could be stitched this way, but to make the shapes really pop up, more stitching has to be done to flatten the fabric between them,
Sample 5 h was done with what is called the stippling technique.

Experimental variations

 5i: here the padding used are cut off threads (mainly embroidery), the fabric used is polyester organza, The layer have been machine stiched with a straight stitch

5j; as padding I took some jersey strips cut into tiny bits. The top fabric is a polyester one used from a table runner,, the backing fabric is a plain white cotton

5k: one of my favourite: dried grass from the garden was used as padding. The layers were stitched with a straight machine stitch vertically, further hand stitch was added for more interest.

 5l: dried leaves with a top layer of scrim. Big cross stitches were used to hold the layers together

 5m: here pipe cleaners were turned into circles and kept in place with had stitching. (unfortunately I didn't have white ones).Top and bottom layer is fine tulle.

 5n: here the padding consists of felting wool roving. The top layer is cotton organza, the hand stitch is fly stitch which causes the fabric to produce uneven ripples, an effect you can't unfortunately see here

5p: shredded paper from the office was taken for padding this sample. The layers were stitched together with a machine stitched spirals

Shaped quilting

5q: card triangles were put under a panne velvet. I first stitched around them to keep them in place and then filled the shapes around with hand stitching to make them pop up

5r: thick cords were glued temporarily in place in wavy movements. The the top fabric was stitched to keep them in place. The edges of the fabric is frayed. Further stitching could be added in the negative spaces.

 Padded quilting - Trapunto

 5s: for this technique I used white coton jersey which is a bit stretchy. the backing fabric is white coton. The circular shapes were stitched by machine,then the backing fabric was cut open to insert the padding. The spaces between the circles were filled with free machine satin stitch adjusting the width of the stitch when needed. This created a more organic look with rippled edges.

5t: A "cheater version" of padded quilting with inserted wool threads

5u: stitched lines with a heavy padding. The spaces between the padding were filled with knotted ribbon thread

5v: another sample with padding where I tried to reproduce the pattern in sample 3b. of course the space between the shapes could be filled with stitches creating even more texture.

In general one can say that practically any shapes could be reproduced with this method.
For all the padded samples I used white jersey cotton as, because of its stretchy quality,  it lends itself very well for this method.

Corded Quilting

5w: wavy stitching with a twin needle on jersey fabric 

 5x: here the stitching with the twin needle was done on the bias on a loosely woven fabric. Ribbon yarn was encased in the tunnel thus created on the back of the fabric. The spaces between the rows were filled with straight stitching with the same ribbon.

5y: a very delicate sample done on transparent polyester fabric without any thread introduced in the channel . This is not really a corded quilting sample but I like the pattern created by the stitching

 5z: stitching with a twin needle, this time I encased a fine red thread. This was not so easy as the needle often went through the fabric to the front/back

 5/a: wavy stitching with the twin needle with  a thicker thread introduced in the channel. I like the way this method caused the polyester fabric to distress in a very organic way.

5/b: i think that the back of this sample is more interesting than the front as the stitching creates an interesting pattern. The fabric used here is a coton organza

5/c: the same method used on tulle fabric, not very convincing though as this material proved to be too stiff