Formal Feathers

In this issue, I continue to explore the possibilities of feather quilting. I have previously discussed the hook and open feather — both are a more modern style of quilting feathers on your quilts. Another option in the feather family is the formal feather. This involves backtracking, stitching over the top of the previous stitching to move forward. It takes time to master, but the effect is wonderful. This style of feather is the closest in appearance to hand quilting in my opinion.

When I started quilting with formal feathers, I used pre-purchased stencils. I purchased a vast collection many years ago, which I still use today. They are a fantastic learning tool to use. You