Fun Friday: Hand-Marbled Fine Art Fabrics & Tutorial

Dean and Linda Moran are passionate about Hand-Marbled Fine Art.  They have spent years researching and perfecting their technique to create spectacular marbled fabrics that can be used on just about anything, but truly makes stunning Art Quilts, Clothing, Contemporary Quilts and more.  The possibilities are endless!

Today, I'm honored to be able to share a tutorial that Linda Moran has provided to help share how you can incorporate free-motion quilting with beautiful marbled fabrics, resulting in visually stimulating sewn results.  And, there is a giveaway where you could win some of their beautiful hand-marbled fabric too!

Plus, for those participating in the 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge, this is a "bonus tutorial for the FMQ challenge. To clarify, if you complete this tutorial using hand-marbled fabrics from Linda's store, you can use this optional tutorial for one of the 12 FMQ tutorials required to enter to win a Grand Prize in this challenge.  Everyone is invited to participate in this challenge and you can join anytime. For more information on this challenge click here.  For those doing the optional FMQ Sampler Quilt, this FMQ tutorial does not apply for that sampler, as this tutorial is only appropriate for FMQ on hand-marbled fabrics.

Tutorial for Free-Motion Quilting on Hand-Marbled Fabric, by Linda Moran:


Quilting Marbled Fabric

Part 1
Ever since we started marbling in 1993, people have asked us “What do you do with the fabric?” 

We’ve made lots of quilts, both traditional and art-quilts so that folks can see how marbled fabric can fit into a quilt or wearable garment. That got us started, but there was always the feeling that we could be doing more with the fabric itself. A friend took a fat quarter to “play with,” and the following week she came back with a gorgeous piece of completely quilted marbled fabric….just by following the line of the pattern.

Well, that was truly the beginning of taking marbled fabric and really working with it in a quilt. My first attempt was to work with a freeform pattern, just following the lines of the pattern. This uses the stone pattern, as well as a beginning chevron pattern, both of which are easy to follow.

This piece, “Gaia 1: Interdependence,” used a free motion foot, as well as a regular basic stitching foot. Because the strips are relatively narrow, and the batting was thin, I chose not to use a walking foot. Your mileage may vary if you are comfortable with a walking foot, by all means use one. I find I almost exclusively use my regular foot and my free motion foot Here is an example of quilting a line using a regular foot. I like having theeven stitches, which I don’t always get with my free motion quilting (and no stitch regulator….).

You can have a great piece of marbled fabric, but sometimes it just needs something. I’m finding that more and more…it is an addiction

Getting Started

You need a piece of marbled fabric. We’re starting with a freeform pattern made by creating the stones by dropping paint on the carrageenan bath. Then using a stylus, we swirl the paint around the whole piece. This gives us the effect you see here. This also involves the first very basic marbling pattern, the very organic-looking stone. From this pattern, using a variety of different combs and rakes, you can get very complex patterns. But let’s start with this pretty basic pattern.

When you have a marbled pattern, look at it closely for lines that lead to other sections of the pattern. This is a different type of free motion quilting. You aren’t deciding the whole quilting schema, like in most regular quilting; you are just analyzing and deciding where you want to go with your thread. A pattern like this one has gentle curves to it, unlike more complex marbling patterns. This is a good one to start with.

Using this next picture, see how you can travel from one end of the pattern to another. Once you’ve studied a pattern, you can decide if you will do individual sections or travel across some pattern lines to do a new section.

With this first marbled pattern, you have several possibilities. You can outline the little stones. You can follow most of the curved lines. You can do a combination.

Some marbled patterns are pretty intense, and you end up doing a lot of quilting in very small areas. These take more control, but the results are fabulous.

You have some decisions to make at this point: backing, batting, thread choices. I chose a green cotton for the backing so it would play off the green in the marbling. I used a left-over piece of Fairfield cotton low-loft batting, and Superior Thread’s Bottom Line in the bobbin. I chose a white thread, because for the purposes of this tutorial I wanted you to see the design aspect on the back. You get some very interesting quilting effects on your backs.

When I put my pieces together, especially if they are small, I spray baste top and bottom to the batting. For larger pieces I also use safety pins.

All of these are various threads from Superior. I am a bit of a thread snob, as I only use Superior Thread and needles (their titanium needles are pretty amazing). Ever since I did the School of Threadology in St. George, Utah, I have been hooked on their threads…and I NEVER have thread break. The threads above are Rainbows, Brytes, and Art Colors.

I thought this bottom thread, Bryte, would work the best, so that’s what I started with. I thought the dark green would emphasize, but not be obvious.

I checked my tension, according to Dr. Bob’s thread guide for Superior Threads. Then I picked a place to start the free motion, did about an inch,  and checked my tension again.

You can see how I just followed the basic line of this first swirl. I usually pull my threads to the back and tie them off or bury them, depending on how the piece is going to be used. With the next photo, you can see how I chose another swirl and followed that particular curve.

You can move around the fabric and pick different areas to quilt, but if you are going to quilt the whole piece, continue quilting out from the area where you started.

I also decided to change colors of thread, as I wanted something lighter to accent the pattern. Don’t hesitate to do this if you feel it will add to your design.

In this next example, I have changed thread color again, and this time I am outlining the smaller circles. The circles are part of the “stone” pattern, which is the first layer of paint in developing a marbling pattern. The circles take more control in your free motion, but you get great results in texture. You will want to plan your “traveling” stitch as you move from small circle to small circle.

Every now and then take a look at your back. Check for tension, secure your knots, and just admire the developing design. I used white in my bobbin because I wanted you to see the actual stitching on the back. You may choose something else, but the backs of marbled quilting can look spectacular.

Hopefully you will enjoy this technique. Email us with questions, and we are always interested in seeing your finished projects. To get you started, you can order fat quarters in this  swirl pattern at a discount from us. Just email deanm@marbledfab.com quarter for this tutorial, and give us an idea of the three or four colors you would like. Cost is $6.00 per fat quarter, plus $2.00 shipping and handling, up to three fat quarters.

Keep in mind that this marbled quilting works best if you have some definite contrast with your color choices. Copyright 2012 by Linda Moran and Marble-T Design, LLC. You may NOT reproduce this handout in any format without express permission from the author or Marble-T Design, LLC.  {SewCalGal is also a copyright protect site, where you need to obtain permission to copy any insights, including photos}.

Completing This Tutorial as part of the 2012 FMQ Challenge?

While everyone is welcome to use this tutorial, 2012 FMQ participants can use this "bonus" tutorial on any fabric to claim completion of one of 12 of the FMQ tutorials required to enter to win a Grand Prize in this challenge.  And, IF you complete this tutorial using a hand-marbled fabric, from Linda Moran's store, you can also enter to win a fat quarter from Linda's collection. Simply be sure when you add your link to enter to be sure that your entry show appropriate details.  To clarify, if you are a blogger, your entry needs to show evidence you completed this tutorial and are posting to enter this particular challenge, and if you want to claim an entry to win a fat quarter of Linda Moran's hand-marbled fabrics, you need to show evidence that you completed your tutorial uing hand-marbled fabrics from Linda's store. And if you are not a blogger, you need to select your best photo, that shows you've met the criteria for this challenge, uploaded it to our flicker group and add a link to your photo to the linky below.  And, add a comment under that link to share appropriate insights on your entry to clarify if you are entering to show you completed this tutorial on any fabric, or if you completed it on Linda's hand-marbled fabrics and want to also enter to win a fat quarter of Linda's hand-marbled fabrics.

For bloggers:

Please post your entry on your blog. To clarify, you can include as many photos of this tutorial exercise in your post, but you can only add one link to the linky tool below. You may also want to include insights in your post about your past FMQ experience and thoughts about this tutorial. Totally, optional, but you may also want to let everyone know that you have taken the Pledge and you did this exercise to enter the the challenge this month, where randomly selected winners will win a prize. You may inspire others to want to join this challenge too!

For non-Bloggers:

1) You will need to have a Flickr account (www.flickr.com). 
2) Upload your photos for this month's challenge to Flickr, batch organize, send your photos to groups, select "2012 FMQ Challenge". While Flickr, limits the amount of text you can share in your description, feel free to share your perspective on this exercise and/or your past FMQ experience, if you wish.
3) After your photos have successfully been loaded to the "2012 FMQ Challenge" group, click on your best photo in that group, ideally one that shows the stencil and how you quilted using that stencil. Copy the URL link to your particular photo entry. Add that link to the linky tool above, to officially enter this show.

This tutorial was originally released as a Fun Friday Giveaway, with a giveaway for handmarbled fabrics, by Linda Moran.  While that giveaway is closed, Linda will be giving away one fat quarter of hand marbled fabrics to anyone that completes this tutorial in 2012, using her hand marbled fabrics.    To enter, follow the instructions above and be sure your blog post/Flickr entry reflects that you did this exercise on Linda's handmarbled fabrics.  To clarify, anyone can complete this tutorial and it can count as one of 12 that you need to complete to enter to win a Grand Prize, but if you do pursue this tutorial using Linda's Hand Marbled Fabrics, you'll also have an opportunity to win a fat quarter of her beautiful fabrics.

Update (Jan 27th):  The winner randomly selected from the participants that pursued this tutorial and entered by way of the 2012 FMQ Challenge, is:   June @ QuiltQuest

Did I mention a Giveaway?  **giveaway is now closed**

Dean and Linda Moran have generously offered three (3) Hand-Marbled Fat Quarters to followers of SewCalGal.  To clarify, three winners will be randomly selected and each will receive one Hand-Marbled Fat Quarter.  To enter to win, followers can simply leave a comment on this post.

But first, be sure when you enter a giveaway or contest you have a way to be contacted. If you are not sure, check out my post "WANTED: Quilters that never win at giveaways".

Want extra entries to help increase your chances of winning?  Leave a comment for each of the following options you wish to claim:

1) For those on Facebook, go "like" Marble-T Design on Facebook and leave a comment on their page, letting them know SewCalGal sent you.

2)  Subscribe to their newsletter, where you'll also automatically be entered to win free marbled fabric each month.

3) Visit their ETSY store and leave a comment here, letting me know what your favorite item in their store is.

Marble-T Design, LLC

Hand-Marbled Fine Art Fabrics

http://www.marbledfab.com

http://marbledmusings.com

http://facebook.com/MarbleTDesign

http://www.etsy.com/shop/marbledfabrics76   

I'm also delighted to announce the winners from the Fun Friday giveaway last week, sponsored by Martingale & Company:

English Paper Piecing: Fresh New Quilts from Bloom Creek, by Vicki Bellino
winner:  Christine

Pretty Patchwork Quilts: Traditional Patterns with Applique' Accents, by Cindi Walker
winner:  Karen (My Passionate Obsessions)

dynamic QUILTS with easy CURVES: 19 Projects to stack, shuffle, and sew, by Karla Alexander
winner: Rachel

Civil War Legacies: Quilt Patterns for Reproduction Fabrics, by Carol Hopkins
winner:  Ariane (Ariane Quilts)

SEW the Perfect Gift: 25 Handmade Projects from Top Designers
winner:    Cynthia Stockdon (Cat Song Stitchery)