Create the reef
To make a background for your composition,
fuse a 10" x 12" piece of ‘water’ fabric to a piece of
felt. Now you’re ready to make a reef.
- Arrange a piece of painted cheesecloth on
the background to create a dimensional reef.
Consider a shape like an off-center J or U.
Keep a fair amount of water fabric visible for
that underwater feel.
TIP:To simulate light coming through the water, arrange
lighter colors toward the top of the reef and darker colors
toward the bottom. Keep the layers somewhat thin so
embellishments don’t get lost in the thickness.
- Secure the cheesecloth to the background
using couching stitches. To do this, come up
through the back of the fabric with a needle
and thread. Gather a few strands of the
cheesecloth into a pucker and bring the needle
back down close to the point of emergence.
Repeat every 1"–2" until the cheesecloth is
secured to the fabric in the desired shape.
You’ve just created the base of your reef, now
it’s time to add embellishments to your heart’s
content, and fi nish your small quilt as desired.
Follow your heart when stitching. If you need
more inspiration, just think of the ocean!
A Feeding Frenzy of Embellishments
Here are a few embellishments I used on my quilts. Th e sky’s the limit, though—or maybe I should say the ocean’s the limit! Have
fun—add beads, threadwork, embroidery, and more.
Th read-painted sea fans- Hoop a piece of heavyweight water-soluble stabilizer and free-motion stitch organic fan shapes using variegated thread. Create a
hand-like structure fi rst with straight stitches and then sew across the stitches to interlacing the thread and create a sea fan. - After the stitching is complete, cut away the excess soluble stabilizer and submerge the fans in warm water for 10–15 minutes,
rubbing lightly. 10–12 minutes leaves some glue residue on the piece (which will stiff en it); 15 minutes removes most of glue
residue. Rinse several times and allow to dry.
Create details - Using the painted silk ribbon and variegated fl oss, add embroidery stitches to the cheesecloth reef.
TIP:Find stitches in an embroidery or silk ribbon reference book. Stitch suggestions:
Silk ribbon embroidery stitches: Twisted straight stitch, gathering stitch, ribbon stitch, and whipped straight stitch
Embroidery stitches: twirl stitch, French knots, bullion stitch, straight stitch, and feather stitch - Specialty threads are fun to couch down onto the reef using a gathering stitch to create interesting reef plants.
- Stitch the fi sh to the quilt with fl oss. Accent the fi sh’s features using straight stitches.
- Add beads throughout the piece to give it texture, and add a bead to each fi sh’s eye.
“Oceanscape” • 8½ " x 10½ "