Flame Ray Flower Filler Quilting Design #239
We’re learning how to quilt a Flame Ray Flower filler today. While this design doesn’t shout “FLOWER!” at you at first glance, it certainly could if you changed it a bit. I’ve quilted it into this block to fill the block completely. If you’d like the rays to look more like flower petals, simply bring the rays into a point at the ends, rather than continuing to expand them.
Difficulty Level – Intermediate. As you’re quilting the first half of your flame ray, think of Sharp Stippling because that’s exactly how it works! I find it always helps to have an idea like that in your head so the shapes of the design stay consistent throughout.
Design Family – Center Fill. Flame Ray Flower starts in the center of your quilting space and radiates out. Because of the way it’s created, this is a design that is much easier to quilt in the large, open spaces of your quilt rather than in the tiny, complex areas.
Directional Texture – Center Focused. If you’d like to draw even more attention into the center of this design, consider starting with a smaller circle, and travel stitch a bit in this area to build up the thread. This will create heavier stitching in the center which will draw your eyes right in!
Suggestions for Use – This design has a lot of possibilities. You could use it as a flower in an applique quilt, or to fill in a whole block in large scale on a bed quilt.
While you’re quilting it, think of the many possible variations! I was thinking of Sharp Stippling as I created the rays, but what if you swapped it out for Alien Fingers? What kind of texture could be created with that design instead?
Let’s go quilt,
Leah Day
Thanks for this year spent looking at your video.
ciao ciao and Merry Christmas
You've got me thinking here. I work with Reiki (Chi), and I can't help wondering if you've created a sort of energy vortex with Sinkhole…which could explain the drain you felt when you looked at it in your dining room. Then again, it just might be your own personal connection to Sinkhole, a reminder of the life experiences and emotions that inspired you to design this quilt in the first place. Still, I think I'd like to do some research on the idea that we might actually be able to create an energy vortex with visual media. Wow, and yikes!
Awesome design, Leah! While I was preparing breakfast this morning, I looked at my "quilted" paper towels and saw a free-motion quilting design in it. It similar to one you've posted, but with a twist. I'm considering sending you the paper towel just to get your take on it. Do you accept ideas for new and different designs like this?