Sew a Fall Fiber Art Piece

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Sew a Fall Fiber Art Piece

How to create a landscape quilt by Nancy Zieman and Natalie SewellTwo of my favorite hobbies are sewing and gardening. Almost 20 years ago, I was introduced to landscape quilting techniques by Natalie Sewell, nationally known landscape quilt artist. Natalie and I became best friends and scheduled two or three quilting dates each year. During the three-part Sewing With Nancy series, Beginning Landscape Quilting, we simplify the process so that everyone interested can enjoy the pleasure of creating outdoor scenes in fabric.

Beginning landscape Quilting Natalie Sewell and Nancy ZiemanHere’s a blog exclusive quilting tutorial on how I created the scene, Wolf River Woods.

How to create a landscape quilt by Nancy Zieman and Natalie Sewell

  • A photo was used as the inspiration for the design. Obviously, I did not interpret the design literally—it’s used as a guideline.

how to sew a landscape quilt by Nancy Zieman Natalie Sewell

  • The hand-dyed background fabric sets the mood for the scene—a sunny autumn day. The leaf and tree fabric choices seem to echo the colors playing across the canvas.

How to create a landscape quilt by Nancy Zieman and Natalie Sewell

  • Work on a design wall. For me it’s a layer of flanneland Quilted Iron Quick sewn like a large pillow (without the pillow form) and a casing added at the top, through which I insert a curtain rod. This design wall is portable, although I keep mine hung year ’round.
  • Three brown trees, one fat and two skinny, are the first elements in the quilt. I roughly cut out the trees and glued them to the background fabric with a paper glue stick. No worries, the glue dries fast and clear and will not gum up your sewing machine.

How to create a landscape quilt by Nancy Zieman and Natalie Sewell

  • Add texture to the trees by cutting strips of the remaining two bark fabrics and gluing them to the tree trunks. One of the fabrics had a splendid knothole, which I cut out and glued to the fattest tree. After deciding that the light came from the left, I shaded all three trees on the right with a black marking pen.

How to create a simple landscape quilt design by Nancy Zieman and Natalie Sewell

  • Next, I added dark branches to all three trees by cutting skinny strips of my darkest fabric.

How to create a simple landscape quilt design by Nancy Zieman and Natalie Sewell

  • I began the slow but satisfying process of adding leaves, carefully cut from the large leaf fabric depicted in the photo.

How to create a simple landscape quilt design by Nancy Zieman and Natalie Sewell

  • After adding many more leaves (mostly red but a few green) I messy cut the two ground cover fabrics, using both their right and wrong sides. To enhance the fall mood, I “diced” up a few of the red and gold leaves with my favorite scissors and sprinkled them on the ground cover. Notice how few leaves it takes to convey a wooded scene in fabric compared with the thousands a photograph would depict.

How to create a simple landscape quilt design by Nancy Zieman and Natalie Sewell

  • The design process continues after adding borders. A few leaves and branches in the border lend drama to the design.

How to create a landscape quilt by Nancy Zieman and Natalie Sewell

Overview of the finishing steps

The landscape quilting bends many quilting rules. Messy cutting, fussy cutting, basting with a paper glue stick, and using the other right side of the fabric as well as the traditional right side are just a few of the ways that Natalie and I show you how to be creative with fabric.

After designing, tried ’n true quilting techniques take over. The raw edges are basted down using free-motion techniques with clear thread in the needle, the quilt is squared, borders can be added, batting and backing are layered and then are stippled.

For more design ideas, watch Beginning Landscape Quilting (Part One, Part Two and Part Three) on Sewing With Nancy online.


Now that you’ve seen how easy it is to dive into landscape quilting, which season would you most like to capture in landscape quilt imagery? Leave your answer in the comment section below to be considered for a copy of Beginning Landscape Quilting. One winner will be randomly selected.

Beginning Landscape Quilting Book by Nancy Zieman and Natalie Sewell from TVs Sewing With Nancy

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93 Comments

  • Sue
    September 30, 2017

    Iin New Zealand many of our trees are evergreens so autumn is not as picturesque fof us. As a result I’d love to capture spring in a landscape quilt as that is when we see fear growth in our gardens and the beautiful bright colours of the bulbs flowering.

  • Jane Weier
    September 30, 2017

    I love every season here in Wisconsin. In fact, I’m thankful that we have the delight of having four distinct seasons here–even winter. Each us beautiful in its own right, but I’d have to say would choose fall…it’s my favorite. The colors of the leaves are so dramatic and wonderful. That’s where I’d start..

  • Susan
    September 30, 2017

    Fall is my favorite. In Michigan we have lots of color!

  • Susan Lamphier
    September 30, 2017

    I would think winter would be quite a challenge, with different shades of white snow, bare foliage, and diffused light. You inspire me!

  • Andrea Cornett
    September 30, 2017

    The colors of Fall are my favorite.

  • Pamela Kay
    September 30, 2017

    I would love to do a spring quilt with floral colors. When I think of spring I always think of new beginnings and lush color.
    Bless you Nancy and your generous spirt. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

  • Ennis A
    September 30, 2017

    I’ve been drawn to this ever since first glance of it. So beautiful. I would choose fall as you did in this segment. Such an enjoyable time of year!! And to learn a new technique to enjoy!! Thanks.

  • Barbara Mertz
    September 30, 2017

    I love the fall colors and love your technique!

  • Carol in Arkansas
    September 30, 2017

    Any season other than winter. Not fond of those type colors. Most likely it would be spring or fall colors that I would choose. 🙂

  • B J Lewis
    September 30, 2017

    I first saw your demonstration years ago and am so very fascinated. Beautiful inspiring designs. Thanks for sharing again. Would LOVE to do this in the Autumn scene. Thank you, Nancy. Continuing to pray.

  • Mary
    September 30, 2017

    I would choose the fall, it has the most breathtaking colors of all.

  • diane motley
    September 30, 2017

    Autumn! Lots and lots of varied, rich colors.

  • Margaret Chambers
    September 30, 2017

    I think it would be fall that I would choose. I have wonderful memories of my dad hitching up his last big team of work horses to a wooden box grain wagon and going out to gather up bushels of hickory and walnuts from under the trees in the pasture. Precious memories from a past long gone. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

  • carolyn montgomery
    September 30, 2017

    i would love to do a fall landscape since we have very little fall color here in south texas.

  • Dianne Anderson
    September 30, 2017

    I would to make the fall guilt. It is simply beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

  • Nancy
    September 30, 2017

    I would choose fall. It’s such a pretty season, but a short one! I’d love to try landscape quilting.

  • Susan Spiers
    September 30, 2017

    This is wonderful! Definitely winter – lots of snow! Snow scene will make me smile & feel cooler when our temps down south are anything but cool! Thank you, Susan

  • Robyn
    September 30, 2017

    Definitely fall! My favorite time of the year…the best color palate ever!

  • Thelma Williams
    September 30, 2017

    How much is the pattern and fabric? I am 80 year old fan of Nancy. I rush though breakfast so i can watch her show. She has all my wishes and prayers. Love you Nancy. Thelma

  • Bristol
    September 30, 2017

    I would try try a summer coastal scene. Gray rocky coastline, coastal grasses, sand, summer sun reflecting on the water, maybe a dock with shadow underneath…think you get the idea.

    Thank you for this post — it is a very helpful breakdown of the basic steps. I will enjoy watching the episodes online. This might be a nice winter project for me. Thank you for the inspiration — as always. You are terrific, Nancy!

  • Trish
    September 30, 2017

    I love this idea! My husband is a landscape photographer and we have many photographs of our place. We’re moving sew I’d love to capture the views of our property in a quilt! My favorite season by far the Fall, but I think I would first like to capture Spring in this project- it brings me hope after our long WI winters.

  • Laura
    September 30, 2017

    Think I’d do a spring scene, just as the leaves have come out. love those spring greens.

  • Mary
    September 30, 2017

    After seeing this series I ordered your instructional book and it made the process so much fun! The transition from the “exactness” of regular piecing to landscaping was a great experience! I happened to do one in the winter colors with snow- Fall will be my next try. Nancy, you have touched the lives of all of us and lead each of us down new paths that we may never have found on our own. My prayers are with you and your family- God bless and keep you-

  • Leola Kock
    September 30, 2017

    I would love to win a copy of this book “beginning landscape Quilting “. I love her TV
    Show and her blog n tutorials and etc.
    Fall is my favorite time of year as well!!!

  • Linda Holmstrom
    September 30, 2017

    My favorite season has always been fall because of all of the beautiful colors….landscape quilting is something I have been wanting to do but have been afraid to try.

  • Mary Lou
    September 30, 2017

    I have toying with the idea of trying to make a landscape quilt. I have even been collecting fabrics. This is a far jump from my regular baby quilts and other sewing. I just need the push. I am sure Nancy’s book would help me! Thanks.

  • Katie McKenny
    September 30, 2017

    This is my kinda quilting! Love to make free hand patterns! Just got a new machine and can hardly wait to make this! thank you Nancy!

  • Jane Terry
    September 30, 2017

    Spring. My vacation home, Whispering Pines Oregon, sits in the McKenzie River in Oregon. The master bedroom needs art above the bed, but I haven’t been satisfied with anything I’ve seen. I do have a lovely photo of the setting in Spring, and you have inspired me to try landscape quilting with that. If you are curious what that would be, you can see it in our banner on the Come Explore page: http://whisperingpinesoregon.com/explore/

    I echo Mary’s comments, and my prayers also are with you. Thank you so much for all that you’ve done for us.

  • Marty
    September 30, 2017

    I’d first create an autumn scene but then try a muted-tones winter-snow landscape. Would also be interested in making all 4-seasons view of one farmland scene!

  • Ilana
    September 30, 2017

    I would definitely start with Fall. I absolutely love the changing colors and would love to capture that in a landscape quilt.

  • Chris K.
    September 30, 2017

    I have a picture of a barn in fall that I’d like to make into a quilt. I gave up on it once, but I’m going to try again sometime.

  • Pam
    September 30, 2017

    I love fall. I miss the midwest fall as I live in California now. We have a fall, just nothing like the midwest and the leaves changing colors.

  • Clovis
    September 30, 2017

    Change of leaves looks wonderful. Even though I don’t like the snow that much, I do like the look of fresh snow on trees in the winter.

  • Barbara Takemoto
    September 30, 2017

    I am very interested in learning this technique. I would love to be able to capture some of the sights from the desert southwest. The spring is my favorite because of all the unexpected color from the wildflowers.

  • Doreen
    September 30, 2017

    I would love to make a summer landscape wall hanging and include my vintage travel trailers in it too.

  • Maria B
    September 30, 2017

    I would for sure make a fall landscape quilt, but having said that, I know I would also love to do the other seasons!
    Thanks Nancy for the very many sewing doors you’ve opened for us. Thinking of you often and wishing you well.

  • Sheila Herb
    September 30, 2017

    I would love spring with the beautiful colors or fall with all of the autumn colors. I am new to quilting but do want to try landscapes.

    Nancy you are in my prayers and thoughts. Thank you for all that you’re done.

  • Marie
    September 30, 2017

    summer at the lake, cool water, green grass, blue skies, purple lupine

  • Mary Brock
    September 30, 2017

    FALL! By far my favorite color palette and the fabrics I have the most of in my stash. Got to say the FMQ makes me hesitate to tackle this project, maybe I’ll start with something very small to build up my confidence!

  • Pat
    September 30, 2017

    I would make a fall season landscape quilt. I love the warm earth colors associated with fall scenes. Thanks for the chance to win this interesting book.

  • JaniceCarole Allen
    September 30, 2017

    Stitching the summer season. My husband recently took a pastoral position in a remote area of the mountains in Arizona. We have a very short summer season. I do everything I can to bring the feeling of summer into my house; including bringing cactus and succulents up from the desert of Arizona.

  • Monica Gerhart
    September 30, 2017

    I would make fall first, but I love to change my handing quilts so I would probably do all the seasons.

  • Pat Leask
    September 30, 2017

    I’ve always enjoyed your “landscape segments on your show with Natalie. I’d like to do all seasons, but would probably start with fall as the colours are so rich and soul-warming!

  • Mary R.
    September 30, 2017

    Winter would be my season. Our backyard is 6 acres of dense woods, many dying from age and falling apart limb by limb. Some of those branches make unique angles. After a quiet, gentle snow, the branches are covered irregularly: little tuffs, clumps, and balls of white snow. The scene is the color range from pitch-black to crystal white. I would put my picture on my computer screen in order to adjust every nook and cranny as I picked my fabric bits and mix all the shades from different manufactures fabrics of white, grey, and black. Oh, oh, here goes my art-brain; how about all four seasons for display?

  • CHARLOTTE KEY
    September 30, 2017

    Fall is my favorite time of year because of all the beautiful orange, rust and green colors so I would do one for Fall.

  • Tracy Larocque
    September 30, 2017

    What a lovely technique! I have never done this type of quilting. I made my first quilt this April and have made 11 quilts since then. I would love to try this with an image of spring. It would be fun to shop for bright fabrics to depict flowers and grasses of the emergence of Spring.

  • Anne Z.
    September 30, 2017

    Fall is my favorite season. I would love to capture the beauty of the Fall colors in a Landscape Quilt. Thank you for the continued inspiration.

  • Nancy Johnson
    September 30, 2017

    Fall is my favorite time of year. Thank you for all of your guidance and inspiration over the years.

  • Regina Harris
    September 30, 2017

    I would love to capture a fall scene by a lake in the mountains.

  • Virginia B
    September 30, 2017

    Looks like a fun project for fall.

  • Lela
    September 30, 2017

    My favorite season to depict in a landscape quilt like this would be Spring or even Summer. The quilt could hang on my wall and be a meditative piece of nature, brought indoors. That being said, I would probably start with a Fall piece, as the colors and textures might be an easier place to start learning the process with such a project. And since we’re at it, why not create a winter piece as well? 😀

  • BevM
    September 30, 2017

    I would love to make a four seasons wall hanging, using pictures from our own sixty acre woods.

  • Gayle Mitchel
    September 30, 2017

    After driving through the Tennessee mountains one spring, I was enameled by the contrasts between the dark green pines and all the spring greens of new foliage. Add to that, redbud and dogwood trees were in bloom splashing pink, magenta and white across the landscape! Breathtaking!! I bought fabrics in these colors to make a landscape quilt, and they just sit in my stash. I’m hesitatant to start and need some help! Thanks for the chance to learn.

  • Donna McGraw
    September 30, 2017

    .I love Fall landscapes because of the colors/

  • Joy
    September 30, 2017

    I would love to be able to create a landscape quilt as lovely as the one in the picture. You make it sound so easy.

  • Susan Palmer
    September 30, 2017

    I’ve tried landscapes on my own, not so good. I sure could use some clear guidance.
    Hopeful
    Sue

  • Bonnie
    September 30, 2017

    I love the colors of fall, so my first landscape quilt would be for autumn. Using the same scene I would also make a landscape quilt for the other seasons. Thanks for the great giveaway!

  • Sandra
    September 30, 2017

    Fall season is my favorite followed by Winter, Spring then Summer. Choosing which ‘picture’ to work from would be be a challenge but a fun & creative challenge. Your design book would definitely be a great source guide in making my pictures come to life!

  • Laurie
    September 30, 2017

    I recently watched your show on landscape quilting and I thought I found my passion! Ironically, it was today I felt brave enough to try it. My favorite season would be Fall!! Next would be winter.

    I saw your winter birch landscape video. It was stunning. I bought all my supplies for a Fall and winter scene, birch trees for winter and maple trees for autumn.

    I just have to try again. I think if I figure it out I will fulfill my passion for trees, autumn, and quilting all in one!

    I love trees! I love autumn! I love quilting!

  • Jan Butler
    September 30, 2017

    Christmas being my favorite season…that would be it. A delightful , snowy scene from northern Wisconsin, amidst the blustery winds, and maybe including a snowman in the distance.

    Keeping you in my prayers, Nancy.

    Jan

  • Rhonda D in KY
    September 30, 2017

    I love all the beautiful colors of fall.

  • Gloria
    September 30, 2017

    I love the look of autumn but I think Spring would be a beautiful scenery with the trees beginning to bloom and flowers blooming with butterflies and hummingbirds flying. I think I’ll do a picture of it and then find the material for the picture to do.

  • Mary Sorensen
    September 30, 2017

    This is SO beautiful and looks so fun to do. This technique has always appealed to me, so I’m hoping I’ll have the confidence to tackle it! Thank you for this post, Nancy. : )

  • Edna Marks
    September 30, 2017

    This makes it look so easy! I would like to do spring first, but would like to do all 4 seasons eventually.

  • Judy Allen
    September 30, 2017

    I’d love to do a landscape quilt with a summer scene that includes a sailboat.

  • Sharon Patmore
    September 30, 2017

    I would love to make a winter quilt.

  • Shirley Allen
    September 30, 2017

    I have always loved the fall with all the beautiful colors on the trees & in the forest. And I have always wanted to do a landscape & have watched many of your series on doing them. Now would be a good time to start one & hopefully I will win your book. Love all your sewing ideas & wish only the best for you Nancy. You are in my prayers. God Bless Shirley

  • Denise L.
    September 30, 2017

    Maybe Spring, a view of our orchard in blossom! Thanks for the tutorial, and giveaway! Your landscape is beautiful!

  • Joyce Ciembronowicz
    September 30, 2017

    I love to see the trees completely bare in the winter and sprinkled with snow or iced over and sparkly in the sunshine. The graceful limbs and twigs are so interesting and lovely.

  • Bonnye
    September 30, 2017

    I love spring. My back porch faces the woods where a pond can be seen. Many animals, deer, fox, ducks and an eagle visit the area. This would make a beautiful quilt.

  • Roxanne
    September 30, 2017

    I would like to make a Fall landscape quilt. Red is my favorite color. Great instructions, thanks for sharing! God Bless!

  • Gail Beam
    September 30, 2017

    I would pick fall or winter. The landscape quilts are so realistic looking,.

  • Cindy Cooke
    September 30, 2017

    Such wonderful technique! I once made a wall quilt for my so, who is a lover of wolves, with a pattern I got online. It was full of greys and blacks and whites, and I had a blue/black background fabric with streaks of silver. A great frosty moon shone out over the woods, highlighting wolves and wolf shadows. I was so pleased with the outcome! This time around, it will be for me, and Fall is my favorite time of year. Nancy has hit the creative spark in me with her example, and I think I’ll start on something like this AFTER Christmas. Too many gifts and decorations to make between now and then!!!
    Nancy, we’re continuing to lift you and your family up to the ONE who is in control of everything, Thank you for all of your teaching, both on your sewing show and throughout your life. You are truly an inspiration. GOD bless you!

  • Peggy V
    September 30, 2017

    I think that I would start with a winter scene. I have been collections greys and off white along with fabric that reminds me of bark. I think that will be a stating point. Thank you for the opportunity to win the book.

  • Shawn Rost
    September 30, 2017

    I would love a desert landscape. Now I will need to go look at some fabric!

  • Rynetta Coetzee
    September 30, 2017

    Spring, the symbol of a new emerging life! A bird or two in the trees and a meadow with tiny flowers visible in the background..

  • judy
    October 1, 2017

    Although spring is my favorite time of year, I think I’d have to start with a colorful fall scene and work my way through all four seasons. I’d love a copy of this book to guide me along.

  • Brenda
    October 1, 2017

    It would have to be fall. I absolutely love the colors of fall.

  • Debra
    October 1, 2017

    I would like to try a summer landscape of mom’s flowers. She always had beautiful hollihocks and morning glories plus I’d put in her bird bath too!

  • Jane J
    October 1, 2017

    I think I would have to do a landscape of Dogwoods for my parents.
    They have both passed. But every Dogwood I see whether in the yard where they had planted a few or riding to their favorite local park to see the field of Dogwoods, I think of them.

  • Susan
    October 1, 2017

    What a neat technique. I think I will give it a try! Thank you for the inspiration.

  • Amina
    October 2, 2017

    I will like a winter llandscapeof waterfall with the vegetation around it.

  • Jennifer Fried
    October 2, 2017

    Fall. It is just about upon us now. I can smell it in the air.

  • L Watson
    October 2, 2017

    I love Fall, what a fantastic color pallet that would be! However, I think I would start with a winter scene. The dramatic colors with white and black would look great displayed on the wall. And perhaps a touch of some glitter or fabric with shimmer on the snow to catch the light! Hot cocoa anyone?

  • E. Watson
    October 3, 2017

    I would love to start with fall. It’s my favorite season with all those bright and vibrant colors!

  • Beth Russell
    October 5, 2017

    I’d love to start with spring , because I love the buds and flowers bursting forth in a variety of colors. It is such a hopeful scene to see new life emerging.

  • Julie Kill
    October 6, 2017

    I would Love to do Summer in the Black Hills of SD. It’s the most special place in the world to me. The book would be SO helpful!
    (I’ve had the photos since 2010 and have not had the courage to even begin.)
    THANK YOU!

  • Doreen Linehan
    October 7, 2017

    I would love to do a New England fall landscape quilt with white birches & maple trees.

  • Debbie
    October 17, 2017

    Springtime with lots of color

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