Step-by-Step Quilted Landscapes

2654 STUDENTS ENROLLED

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Making stunning landscape quilts from photographs is Kathy McNeil’s specialty and she shares so many tips and suggestions in this class. Choosing the subject and selecting the photograph is the starting place, but Kathy shows how to edit the photo and imparts some design secrets she uses in her own quilts. Kathy encourages exploring the subject of the photograph and planning the background. On the downloadable pattern, it is easy to construct and piece the background of the sailboat landscape pattern already provided. Kathy demonstrates how she uses paints to highlight and add dimension to the scene. Rough and finished-edge appliqué techniques are taught and Kathy also shows how to attach appliqué pieces by hand or machine. Finishing touches are included. Complete the landscape pattern provided, or use the information to make a quilt from your landscape photograph.

Course Curriculum

Step-by-Step Quilted Landscapes by Kathy McNeil - 3hr 7m

Lesson 1. Choosing Subjects & Photographs 0 Hours 10 Minutes00:10

Lesson 2. Editing & Design Secrets 0 Hours 11 Minutes00:11

Lesson 3. Making a Photo into a Work of Art 0 Hours 10 Minutes00:10

Lesson 4. Exploring Subject 0 Hours 25 Minutes00:25

Lesson 5. Planning the Background 0 Hours 11 Minutes00:11

Lesson 6. Constructing the Background 0 Hours 11 Minutes00:11

Lesson 7. Piecing Background Squares 0 Hours 7 Minutes00:07

Lesson 8. Painting Techniques 0 Hours 16 Minutes00:16

Lesson 9. Rough and Finished Edge Appliqué 0 Hours 29 Minutes00:29

Lesson 10. Hand & Machine Appliqué 0 Hours 15 Minutes00:15

Lesson 11. Finishing the Quilt 0 Hours 42 Minutes00:42

LIST PDF

Book: Optional

eBook - Landscape Quilts with Kathy McNeil

Fabric:

Clear plastic overlay to use for positioning fabric pieces, 28" x 29"
Batting - 34" x 36"
Backing fabric - 34" x 36"

Hill fabric:

1. 10" x 4"
2. 5" x 16"
3. 4" x 4"
4. 4" x 4"
5. 6 ½" x 9"
6, 7, 11. 3" x 5" several different scraps
9, 10. 1" x 10" strip variation in foliage
3" x 6" multiple or repeated prints for the small shapes in the rocky island

Sky fabric:

29" x 17½"
(Optional: The same sized section can be pieced together using (130) 2½" squares.)

Water fabric:

29" x 14"
(Optional: The same sized section can be pieced from multiple strips measuring 29" wide by 1"–3" strips using 4–6 different quarter yards of fabric.)

Tree fabric:

½ yd. or several prints, mixed

Foreground beach and foliage fabric:

Multiple 6" x 8" scraps and a novelty print with printed foliage to cut out for overlapping bush

Sailboat fabric:

6" x 8" white boat hull (Avoid sheer fabrics that will shadow through.)
6" x 8" light gray or lavender, back side of hull
4" x 9" light brown masts

Cabin fabric:

4" x 4" front
2" x 2" slightly darker in value angle side
2" x 2" contrasting color window
Use leftover light gray or purple cabin lids
4" x 6" white or light color sails

Thread:

Threads must match fabric colors.
Use 60 wt. thread for machine appliqué and 50 wt.–100 wt. thread for hand appliqué.

Sewing Foot:

Free-motion foot
Zigzag foot

Other Supplies:

4" appliqué scissors
Basic sewing supplies and equipment
Sharpie® permanent fine point marker
Paper scissors
Soft pencil
Tweezers
Iron
Ironing Surface

Optional:

Inktense Ink Blocks
Inktense Ink Pencils
Apliquick® tools

If using raw-edge appliqué method:

Teflon® pressing sheet
3 yd. fusible product if using raw-edge technique for the entire project.
½ yd. fusible product if only using it for the smaller shapes
Note: Kathy prefers Soft Fuse or Lite Steam-ASeam 2.

If using machine or hand appliqué with turned-under edges:

Several sheets of medium to large art tracing paper to make templates for large, easy shapes.
Apliquick® stabilizer for smaller, more complex shapes.
Sizing spray
Glue pen or glue stick

Optional

Electric Quilt® 8 quilt design software (EQ8)

Are there two ways to make the sky and water sections of the pattern provided?

Yes. Kathy gives two options for making these sections. Read the downloadable materials carefully and watch the video for complete instructions.
Can I use Kathy’s method with my own landscape photographs?

Sure. You can make Kathy’s pattern, Beach Walks, or use your landscape photograph to make your own unique quilt.
What if I have questions?

We recommend that you watch the class in its entirety and become familiar with the downloadable materials. At that point, if something is unclear, go to the tab that allows you to ask a question and Kathy will get back with you.
When can I start the class?

We know you are excited to get started. After you have purchased the class, you can enjoy it anywhere and anytime you have the Internet. The class belongs to you, so watch it as many times as you like!

Instructor Gallery

Student Gallery

Vimla Damewood – June 14, 2019:

Excellent class. Great teacher. Gave me a great start to landscape quilting
Thelma Bushong – June 6, 2019:

Excellent! My landscape quilting product has been making roman shades, using a combination of landscape quilting and machine embroidery designs. I learned landscape quilting mostly by trial-and-error, and I've found this class added to my understanding of what I do - especially lessons 2 through 4. My current project will be enhanced because I've now begun to watch more closely the details of i…

nterpreting a photo. Thank you!

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FRANCES ANDERSON – November 25, 2017:

Loved this class even though I thought it would just be a refresher - I learned so many useful tips. I watched it twice just so I could take volumes of notes the second time around. Excellent course Kathy - Thank you!
Mary Elmore – June 7, 2017:

STEP-BY-STEP QUILTED LANDSCAPES by Kathy McNeil is an awesome class. I have been doing Landscape Quilting for quite some time, continue to stay on top of things by reading different Landscape Quilting books that are out there, and finally decided to take a class to "widen my horizons" yet another way! What a class! Kathy's techniques are great, her instructions are thorough, and her communic…

ation skills make you feel like you are an important student! I love the fact you can ask questions, too, and that if you can't get your supplies through AQS, Kathy has her own on-line store!

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Melanie Evans – December 29, 2016:

Everything You Need To Know

I grew up in the heart of the Redwoods and wanted to do a large wall hanging for my living room. My cousin, who still lives there, sent me many of his photographs to assist me. Although I have collected fabrics over the years and had all the needed supplies at hand (or so I thought), the image in my mind just wasn't translating well to the fabric. I ordered the DVD so that I could watch it in m…

y sewing room while sewing. I am so pleased with the depth of the instructions, and the lessons in art (which I never had). Kathy is very clear in teaching her techniques, breaking down each step, so that it is not intimidating. I am excited to get back to my Redwood project. Thank you, Kathy, for being willing to share the techniques you have developed!

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Elaine Armenta – August 17, 2016:

Ive been landscape quilting for almost 20 years now, but even so I love to still buy books and watch videos on how others do it. I picked up quite a few great tips and some wonderful ideas from catheys class. I'm going to try her appliquik and start turning under a lot of my raw edges. She had great ideas for water. That's always been hard for me. And a little piecing in the sky I thought mad…

e it quite interesting. I also liked how she looked at fabric, turning bears into rocks! I promptly went out and bought some moose that'll soon be rocks. Cathey lives just a bit north of me. Oh how I'd love to see her work in person. Great class. I don't think anybody would regret taking this class. I'd like a further class with more details like her rock monument. That would be the ultimate !!!

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Lynne Rainen – May 17, 2016:

This course was an excellent, comprehensive, instructive course for creating landscape quilts. Kathy is a natural teacher who has no problem sharing great tips she has developed over the years. Her instructions were clear, concise, and easy to follow, and the camera work was of high quality such that it was easy to see what she was doing. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in m…

aking landscape quilts. Kathy is a wonderful teacher.

Lynne
Meredith, NH

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Diane Payne – April 14, 2016:

I am so excited about doing some landscape quilts. I am a landscape (oils/acrylics) and flower painter (watercolour/acrylics) and what Kathy has demonstrated/taught here in this workshop is invaluable. So easy to understand. i will be attending a three day quilting retreat here in Canada next week and so looking forward to trying one of these from my own photos. Thank you, Kathy. You are an i…

nspiration.

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jackie halpern – January 20, 2016:

Terrific class. Most informative. I recommend it for a more advanced quilter ready to learn about landscape quilts. Kathy McNeil teaches at a great pace using super demonstrations and materials. Her work is awe inspiring. I learned so much. I really liked the methods and tools she used. I've come away with learning so much and am ready to dive into my landscape quilt.

www.jackiehalpern.com…
Lenore Ryden – November 6, 2015:

What a wonderful series! After watching these videos, I'm re-evaluating many of my photographs for their quiltability! Kathy starts by helping you evaluate your photographs and helps you improve them to make a better quilt by removing extraneous elements and emphasizing the positive aspects of the photograph.

Using a lovely photograph of a lake, Kathy takes her students through every elemen…

t of creating a quilt using the variety of design options and techniques that she has in her toolbox. She also addresses how to use these techniques on a quilt created from the student's own photograph. The ability to use these diverse techniques to create beautiful landscapes makes this series relevant to quilters who have a wide variety of interests and ability levels.

One my favorite parts of the series is where she shows how to enhance the colors of the fabrics you have in your stash (or purchase for the quilt) so that they compliment the plan in your head (or the other fabrics in the quilt.) This has made me re-evaluate the quilts I have already created for ways to use those color enhancing techniques. Fun!

Whether your interests run toward turned appliqué or raw edge, or working with hand or machine appliqué, Kathy's series has something here for everyone. From choosing a topic to finishing the final stitches, Kathy covers every element of creating a striking landscape quilt. Treat yourself and enjoy learning from Kathy McNeil!

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Sandi Snow – November 3, 2015:

What an inspiration. Kathy McNeil's iquilt class is really good. I like how Kathy provides detailed instruction for the class quilt but constantly shares how to apply that information to any photograph. Being aware of the need for a foreground, middle and background is always important but Kathy shares helpful hints on cropping a picture for a landscape quilt. Her advise includes removing any sect…

ion that doesn't add visual interest, simplifying an image and adding elements that have special meaning. She covers every aspects of making a landscape including various methods for appliqué, painting techniques and her favorite products. She explains how to make a good image into a great quilt.
The iquilt course provides instruction in areas missed by an in-person class. Most classes concentrate on the quilt top. Kathy's landscape iquilt class continues beyond the quilt top to border treatments and quilting advise... a finished quilt.
I love taking classes especially from really talented quilters. I've taken an in-person class with Kathy McNeil and I have her book but I learned even more by watching the iquilt class.
Sandi Snow

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Marilyn Cawrse – October 31, 2015:

I took my first Art/Landscape Quilt lesson from Kathy McNeil in 2004, was instantly impressed, and followed as a student in many of her classes. She is an excellent teacher, mentor and friend and her quilts are remarkable prize winners! I have discovered that her latest video, "Step-By-Step Quilted Landscapes" is an excellent presentation on how to construct and COMPLETE a landscape quilt.

In …

the video Kathy discusses quilt subject choice, editing photographs that are meaningful, and design principles - a powerful start. Demonstrating pattern design, she clearly shows constructing the background, the addition of foreground fabric, creating depth, and use of color. Techniques such as painting, appliqué, and free motion quilting are clearly demonstrated. The last chapter, "Finishing the Quilt" brings the video to an artful end!
Marilyn "Casey" Cawrse

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Betty Tatum – October 31, 2015:

Kathy McNeil does a superb job covering the range of complexities involved in creating a landscape quilt. I found I learned a lot even though I am an advanced landscape/art quilter myself. I particularly liked the way she covers building a depth of field in a landscape scene that is not visually flat and her discussion of values and colors throughout the class. She also adeptly covers a lot of …

the basic techniques required to build such a quilt in a way advanced beginners through expert sewists that might be moving from garment sewing to landscape quilting would need to know. I highly recommend this class for any sewist or quilter interested in building landscape quilts to decorate their walls or give as memorable gifts. Many of the techniques covered would also be useful in additional types of pictorial or other styles of art quilts.

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