Trapunto Butterfly

Last week at quilt group we worked a sample of  trapunto.  I have done trapunto before  but only a small sample and I didn't know how to incorporate it into a quilt.  Now I do.
I was so fired up I came home and started a little wallhanging.

I put on my artist hat and used Carron Dache water soluble pencils to create this butterfly on a piece of cream silk.
After layering it with 2 pieces of wadding I back stitched by hand using standed cottons all the way around the design.

Next the scary part !! Trimming away the excess wadding from the back.  Had to be very careful not to cut the silk on the front.

After adding a couple of borders, more wadding and a cotton back, I was ready to start machine quilting.

First I outline quilted very close to the butterfly and leaves to make them 'pop'.
Then I worked a very small stippling design all over the background.  I wanted this to make the background as flat as possible.

I love this effect - and I definately have plans for a bigger project.

                                                      Detail

                                                      Another angle

My butterfly measures 16" x 16" and is now hanging in my workroom.

So that's another unexpected piece of work finished.
I've finished my baby quilt too and will post about that the next time.
Till then , thanks for stopping by.
Rhianon.