Arlinda's Art Quilting

Clouds in the landscape design of a quilt can be problematic. Sometimes they take over the design when you didn't want them to, quite often they look false while everything else is looking fine.

Here are some hints for making realistic cloud designs:

Some of my best results come from using a fabric that has been handdyed sky blue. If the fabric has been dyed in a mottled approach or dyed with streaks of color going across it you are lucky. You can accentuate those streaks or variations with stitching or ink painting pens to get the cloud effects you want.

The stitching can contour and outline those streaks making beautiful skies. Sometimes I get so carried away I threadpaint those areas to increase the effect. You can use thread to make darker flatter areas at the bottom of a cloud bank for thunder heads.

If you are making clouds to be appliqued to the front of your quilt try to make organic shapes not perfect geometric figures. Your clouds will look more natural. A good way to apply those shapes is with invisible polyester thread, zigzagging the edges.

Look at the sky and the clouds in them. See how light passes through parts of them and see how clouds have many shades of color within them. Thread or pigma pens can really help to get those effects. When you cut fabric for clouds do not cut cleanly cut a little ragged and your clouds will look more realistic.

One of the exercises I do before cutting fabric is to play with cottonballs, pulling them slightly apart gives me insights into clouds.