• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Create Whimsy

Create Whimsy

Inspring makers and sharing their stories

  • Quilting
    • Free Quilt Patterns
    • Art Quilts
    • Modern Quilting
    • English Paper Piecing (EPP)
    • Foundation Piecing
    • Crazy Quilting
    • Improv Quilting
    • Quilt Tutorials
    • Machine Quilting
    • Hand Quilting
  • Embroidery
    • Hand Embroidery
    • Machine Embroidery
    • Sashiko
    • Embroidery Tutorials
  • Beading
    • Bead Embroidery
    • Off-Loom Bead Weaving
  • Sewing
    • Making Clothes
      • Costumes
    • Bags
    • Babies
  • MORE
    • Surface Design
      • Eco Printing and Dyeing
    • Appliqué
      • Fusing
    • Jewelry Making
      • Wirework
      • Handmade Bracelets
      • Handmade Necklaces
    • Mixed Media
      • Collage Art
    • Kumihimo
    • Weaving
    • Crochet
    • Knitting
    • DIY Organization
      • Decorative Containers
    • DIY Home Décor
      • DIY Throw Pillows
    • Recycle DIY
    • Felting
    • DIY Gift Ideas
    • Crafts
    • Occasions
      • Easter
      • Mothers Day
      • Fathers Day
      • Fourth of July
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
      • DIY Valentine Ideas
    • Paper Crafting
    • Metalsmithing
    • Painting & Drawing
    • Pottery-Ceramics
    • Toys & Games
    • Sculpture
  • Newsletter Sign Up

Home » Quilting » Art Quilts

Thread Painting

Thread Painting

Art Quilts Machine Embroideryby Kathy Manley

Thread painting is a type of free motion embroidery where the thread “paints” images your quilt top – the quilt top is your canvas and the thread is your paint.

I have always been interested in thread painting. I took a workshop in Santa Fe from Jennifer Day. “Bear”, the image below, was my first practice piece. He is Jennifer’s dog. I fell in love with this technique!

Threadpainting of bear the dog
Bear

This is my second try at thread painting. “Alice” is my granddaughter and was also created at the same workshop in Santa Fe. I think her hair is my favorite part of the art quilt made from thread painting – there are close to 30 different colors of thread in her hair.

This post may contain links to Amazon or other partners. Your purchases via these links may benefit Create Whimsy. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.

Thread Painting Alice
Alice

Below is my beloved Barney. This piece is about 10 x 12 inches. I decided to frame him. The piece doesn’t have binding.

Thread painting Barney
Barney

Sandy’s Dream was thread painted on my long arm in memory of a good friend who died of brain cancer. As I stitched this, I thought of all of the good memories of her. I used about 80 colors of thread on this piece.

Thread painting Sandy's Dream
Sandy’s Dream

A little more . . .

Paint a picture with thread! Also referred to as thread sketching, thread painting with your sewing machine or long arm quilting machine allows you to create art with just thread! Use the thread to draw on fabric, just as you would draw with colored pencils. Switch up the colors and types of fabrics to make a picture come to life!

Some of the thread painting techniques include using different colors of threads close to each other to create shadows and highlights. Use the density of stitching and different types of threads and stitches to create the texture and visual picture.

Thread painting is a free motion sewing technique. Lines of stitches define the image. Create a picture, or just add elements of design or embellishment to any fabric surface. Use a basic straight stitch or a zigzag stitch to create the look you want.

Painting and drawing with thread is just like drawing with different colored pencils. You can make long lines and curves, or small smooth strokes and dots to create a design. Combine the stitches to make a thread painted piece of art!


Browse through all of our art quilt projects and inspiration on Create Whimsy.


Share this article >>

0 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

Primary Sidebar

Newest Stories

January Thaw art quilt by Laura Stangel Schmidt

Spotlight: Laura Stangel Schmidt, Textle Artist

Beaded necklace with wolves by Heidi Kummili

Spotlight: Heidi Kummili, Bead Artist

Collection of quilt blocks

Popular Quilt Patterns

Table runner pinterest image 9

How to Make a Table Runner

Je Me Souviens weaving by CLaire Renaut

Spotlight: CLaire Renaut, Textile Artist

Solstice weaving by Krystyna Sadej

Spotlight: Krystyna Sadej, Tapestry and Mixed Media Artist

Selecting Fabrics for Quilting

Devils Due, Photo Credit: Cliff Patrie, quilt by MJ Kinman

Unlock the Secret of Color Interactions

Torch Song art quilt by MJ Kinman

Make Your Quilts Glow with Saturation Contrast

Lila gemstone quilt by MJ Kinman

Add Sparkle to Your Quilts with Value Contrast

Kentucky Home art quilt by MJ Kinman

Add Depth to Your Quilt Designs with Effective Transparencies

Fire and Ice art quilt by MJ Kinman

Manipulate Color to Create Optical Illusions

Popular Posts

Pine Cone Quilt finished

Pine Cone Quilts

Drunkards Path green and turquoise finished

Drunkards Path Quilt Pattern

EPP Moravian Star Tree-6

How to Make an EPP Moravian Star Ornament

Sashiko Stitching Complete

How to Sashiko Stitch: A Step-by-Step Guide

Small bag holding embroidery project

Easy Bags to Sew

Finished draped ruana

How to Make A Ruana

Footer

Learn More

  • About
  • Work with Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Browse

  • Occasions
  • Destinations

Makers

Spotlight Stories

Marketing for Makers / Biz Tips

Participate

Copyright © 2023 · Create Whimsy®

0 shares