Yesterday, I completed my first ever attempt at a Dresden plate quilt block/applique. I'm playing here with that set of Glamping 5" fabric squares I snagged earlier this year.
I'm astounded it came together in a circle and not some wonky ellipse. I've been working hard at getting my 1/4" seams to be 1/4" and not 1/4"-ish. This time I built a seam guide of 4 layers of blue painters tape at the 1/4" mark - it helped to guide the fabric without overthinking too much!
(Blue Painters tape is one of my favorite sewing tools!)
My backup plan, if the circle was too ellipse-like, was to separate the Dresden circle into quarters and use the piece as four fans. Maybe I'll make four fans to use as corner motifs on the quilt as well.
Then I had to play with block layouts - Dresden in the center - wondering how many half square triangles would fit around it.
I discovered I could go around the square twice with the available fabric.
But I'm liking a cleaner look of the light/dark HST's - so looks like I'm making more half square triangles with my fabric. I have plenty of white - using up a seen-better-days damask tablecloth that I've backed with interfacing to stablize. (Uh oh - did I break a quilt rule using fusible interfacing? Too bad!)
I'm itching to bind this table topper in red for some reason! But first, I'll finish our taxes...
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visitng from sew many ways. this is much better than doing taxes!!! I love it
ReplyDeleteI like the fabrics you're using! Since I've bought my 1/4 inch sewing foot there's no looking back! Makes piecing much easier and precise... Found your blog at the Find a Friend linky!
ReplyDeleteI'm over from FAFF. Your table topper is so pretty, I'm crazy about Dresden Plates and it looks lovely in those colours and the HST border.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!!! I've only made a couple of dresden plates and let's just say that I probably will NEVER make a whole quilt of them!!! Yours is just lovely!
ReplyDeleteBlue painters tape is also a favourite of mine - I use it like you say, as a seam guide and I use it to tape my quilt backing down to my pinning table and I use it to mark straight quilting lines - just pick it up and move it along! and I sometimes use it to form a square on my ruler so I can fussy cut fabric in a hurry! .. that would be because I can't find my fussy cut ruler:-))
I found your blog through FAFF ! HAPPY SEWING!
Love this dresden quilt top you are working on ... for a table centerpiece did you say.??? Simply beautiful! Good luck with your taxes :) Kathi Found you on Sew many ways :)
ReplyDeletelove your dresden ! i am a dresden makin' fool right now . makin' 24 inch diameter table toppers.
ReplyDeleteyours is beautiful !
Just found your site at Sew Many Ways, Find a Friend Friday!
ReplyDeleteLove your Dresden plate. And your attitude! LOL. Quilting should be about personal preference and you gave me a great idea... Now where did I put those tablecloths!
ReplyDeletePopping in from FAFF ...
ReplyDeleteLove your Dresden Plate! The fabric is great!
Good luck with taxes. Finishing the topper is great motivation to get those taxes done!
Blessings & Hugs ...
Lani
Simply Fresh Vintage
Beautiful fabrics and this will be a neat design! Your dresden looks perfect! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFreemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday
Rules Schmules! Do whatever you want to do. It's gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to get Glamping but wasn't sure what to do. Great idea. I've never made a Dresden circle but I'd give it a shot. Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteHaha! It’s funny how I see a lot of people involving other things – mostly things they love doing – when doing their taxes. Well, as long as you do the digits effectively! :)
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