Dresden Tutorial - Spoken For Pattern

Hello Everyone,

 

While we are spending more time at home, quite possibly in our sewing rooms, let's learn a new technique to add to our quilting toolbox......the Dresden Plate block.  My blocks are a little different because I'm combining Fans and Blades.  The Blades are the "pointy" bits, and the fans are rounded.

 



 

This is the block I'm making using Far Horizons fabric by David Schulz for Henry Glass Fabrics.  Begin by selecting three fabrics that look gorgeous together.  With this fabric line, they all look gorgeous together!

 



According to my pattern called Spoken For, I made templates out of template plastic.  I LOVE the gridded template plastic.  I like to make my templates out of plastic so I can see the underlying design for fussy cutting. In this picture, you can see that I outlined four blades on the wrong side of the fabric. 

I fold them in half, right sides together and pin. 

Then stitch 1/4" from the wide, top of the blade.

Clip the inside corner off along the folded side.

Press the seam open.

Use a little pointy thingy and turn the blade inside out.  Press.

And then there were four.

Now we make eight fans.  Use your template made out of plastic, and fussy cut the fans.

With this template, make a freezer paper template.  This is where my method differs from the norm.  Mr. Joe always tells me I'm not normal!

Iron the freezer paper template to the wrong side of the fan.

Clip the fabric right to the paper template.

I used a Clover, fabric folding pen filled with Best Press, and applied a little bit of starch to the exposed fabric.  You could also use a small brush to apply the starch.

I used an iron, and pressed the fabric over the template.

Remove the template and it looks like this.  Do this procedure on all the fans.

The fans are going to be placed right next to the prepared blade.

 Pin the pieces together.

Start stitching at the skinny end.  Before I start stitching, I move my needle one notch to the left. I stitch about halfway, and move the needle back one notch.  This procedure helps gather the center area together.  You can see that my stiletto is pointing to where I moved my needle back to its normal position.

Another little tipsy is to apply a thin, line of Best Press directly on the thread.  This also helps in the final construction and makes the seams flat.

You can't tell my needle was moved over a notch the first half of the stitching. This will ease the center area down.

I think these fabrics look great together.

Now I do the same procedure with the fans.

I lay all of the parts and pieces together, and continue stitching the seams together.

I fold my background fabric into quarters, and lightly press.  This helps me line up the Dresden Plate onto my background.  Then make the center hexagon out of the same fabric used for the blade.  At this point, I hand applique the plate to the background.  You could also machine applique the block to the background fabric.

I find the application of the Best Press directly to the thread line, and moving the needle over a notch, make the block flat.  In the past when I made this block, the center area looked like a square dancers ruffly skirt! Do you know what I mean?  I used to starch the block into submission with heavy duty spray starch.  Now I don't need to do that.

 

I have a lot more blocks made now, but I don't have a picture to show.  I only have to make one more block.  I may be far enough along to get a good picture later on.

  

Stay safe and hunker down.  We are self isolating at the cabin.  We are already quite isolated, so this is nothing new for us. We couldn't get more isolated if we tried!

Soon,
Lynn

More Dresdens

Hello Everyone,

 



I worked on a couple of different projects over the weekend and this was one of them.

 



The little basket-filled Dresdens measure only 4" when finished.  They are just so sweet.  The ten little baskets will surround the big basket when completed.

I originally was going to set the baskets in the red fabric, but I felt they got lost.  I'm still undecided and will probably change my mind a hundred time before I decide on the final set.  Just looking at this picture may sway me to this setting over the setting in the first picture.  I'll lay all of the parts and pieces out on my design wall and make a decision......soon.

The striped fabric from the Past Endearments line is just perfect for the handles.  I used bias bars to make the handles since the finished measurement is so narrow.

I'm off to work this morning at the shop. When I worked last week, I noticed the Halloween and Christmas fabrics were starting to arrive.  It's never too soon to start on your holiday projects!  I should take my own advice......don't you think?

Soon,
Lynn

 

Basket Beginnings

Hello Everyone,

 

I have finally been home for more than two days in a row and it feels so good!  I've been getting reacquainted with my sewing machine and quilting room. Oh how I've missed them!

 

How many times do you have things that you HAVE to do, and in the back of your mind there's a list of things you WANT to do. I WANTED to work on the little baskets for my Dresden quilt......so I did. 

 



The fabrics are from the Past Endearments collection from Marcus fabrics. 

Two baskets finished, ten more to go. 

They are going to be combined in the same quilt with these blocks.......somehow.  I can't let all of the cat out of the bag just yet.  There is going to be some embroidery in the basket too.

I used my Patchwork Math book and calculated the size of pieces that I needed to cut for the square in a square along the side of this block.

Now today I am going to work on my list of things that I HAVE to do.  I begin filming again for The Quilt Show.com at the end of July.  I will be putting five, short segments together centering around Patchwork Math.  I teach this all the time, but there is a BIG difference between a 6 hour class and  5 to 10 minute segments.  The word of the day is condense.

Graduation is late this year in our area.  I don't remember the school year continuing almost to Father's Day.  Our granddaughter graduates from 8th grade on Thursday.  When I graduated from 8th grade, I was lucky to get a cake, a card, and a pat on the back for a job well done.  Well, our granddaughter is heading to Washington DC and New York City for six days!  Kids today seem so much more mature than back in my day.  Was I "delayed" in the maturation process? I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up! 

Soon,
Lynn

 

Sew'n Wild Oaks Class is in Session

Hello Everyone,

 

I've been quietly working away the past few days, filling in at the shop and teaching....no time for blogging, and I don't have anything new to show.  But my girls have been extremely productive!

 

Jeanne is making Country Charmer.  She's a girl after my own heart with her scrappy blocks.

 

Here are her pieces on the block layout sheet before.....

.....and after.

The fabrics and blocks sing beautifully together.

Barbara has finished ALL of her blocks for Grammy Squares!  She started sewing them together in class yesterday.  She'll be finished soon!

Pat is working on her pastel Grammies.  I can't wait to see this one!

Karen has 30 blocks completed.

The use of stripes makes a wonderful design on this block.

Patti finished this gorgeous quilt top and it is ready for the machine quilter.  This was a year-long technique class.

Pictures just can't do this one justice.

Patti is also playing tiddlywinks with her little hexie grapes for Once Upon a Vine.

Marti has a excellent start to her baskets for Once Upon a Vine.

 

Jeanne finished her Once Upon a Vine!  I tell you, my girls are all finishers.....beautiful finishers.

 



 

Wendy has been bitten by the Dresden basket bug and is creating several beautiful baskets for a quilt.

Love her flowers and leaves.

Cindy is working on Country Corners and created these two blocks.  She has an absolutely delicious box of fabrics to choose from.  I drool every time I see them!

Marti finished an American Jane kit.  This is going to be her new tablecloth.  I couldn't let food near this one!

Doris is making an adorable little vase filled with Dresdens.  She did a great job with her fussy cutting.

Here's the beginning of Susan's beautiful bag.  You will be seeing the finished product soon.

 





There is such a feeling of companionship and love in the classroom.  The walls are beautifully decorated and it is one "happy place" of creativity.  I wish all of you could have the experience of spending the day with my girls.  They are the best!

Soon,
Lynn