Tag: Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along

Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along

Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along Week #5

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Week #

Please keep posting & sending me pics of your blocks!

I love seeing the fabric choices that everyone is making.

If you’re not part of my Facebook group, Dresden Quilt Workshop,

head over there & sign up so you too can share & be insprired.

This week we will again refer to

A Blooming Day quilt, page 27.

This time we will be making 2 Dresden Eight-Pointed Star Blocks.

Start by making 2 Tiny Dresden blocks,

then make and sew them into 2 Dresden Eight-Pointed Star Blocks.

Note, the cutting instructions are for 3 blocks and you only need to cut for 2 blocks.

That’s the hardest part this week.

But it’s not hard, right?

Just a fun challenge!

Get to cutting!

FYI, as I was looking at the above diagram I thought it looked like it was about 1/4 colored in so… my brain had to do the math.

Who knew I loved math so much?

Anyway, the entire pieced top (minus the border) is 3,249 square inches.

After you make 2 these blocks, you will have made 800.55 square inches.

So, yes, approximately 1/4 of the top will be pieced when you make this week’s blocks!

It’s going quickly, don’t you think?

Just Keep Sewing…

& posting your progress!

Susan

 

Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along

Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along Week #4

suznquilts

Week #

Please keep posting & sending me pics of your blocks!

If you’re not part of my Facebook group, Dresden Quilt Workshop,

head over there & sign up so you too can share & see all the progress.

This week’s blocks are not really in Dresden Quilt Workshop per se.

We will a refer to

Tiny and Mini Dresden Plate

Assembly Techniques, starting page 16.

We’ll be making the other half of the 4 Dresden Filler blocks from Week #3.

As per cutting instructions, page 17,

cut 4 matching sets of

6 Mini Dresden petals each.

You’ll need to cut 4 strips approx. 3 1/2″ x 12″

& use the Mini Dresden Plate Template to cut the 6 petals (24 total).

Sew the 4 sets of 6 petals each together to make the 4 half plates.

For a bit more visual to do this, refer to

Construction, page 47, following steps 2-5,

EXCEPT note that you’ll need to applique a 2″ center circle to the half plates.

(The instructions there are for Tiny Dresden half plates.)

Remember I called this a “challenge” from the start… no whining!!!

It’s fun though, right?

After you’ve removed the paper centers as directed,

cut 2 squares for the block backgrounds 10 1/2″ x 10 1/2″

that have been sprayed & pressed with Mary Ellen’s Best Press.

These will get trimmed later.

Cut them both in half diagonally.

This will yield 2 background triangles each of 2 fabrics.

CAREFULLY press each triangle in half to find the center.

You don’t want to stretch the bias edges.

Next, align then glue each half Mini Dresden plate to the center of each triangle.

Stitch in place with a tiny blind hem stitch,

or whatever stitch you’ve decided to use for applique,

with thread matching the Mini Dresden petals.

Align the center of the triangle with the center of a Dresden Filler block.

Stitch together with a scant 1/4″ seam.

Trim blocks to 9 1/2″.

Here are my 4 blocks.

That’s all for this week.

I hope you’re enjoying making your quilt as much as I enjoyed making mine!

Email me if you have any questions.

SuznQuilts@aol.com

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along

Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along Week #3

suznquilts

Week #

Thanks for more posting & sending me pics of your first blocks!

If you’re not part of my Facebook group, Dresden Quilt Workshop,

head over there & sign up so you too can share & see all the progress.

This week we will refer to

A Blooming Day quilt, page 27.

You’ll be making 4 blocks that are adjacent to our “Quilts” block from Week 1.

This is why I thought it was important to start with that block.

Do you see that now?

Between the 4 blocks,

there could be up to a dozen fabrics bumping into that block’s fabric.

The designer in me doesn’t want the same fabric bumping into itself!

This week you’ll make:

4 Dresden Filler Blocks, assembly on page 30.

Each block has a Tiny Dresden plate in the corner.

Lots of fabric selections this week, yay!

& more Tiny Dresden blocks too, double yay!

All I can say is Mary Ellen’s Best Press is one of my best friends

because it helps to keep the bias edges of these blocks stable

so my blocks will be the right size

(& the shape of a triangle, Lol!!)

when they’re finished.

My blocks & I aren’t perfect,

just precise, because of the nice tools available.

I hope you’re able to find them, but if not, I have them on my website SuznQuilts.com.

BTW, I still have kits available on my website too.

FYI, you might notice that I didn’t applique the plates to the background squares

until I was ready to assemble the blocks unlike how I made A Blooming Day in the book.

The reason is because of all the different fabrics that I used in each block.

I wanted to be able to audition the fabrics again before the final assembly.

Sometimes things don’t turn out the way I picture them in my head!

Here are the 4 complete Dresden Filler Blocks.

Spoiler alert… we may be making the other half of these blocks next week.

Come back next week & see for sure.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along

Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along Week #1

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Week # 1

I’m so excited that you’ve decided to join the challenge

& sew my Dresden Quilt Workshop Sampler with me!

It is such an honor to have you join me.

You’re going to love the finished quilt.

It was so much fun to create & so beautiful too!

Everything you need is in the pages of my book;

Dresden Quilt Workshop.

I’m just going to help you realize it!

Each week, for 26 weeks, we will create a portion of the quilt

using bits of each of the 13 quilts in the book.

Today it’s finally time to get started with week #1!

This week we will refer to

Button Box quilt, page 51.

This step was chosen first because the block touches so many other blocks in the quilt.

Whenever I make a sampler quilt I’m careful to plan

 the fabrics so they will not blend into each other.

That can change or even ruin a design.

I had fun auditioning fabrics for this block.

In the end, my favorite lime green won out for more reasons that it’s my favorite.

I really liked the contrast of the black letters on the green.

This is the only block in the quilt where I changed the dimensions.

This block will fit on a fat 1/4 yd. (18″ x 22″).

Cut the background 9 1/2″ x 21 1/2″.

(Not as instructed for the actual Button Box quilt in the book!)

Follow the illustration below & the instructions on page 56 to make the applique.

If you purchased one of my kits,

you can use the “Authentic” black fabric

with words printed on it for the “Quilts” applique too.

Just remember, yours doesn’t need to match mine.

Use whatever fabric you want anywhere in the quilt.

Please note: I’m VERY FRUGAL when it comes to using sample fabric in a quilt.

Sample meaning, new and not yet available in quilt shops,

but if you follow my blog you already know that…

Many of my quilts are made with sample fabrics generously supplied by Moda.

I order what I think I need and if I need a bit more of something it may or may not be available so I use it very sparingly.

If you’re more liberal with your cutting you may not be able to use your kit the same way I used my sample fabrics.

You may also want add more fabrics to make it your own.

It’s your quilt!

 

I love using Sulky’s 12 wt. threads for my fusible web applique.

I like to say that it reminds me of when I was little & outlined everything with my black crayon!

(Most often I use this thread in black. This sample is an exception.)

It covers the raw edge of the fusible web really well & it makes my applique stand out.

That’s what we want, right?

With the REALLY busy print in this fabric it’s hardly the best example,

but I love it just the same.

Once you’ve stitched around the letters you’re done with this week’s challenge.

I hope you enjoy week #1!

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along

Just 1 week ’til the start of DQW Quilt-Along

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Just 1 more week!

Are you sharpening your little Dresden skills???

I recommend that you prep your fabrics

like I mentioned a couple of weeks ago.

In case you’re just now joining us,

that means spraying & ironing them with Mary Ellen’s Best Press.

I also mentioned for those of you that are using the same

Circulus & Lollies Sweet fabric collection like I used,

to cut 3″ strips of each of the stripe fabrics & hang

them like I did on these adorable little hangers so you can see them all at once.

Those 3″ strips of the stripe fabrics

can be used for the border.

The finished quilt is 62″ x 62″.

You’ll need a bit more than 6 strips for the border.

Do you see the one strip that is all black & gray stripes?

I didn’t want to use that one in the border.

If you don’t want to use that one either,

you’ll want to cut another strip

to use in its place as well.

(7 strips total)

Thanks Heather for reminding me to note that to everyone here!

I suggest hanging the extra strips on a hanger too

so you don’t accidentally use them before you get to the border!

Am I the only one that in a few weeks would wonder…

hmm… why did I cut this? & then use it for another part of the quilt???

Lol… NOT!

My memory stinks, so any little trick I can use to

remind myself of something I better use it…… NOW!!!

Another prep step you can do now:

(Circulus & Lollies Sweet users)

cut all of those stripe fabrics apart on the black & white or blue & white lines that separate the stripes.

Aside from the border strips I didn’t use any of the stripe prints more than 1 print at a time.

So, I cut them apart to make them more convenient to use.

But hey, it’s your quilt!

Do your own thing!

In case you already cut all of the stripes apart BEFORE cutting off enough 3″ strips for your border,

contact me & I can probably help you with that!

Aside from prepping your fabrics, please read in Dresden Quilt Workshop:

  • Perfect Tools for Perfect Little Petals, starting page 9
  • Mini Classroom, starting page 12
  • Tiny & Mini Dresden Plate Assembly Techniques, starting page 16

This will help you to jump right in next week when we start cutting & sewing.

Learning how & why I do what I do for perfect little Dresden plates will help you to have similar results!

Send me an email if you have any questions.

SuznQuilts@aol.com

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along

Just 2 weeks ’til the start of DQW Quilt-Along

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I hope you’re going to join me in the challenge to make what I think is

one of the most awesome quilts that I’ve ever designed!

You’re going to love it, I promise!

Today I want to mention a couple of things to help you get ready.

First, book binding.

I took my Dresden Quilt Workshop to Office Max

& for less than $5 had a small binding put on it.

This will allow it to lie flat when it’s open.

No need to constantly bend it open.

Second, I’ve made a color in sheet for you.

Either right click the image below to print it,

or go to my website’s quilt-along page and you can print the pdf from there.

The link is below the image of the quilt.

You can either make color choices & color each block before you begin

or color in the blocks as we go to track your progress.

I’m looking forward to starting, you?

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

A Giveaway!, Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along

Are You Gathering Supplies For Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along Challenge?

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It’s less than 3 weeks until the start of my

Dresden Quilt Workshop Quilt-Along

…..Challenge…..

Are you getting ready?

I have some friends that are anxious to start.

Are you?

If you already have your fabrics you could start now by spraying

& ironing all of them with Mary Ellen’s Best Press.

If you look in Dresden Quilt Workshop, pages 9 & 12,

you’ll see why I love it & how I use it.

Next, if you’re using the same fabrics as I did, Jen Kingwell’s Circulus & Lollies Sweet,

(I still have a limited number of fabric kits available on my website)

I suggest you cut a 3″ strip of each of the stripe fabrics.

I did this when I started my quilt and then hung each of them by a tiny hanger so that I could see each of the stripe prints.

I didn’t want to keep using the same print over & over and neglect others.

There are 48 different stripes!

I just happen to have these tiny hangers on the notions page of my website.

I’m all about having fun while I quilt… and a little bit of organization goes a long way!

That should keep you busy for a while

& you’ll become more familiar with all of your fabrics too.

And, you’ll be able to use the 3″ strips in your final border,

so don’t think it’s a waste of fabric.

It’s a win-win!!! Trust me!

And now, would you like to participate in a give-away?

A fabric give-away?

A Moda Fabric give-away?

These are fat 1/8’s (9″ x  22″).

The very talented Lissa Alexander of Moda sent these for me to share with you!

It’s Jen Kingwell’s newest line, Looking Forward, by Moda Fabrics.

Perhaps you’d like to add to this bundle & make a Dresden Quilt Workshop sampler with us?

To be eligible for a chance to win the fat 1/8 bundle,

go to the top of this page

& leave a comment answering one of the reasons or ways that I use Mary Ellen’s Best Press.

(Remember I mentioned above that the info is on pages 9 & 12 in Dresden Quilt Workshop.)

If you don’t have a copy of the book, go get one!

They’re on my website if you local shop doesn’t have them.

I will give you time to comment

at the top of this page!

The drawing will be next week, Wednesday morning.

Go gather!

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan