These Quilts Can Be Yours!!

Spring is in the air!  Well, actually Spring is still battling it out with Winter, who showed up with a little snow yesterday, but anyway. Springtime means it's also time for Utah's Quilting & Sewing Marketplace (UQSM for short) and once again it's time to party!

EZ Dresdens...

Hi! Have you been following the EZ Dresden Blog Hop?  I've been inspired and amazed at all the ideas, and the fun ways to use Darlene Zimmerman's EZ Dresden wedge ruler for some terrific quilts!

I think I am still trying to figure out what makes a quilt "modern", but one of the ways is to take a traditional pattern and use modern fabrics.  Like these great prints that I picked up from Joel Dewberry ~ mostly from his "Ginseng" line:

A local designer, Joel was a featured guest at last year's Sewing Training workshop for 100 or so FCS (Home Ec) and 4-H teachers from around the state of Utah.  He gave a great trunk show of his projects from his book "Sewn Spaces", told us about his background in marketing for his mother Donna Dewberry, and his entry into the world of design.  Love these prints!

I fussy-cut my wedges, using the full 8-1/2" template.  Yes, that's me, the fussy cutter.  Quilting is a happy place for my slight OCD tendencies. Ü  (Too bad it doesn't spill over into other areas, like housekeeping.)

20 wedges to make the dresden plate.

Fold top of the wedge right sides together;

Chain-piece.

Press seams open.

Turn to form a point.

Finger-press to find center.

 Match seam with center line; Press.

Repeat with all 20 wedges.

Lay out and stitch 10 together to form two halves of the Dresden plate, then stitch halves together.  I start by stitching in pairs, chain-piecing again.

Stitch halves together to form the Dresden Plate.



Measure to determine the size of the center circle.

Cut out center circle and prepare to applique' to block.  I added a layer of batting to give a little more dimension.

Center the block on your background, then applique' by machine- or hand-stitching.  Since I planned to finish the applique' right away, I used a glue stick instead of pins to secure.   

I have tried a bunch of different ways to applique', and you can see several of my "I ♥ Applique" tutorials for Riley Blake Designs' Cutting Corners.  Click HERE to see the series.

And here's my Dewberry Dresden.

What constitutes a modern quilt?  Inquiring minds want to know your opinion.  Ü  Leave a comment, and you'll be entered in my drawing for an EZ Dresden ruler of your own.  Probably a few Dewberry FQs too.  I'll announce the winner on Saturday, June 16th.

Meanwhile, be sure to visit the others on the hop.  HERE is the full schedule.  Hope you're feeling inspired!  Now go and quilt something fabulous to enter in the EZ Dresden Quilt Challenge, Sept 1-6. 2012.  You can see all the rules and requirements HERE, along with a recap of our blog hop HERE.  Enjoy!