Dresden Plate Tutorial

Hello Guilders. I finally have the tutorial up for the Dresden Plate block.
I used the templates from Material Obsession, a great book.

I used the cardboard from a layer cake as my wedge template. I needed 16 plates per block and I knew I wanted 12 blocks. I traced the template on the cardboard from a layer cake. I traced and cut the appropriate number of wedges.

Fold each wedge in half and then sew along the longer end 1/4 inch. I chain stitched all the wedges.

I forgot the next picture but here are the deets.

Clip the corner on the folded edge a smidge. This reduces the bulk in the corner. Turn the fabric out, poke the corner out, and iron the flap down.

Now for the centers. I traced the template on the fabric and pinned in on to non fusible web.

As an aside I found the circle template too small and had to recut a few.

Sew on the line.

Cut out 1/4 beyond the line. Snip the web and use this to turn the circle right side out. Iron flat.

Join the wedges to make a flower. Iron seams.

Fold the background fabric in half and finger crease the middle. Fold in the opposite direction and finger crease again, creating a cross in the middle. Use these cross hairs to center your flower.

Using the stitch of your choice (I used a straight stitch close to the edge) attach the flower to the background fabric. I used spray baste and a few pins to hold the fabric.

Attach the center circle in the same way.

Voila. Join your blocks as you wish. Use sashing or join the blocks they are. You can add borders.

The book, Material Obsession, gives the fabric requirements and a great way to hand quilt the top.

Pincushion Swap

I am very excited about our new swap, pincushions. Sign ups were at our January meeting and are due at our March meeting. You still have time to sign up. Leave a comment or sign up at the February meeting.

I promised I would put up some patterns for you to take a look at. If you google 'pincushion tutorial' you will get more ideas than you can look at.

Also take a look at Flickr. Lots more inspiration.

Here are a few titorials to get you started. I am looking forward to see what you create.

A pincushion in a bowl from A Very Dandioslion Life

Best pin picture and tutorial from Tall Scrapper

Pincushion patterns from Moda Bakeshop

Easy pincushion from Whip Up

Easy Square pincushion from Paper.String.Cloth

60 free patterns from TipNut

Our 1st Holiday Party Sewing Night

we had a great brief meeting, lots of food, a fabulous gift exchange, and tons of talking along with funny stories squeezed in between our sewing. Thanks everyone who came and we will see you in the new year! Have a great holiday!

Cross Block

Hello quilters. Here are some great links to Red Cross blocks.

Check out this one From Tallgrass rairie Studio.
1918 Quilt in the Wenache Museum

Want a starting oint to make your own Cross quilt. Check out these tutorial links.

http://bettyninja.blogspot.com/2009/01/hot-pink-cross-quilt-block-tutorial.html

http://campfollowerbags.blogspot.com/2010/02/red-cross-block-tutorial.html

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=6954

Houses

hi quilters.
the four weeeks since we last met have flown by. Tonight's quickie tute is about house blocks.
Houses in quilts is not new. However, this is about modern quilting so we should take a look at how the house blocks have been rethought.

I found great examples and tutorials to peek at and maybe get some inspiration.

My mind is on fall and Halloween this time of year. I am envisioning haunted houses and witch cottages. Christmas could be gingerbread houses or Santa's workshop. Ohhh... you could make curtain flaps that open and reveal fussy cut pictures. You could use some of your favorite scraps.

Doll House blocks at Freda's Hive Cottage Tutorial

Wonky Houses at Unruley Quilter Wonky Town

Helens House at Patchwork of Mini Grey

Check out this mazing tiny house quilt from imagingingermonkey

And her tree skirt (second picture) is so stinkin cute

I would love to show what you quilt up. It doesnt have to be something made from the tutorials. This is your guild blog so lets see what you got. You worked hard now show off.

I would also like to welcome our newest member, Trina, to our group. Welcome Trina. She is the one with the super cute little baby.

Circles

Our September meeting featured a tutorial by A Commonplace Life called The Round About Quilt.
I wont repeat her wonderful tutorial so check it out.

I will show you the pieces that I used at our meeting.


I found it helpful if I made a finger crease at the center of the pie piece and the square piece so I could line up the centers.

Use lots of pins. When the two pieces are pinned together it will look like it wont work. It does. I made 36 of these and they worked everytime.

Here is one of my finished blocks. I wanted to quilt in circles and I thought the easiest way to do this is to use the quilt as you go tutorial. I just eyeballed the quilting using the center circle as my guide.

Here are a few other great circle inspirations to check out. Happy Quilting.

Roundabout Quilt by A Commonplace Life

Raw Edge Applique Circle Quilt by Cluck Cluck Sew

Polka Dot Quilt by Other Silly Things in the Studio

Simple Circle Quilt by Make it... a Wonderful Life

Making Circles to Applique by Quilts...etc.

Making circles with tinfoil by Anna Marie Horner

Reverse circles using heat resistant plastic by Mrs Schmenkman Quilts

Potholder Sawp

Our wonky star swap went really well and I am so excited for our next swap. We are going to exchane potholders. I change my mind on what I am going to make everyday. I have been waiting to see my secret partners favorite and least favorite colors before I decide on an idea.

There is still time to sign up. We had sign ups at our August meeting but you can still join at our Septemer meeting.
You are asked to make 2 (does not have to be matching) potholders considering your secret partners favorite and least favorite colors. You write these down next to your name when you sign up.

Here are just a couple of the tutorials out there for free on the internet. Of course, you can always use your own ideas. If you are my partner I hope you like what I make for you.


Spiderweb potholder from Jaybird Quilts

Dollhouse potholder from Frida's Hive

patchwork potholder from Patchwork Style

how to make a potholder from Modify Tradition