Currently Stitching: Mini Dresden Plates

We're overcast and drizzly here on this foggy midwest morning. It's gone back to being hot and sticky, so I'm staying out of the swampy mess in the studio today. Hopefully my hair will behave itself, but the chances are low with this much humidity. I'll reminisce the cool breezy days by working on this fun quilt project!

Let's talk about the Dresden plate. There are so many sizes, styles and shapes. It's a block that's been around for a long time and is quite versatile. I've seen them in a large format block, tiny pieced, scrap, pointed edging, rounded finish, machine and hand sewn, and in a million colors and themes. I saw one gal using the Dresden block to make a Halloween wall hanging! She used the "leafs/ petals" to make coffins that went around a central spooky image. How cool is that!?

I made this pillow several years ago. It was the first time I ever worked with the Dresden block, and the first time I made a pillow cover! It was a lot of fun and has been a part of my living room everywhere I've lived. I've seen a lot of flower style quilts made with this block, sort of similar to the pillow. I've also seen some beautiful memory quilts where people use neckties from relatives who have passed to make the block. The creativity is limitless when it comes to the Dresden plate and its uses. 

Today I'm going to show you these Dresden blocks I've started making whenever I have some spare scraps. I'm not quite ready to start another kit and I've spent a shameful long  time staring at my piles of fabric. Much like staring into the fridge when looking for a snack, but don't know what you want. Sometimes I get decision fatigue from trying to choose what project to work on next. That's when I turn to projects like this one. I've been working on a little bit here and there, and eventually I will have a whole quilt. 

I enjoy using the mini ruler, I think the pieces are all that much cuter! You can use whatever size Dresden you like! I keep a scrap bin in my closet along with my stash. Anytime I'm sorting through scraps I'll grab my mini Dresden plate and cut some out. I do my best to sew and press them at the same time so they're ready to use. 

I also have a collection of mini Dresden pieces that are entirely batiks. A lot of the time when I'm working with batiks, I don't like to mix them with other materials. They are unique in texture and design, and I like to honor that vibe throughout the entire quilt. To me, it gives the quilt a cohesive thought and feeling. However, batiks can definitely be mixed with cotton and other fabrics, this is just my preference.

One thing I love about working with batiks is how easily they take pressing. They have beautiful colors and patterns AND they hold their seams really well.

Now let's talk about how to make these delightful blocks. If you're interested in trying it at home, I would recommend getting the larger ruler. That way you can experiment with multiple sizes. Today I am focusing on working with the mini ruler.

I picked out a few pieces of scrap fabric to cut down with the mini ruler. You could use precuts, fabric from the bolt, or whatever you have on hand and appeals to you. 

I lined up the template with the fabric until I got the placement I wanted. It's important to note that the wide end of the template is going to get folded in half to make the point. 

So when deciding how to fussy cut fabrics, remember to keep the image centered on the smaller edge. 

This is how they look once they're trimmed down.

Fold it in half and sew along the top. With these smaller pieces I do a shy 1/4 inch seam allowance. I also like to start sewing with a starter scrap piece of fabric. This way the edges are less like to get caught and shredded in the feed dogs. From there, it's easy to chain piece a bunch at once.

I turn them out to create the point. I like to use this little wooden tool to get sharper points. You could use whatever you have on hand to help you get a clean point. Just be careful that whatever you're using won't poke a hole through your fabric. Then I press them flat so they're ready to be sewn together. 

This is what the front and the back of the pressed pieces should look like. 

These were some of the other ones I picked out for this block. I like to have a range of colors and designs. You could stick with one color family or pick a theme, like floral or holiday. But because this a scrappy project, I mixed and matched. 

Once I decided the layout, I started chain piecing in groups of two. I put like sides together, and sewed a shy 1/4 inch seam down one side. I used a starter scrap piece of fabric again. I like to protect the fabric to the best of my ability. With these small pieces and unusual shape, it's very easy for them to get caught and bunch up under the needle. If you decide to try this at home, take your time guiding them through the machine.

I like to press the seams open. I try not to let projects like this get bulky. It's very easy for the material to add up when the pieces are this tiny. 

I continue sewing them together, in twos, until I have several pairs.

I sew the pairs and triples together until I have two half moons. 

I sew the half moons together and press it.

Again, I like to keep the seams open. I feel like it yields the most consistent results, and helps it lay flat.

Once the circle is complete, it's time to pick out a background. I decided to mount this circle on a black square. I have a stash of scrap squares that are leftover from layer cakes and other projects. In the past I've always sewn these onto white or cream. There are really no rules, you could use any color you like. I prefer to keep the contrast high, but it's up to each quilter how they want it to look.

Now for the center piece. I've never bought a template for a Dresden center. I just find something in my sewing room or kitchen that will cover the center hole. This time my sprayer bottle bottom was the perfect fit. I also tried a coffee cup, a bowl, and a pin cushion.

Once I've found the right fit, I trace the shape over the fabric I want for the middle of the flower/ plate. Then I cut it out. I prefer to cut this out with scissors, but a rotary cutter would work too. 

Above is a sample of what it will look like. I haven't added interfacing or sewn it on yet.

I usually use a double sided fusible interfacing to bond the center circle to the flower and background. There are many different kinds of interfacing and ways to bond it. Go with what you're comfortable with. Some folks prefer to use a single sided interfacing instead, and then turn it inside out so the raw edges are hidden. Again, it's totally up to each quilters preference.

Once I've gotten everything set where I want it, I'll have to stop stitch around the center circle and petal edges. I haven't decided on the final layout for all these scrappy blocks yet so I'm not going to iron/ sew them down yet. 

Instead, let's take a closer look at this pillow. You can see I used a fusible and turned it inside out so there's no raw edge on the center circle. Then I top stitched around the circle, the edges of each petal, and then the outside of the entire plate. I probably should have stitched the individual petals too. Or I could have quilted over the entire pillow to hold it in place. There's unlimited options, and it's really up to whomever is making the block. It'll look cute no matter what.

I hope this inspires you to try this classic block! Let me know if you try it out or if you've made one before. I love seeing what everyone makes and how different they turn out! Thanks for following along! Check in next week as I get ready for quilt retreat!