Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Dresden Plate Quilt

It was always my dream to have a Dresden Plate quilt but in my travels, I was never able to find an antique one to add to my collection.  Sure there are off-shore facsimiles available that are marketed as ‘hand made’ but they never struck my fancy.

I spotted the ‘Easy Dresden’ template/ruler at my LQS last year and decided to buy it.  The instructions are well written and very easy to follow so I decided to give it a whirl.

DSCN0411I used Madeira and Shangri-La by Moda to make the wedges for the Dresden Plates and Shangri-La for the sashing and borders.  The blocks had to be cut at 14 1/2” to accommodate the size of the Dresden Plate.  The wedges took two charm packs in total and I cut them at 5”, the actual width of a charm square which yielded 2 wedges per charm square. The centers were cut from additional yardage.

DSCN0385

From the outset, I knew that I wanted to quilt this project by hand.  I purchased a beautiful feather wreath stencil that I used as the quilting pattern in the alternate blocks.

DSCN0386 The actual construction of the quilt did not take long at all.  Because I decided to alternate the blocks, 25 in total were needed to complete the top.  The finished quilt including sashing and borders measures 100” x 100”.  Never in my wildest dreams did I plan on making a quilt this size!

DSCN0384It took eight months to complete the quilt.  Not too long after I had started the hand quilting, I realized that I should have had it machine quilted simply because the actual size of the quilt made it both awkward and difficult to manipulate for hand quilting.

DSCN0388The 108” wide backing was a blessing when it came time to sandwich the layers.

DSCN0389The scalloped border added the finishing touch.

DSCN0387What started out as a relatively ‘simple’ project turned out to be a very ambitious one.  I’m happy I did it but I doubt that I would attempt to hand quilt another project of this size.

Will I make another Dresden Plate quilt?  Absolutely!  That was the best part…cutting, assembling and appliquéing the Dresden Plates.

Happy stitching!

 

Kaaren

32 comments:

  1. I love your beautiful quilt. I have been so inspired by Sherri and others lately, and now you too, that I got myself an EZ Dresden tool and am going to start on one soon. I am planning on using Moda's Glace by Three Sisters.

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  2. Very Nice! That was a great idea to go with every other block for the dresden. The quilting is also perfect for this quilt - really love your feathered wreaths.

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  3. What a beauty. One of my favorite blocks too. I love that it's hand quilted and scalloped.

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  4. Your quilt is beautiful! The dresden plate block always looks so beautiful. I can't imagine hand quilting a project that large!

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  5. So much loveliness in one quilt! Phenomenal hand quilting, wonderful piecing and beautiful scallops!

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  6. I have always loved the Dresden plate pattern as well. Yours is just exquisite!! All that hand stitching - a true labor of love. Another hierloom made!

    hugs, Linda

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  7. Kaaren, your quilt is wonderful! It boggles my mind that you hand quilted such a large quilt! I admire your "stick with it" attitude, I'm afraid it might have got the better of me! lol

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  8. What a lovely quilt! This is an heirloom piece thats for sure.

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  9. Absolutely gorgeous! I love the quilting you did in the alternate blocks.

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  10. Well done. I have always thought that quilting a big quilt by hand is like tackling a huge book. You read one page at a time and you quilt a bit at a time.

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  11. GORGEOUS!!! I love your quilt! And I'm so impressed that you hand quilted it as well! Your fabric selection is stunning!

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  12. This is an absolutely beautiful quilt and all that hand quilting is spectacular! Give yourself a big pat on the back...well deserved!

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  13. Absolutely beautiful! I love how you quilted it and the scalloped border. The dresden's are perfect.

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  14. Kaaren your quilt is beautiful. Your setting really keeps your eye moving around the quilt. Your hand quilting is wonderful, now that its finished I am sure you are glad you did hand quilt. It makes is a heirloom quilt for your family.

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  15. Beautiful treasure there, Kaaren! Your idea and finished work is definitely inspiring and heirloom quality. Enjoy it! Job well done.

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  16. Beautiful quilt! I love it! Everything about it looks great!

    Yours is the second post today I have read about that ruler and I may have to check it out. I love the dresden plate, but again, a little nervous!

    Yours is great!

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  17. Kaaren it is beautiful and looks so sweet on that bed. It invites you to lay down and touch it.

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  18. That's a lovely quilt, I have never seen a template for one before either. I'm sure that will become an heirloom for your family.

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  19. It's beautiful! I have a Dresden Plate top in the works, but can't decide how to do the border yet. I love the scalloped edge, I'd like to try that sometime.

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  20. It is really beautiful. The quilting is wonderful. I have made a few Dresden Plate quilt blocks but never a whole quilt. It is on my to do list.

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  21. Oh Kaaren, that quilt takes my breath away stunning!!

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  22. All I can say is... my mouth is hanging open!



    (apparently my awe is not a pretty sight to behold!)


    (but your quilt sure is!)

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  23. Thank you for your kind words about my Westie Yogi! How is your Westie Mac? What are the bubble growths on his front paws? I hope he is already on the mend!! Polly :-)

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  24. Kaaren, this is going to be a quilt that will be treasured for many years. Specially since you hand quilted. It may be 100 years from now being put on Antique Road Show.
    Beautiful, Keep Stitchen'
    Bonnie

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  25. You should be very proud of this quilt, it's gorgeous! Wow your hand quilting is even more stunning.

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  26. Kaaren, what a masterpiece! For a "new" quilter, there is nothing new about this quilt! I applaud you for hand quilting it - I know it was a huge job, but the quilting really shows off your wonderful dresdens and marvelous work!
    Cheers!

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  27. WOW ! I think I've said this about some of your other work too.
    So maybe I should say WOW, WOW!

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  28. Oh my goodness, Kaaren it's beautiful - wait, it's stunning - wait, it's drop dead gorgeous. I love it!!!

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  29. OMG you never cease to amaze me. This is gorgeous..hugs Khris

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  30. Kaaren..it is well worth the efforts that you put into it.. Ilove hand quilting and do most of my quilts by hand large and small especially when it is applique.
    I hope you do do another one cause your quilting is exceptional!!

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  31. Stunning!! What incredible handwork in the quilting...just beautiful.

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