Have you heard of Anne Sutton's (Bunny Hill blog) Scrappy Plate Club? Oh my gosh, you should check it out. Anne is sponsoring a free tutorial on how to make a Dresden Plate Quilt, from beginning to end. Her instructions are so clear and understandable, a beginning level quilter could master the project. And the Flickr group she started where folks can share photos of their little Dresden Plates is such fun and inspiration to look at.
Well, you have all heard me moan and whine recently that I have way too much stuff in the stash. I thought this might be just the thing to reduce said stash and end up with a beautiful "free quilt". Turns out that this project has not put a noticable dent in the likes of my stash, but don't you let that stop you. It is well worth your time and scraps. My Fig Tree stash was beginning to look rather alarming, so I chose that to work with.
I printed out Part One of the instructions and got started. Anne recommends a ruller called "Easy Dresden" designed by Darlene Zimmerman. I think you can cut out the units using a regular ruler as well, but I thought I'd go with the proper tool for the job. I got my Fig Tree fabrics cut out in no time flat using this handy little device. You can get the idea how it is used from the photo above. You cut a strip the length of the unit you want (mine is 4 inches) and flip flop the ruler along the strip to cut your units.
Here are my 250+ pieces for a total of 20 blocks.
Lay out the units until you get a color pattern that pleases you. Follow Anne's instructions on stitching the small units and connecting them all together.
In Part 2 and 3 of the Dresden Plate instructions, we will be appliquing a circle to the center of the plate and appliquing the entire plate unit to a background square. Finally, we will connect the blocks and do a final layout for the quilt top.
Even though this scrappy project didn't make much of a dent in my stash, I am very pleased that it did not cost me anything. I had all the scraps, background and backing on hand. What a pretty project for spring and summer.
Your Dresden plate block is so pretty! I love Fig Tree fabrics - they always go together so nicely. I can't wait to see your finished quilt! Beautiful x
Posted by: Lisa | March 14, 2012 at 05:30 AM
I keep seeing dresden plate quilts and I am going to have to have a go when I have time, I've bought the ruler!
Posted by: Ailsa | March 14, 2012 at 05:51 AM
Holy Toledo, girlfriend! You've hit the ground running without a doubt and your Fig Tree fabrics are going to make a really lovely quilt. How long did it take you to cut out those 250+ units?
My head is spinning!
Thanks for the link to Bunny Hill and the tutorial, too.
Hugs!
Posted by: Barbara Anne | March 14, 2012 at 06:28 AM
oh wow! that looks amazing! great project for overflowing fig tree...
Posted by: Dianne | March 14, 2012 at 07:17 AM
Looks pretty! I just read the tutorial and there are no measurements or templates for the plate pieces. I guess you have to buy the template she recommends, or find a comparable template online. This will be fun to do---someday! Or I suppose you could use 1/4 of the block and make a fan quilt...hmm...too many quilts dancing in my head!
Posted by: Annette | March 14, 2012 at 07:18 AM
Nicole, that is beautiful. The benefits of using a collection...all the "scraps" will blend. I've got "Dresden Plate" on my project list in the back of my mind. Now I feel a little more motivated.
Posted by: Christine Thomas | March 14, 2012 at 07:23 AM
Pretty beginnings of a quilt, indeed! I have some of that same yardage and it is beautiful stuff. Glad you had everything on hand and are trying something new that is coming out so incredibly beautiful.
sillysally aka choc chip addict
Posted by: sillysally | March 14, 2012 at 08:13 AM
there is nothing so satisfying as pulling together a lovely quilt/project from materials you already have on hand :) Your dresden looks great - I just adore Fig Tree fabrics. I need to cut into my own stash of them, too...
Posted by: Allison | March 14, 2012 at 08:17 AM
Oh Nicole, I love your choice of fabrics! I have been following the Dresden Plate posts with Anne at Bunny Hill as well. Even though I just finished making a lap-sized one in January I am ready to do another. (For me this time!) Actually I may have posted a finished pic of mine on a Jan. blog post. Mine was scrappy, but what made it special was that I made it for a dear friend who lost her husband less than a year ago. She is a flowers and lace kind of gal and he was plaids and casual, so I used his plaid shirts to make the plates and sashings and then I used vintage crocheted doilies for the centers. A special memory quilt made for a special friend. I have included a link to the post with the quilt. Hope you don't mind.
http://wendy-itiswhatitis.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-forgot.html
Posted by: Wendy | March 14, 2012 at 08:22 AM
It looks great! Dresden Plate always scares the socks off me!
Posted by: Helen in Switzerland | March 14, 2012 at 09:12 AM
Dresden's are so much fun to make! Yours will be stunning with the Fig Tree fabrics, Nicole!
Cheers!
Posted by: Candace | March 14, 2012 at 09:48 AM
This will be so pretty! I am finding the same problem with using stash. The supply never dwindles :) Thanks for the link.
Posted by: Jan S. | March 14, 2012 at 10:19 AM
Oh. Your Dresden Plate is going to be beautiful. Love Fig Tree fabrics! Dresden Plate is on my "someday" list. You're making me want to bump it up to the top.
I'm just catching up on your posts, so just took a tour of your studio, to. Wow! It's fantastic. You (and Sara or a friend) will be so creative, and so happy there -- for hours and hours and hours. Wonderful space!
Posted by: Debbie R. | March 14, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Yep, I'm making this one too. I've made 11 out of 12 blocks. I'm trying to reduce my stash too... ;p
Posted by: ina | March 14, 2012 at 11:33 AM
Wow, I am so glad that I stopped by your blog today! I've been trying to decide between my Fig Tree Patisserie versus Flower Sugar. Now I know exactly what my Fig Tree blocks will look like! You must have been reading my mind.
Posted by: greg | March 14, 2012 at 12:04 PM
I am making a dresden plate quilt, too, with Ann's instructions. I have to say, it is lots of fun. I intend to use her instructions for machine appliquing with silk thread...tried one out and it works great. Have fun!
Posted by: Linda | March 14, 2012 at 12:23 PM
I have been sitting on my hands trying not to start another blog project. I saw this one and love it so who knows.
Posted by: Chris | March 14, 2012 at 01:34 PM
Love, love, love your color choices. You certainly have gorgeous scraps. This is going to be a stunning quilt!
Posted by: Niki | March 14, 2012 at 02:30 PM
You can't beat the free-ninety-nine projects! You picked out such nice stash fabric scraps. I'm excited to see how this one shapes up.
Posted by: Megan K | March 14, 2012 at 03:57 PM
Just gorgeous! Love that it was all from your stash and didn't cost anything! Your stash fabrics are so pretty!
Posted by: Bari Jo | March 14, 2012 at 07:41 PM
I've been enjoying this sew-along too. I'm hoping to make this a summer project. I'm going with a red background, shocking I know! I love your Fig Tree version, do I spot some Folklorique, Joanna's best line ever!
Posted by: Thelma | March 15, 2012 at 03:25 AM
beautiful.......
gloria g. Hemingway, SC
Posted by: gloria g. | March 15, 2012 at 07:15 AM
A Fig Tree Dresden Plate quilt. Genius!!!
Posted by: Jean | March 15, 2012 at 11:35 AM
So pretty.
Posted by: Susan Ramey Cleveland | March 16, 2012 at 08:46 AM
Your Fig Tree dresdan looks wonderful. Great job Nicole!
Posted by: Sherry | March 16, 2012 at 07:29 PM