Island Batik: Dresden Plate Blog Hop

/ quiltinggail

Here’s what Island Batik had to say about this challenge: “Welcome to the much-anticipated Dresden Plate Blog Hop! The Dresden Plate, a quintessential block in quilting, is known for its captivating radial design featuring pie-shaped wedges arranged in a circular pattern, resembling a delicate flower. As you embark on this quilting adventure, you’ll be exploring this timeless pattern, infusing it with your unique style and vision. Your challenge is to make a quilt, lap-sized or larger, using the assigned Summer ‘24 fabric collection that will showcase your individuality. May your needles be nimble, your creativity boundless, and your Dresden Plate quilts truly shine!“

We are to use the fabric collection that came in our surprise bundles that arrived in June/July.

My surprise bundle contained an awesome collection “Flutter Fields” designed by Jerry Khiev. Aren’t they just gorgeous? They are paired with Buttermilk and Midnight Blue.

I originally decided that I would make one large Dresden Plate. I started out by putting the fabrics in an order that was pleasing to me … and I made sure to label each piece so that I wouldn’t get confused! I left out the 2 lighter fabrics as I knew they would blend too much with the background fabric.

Here are a few pictures of blades in progress.

My one large Dresden Plate didn’t work out very well! You can’t tell really well from the picture, but the centre did not lie well. If you look closely at the upper right part of the centre circle, you can see that it isn’t a nice circle – it sort-of goes straight.

I tried to fix it by doing a few things: Take out one or 2 blades … unstitch a few blades that formed the ‘straight’ part of the circle and re-sew … sigh … it didn’t work.

On to plan B …

A few years ago, our guild had a zoom presentation by Candace Copp Grisham. Shortly after the presentation, I was at a guild retreat and “Dresden” fever was evident. Almost everyone at the retreat was making a Dresden plate! I ended up buying the book and played around with some of the ideas.

There is a LOT of inspiration on Candace’s website HERE. Also, a friend had made a wall hanging with Dresden plates and a vase … between the website and my friends quilt, my inspiration was newly born!

Here is a close-up of some of the Dresden plates, using different techniques:

The process of putting the plates together:

  • Using my Oliso iron to press open the seams
  • Showing the ‘wrong’ side of the curved Dresden
  • The original layout (I initially was going to use the Midnight Blue for the vase, but decided on using one of the green fabrics with gold stars on it.
  • One of the centre circles
  • My batting of choice for this quilt: Hobbs Heirloom Premium Wool Batting

The background was pieced, then the vase and flowers were placed on the background. I did this on the spare bed so that I could use glue (Acorn Precision Piecing Seam Align Glue) and press all the pieces into place. Yes, the spare bed makes a fantastic ironing surface for large projects!

The following pictures show:

And here is the final quilt:

Quilt Stats:

Make sure you visit Mania Hatziioannidi @ Mania for quilts as she is using the same fabric collection! She’s quite the artist, so I’m 100% positive that her quilt will be totally awesome!

Where can you buy Flutter Fields?

There are several stores throughout the USA that sell Flutter Fields:

Thank you!

The following, Island Batik and Industry partners made this project possible. They supplied the products for free as my role as an Island Batik Ambassador! Island Batik, Aurifil Thread, Hobbs Batting, Schmetz Needles, Oliso Iron.

Island Batik Dresden Plate Blog Hop

Visit the other Island Batik Ambassadors to see what their Dresden Plate Quilts are:

November 4: Butterfly Haven

Maryellen McAuliffe @ Mary Mack Made Mine

Lisa Pickering @ Lisa’s Quilting Passion

November 5: Flowing Meadow

Pamela Boatright @PamelaQuilts

Connie Kresin Campbell @ Freemotion by the River

November 6: Flutter Fields

Mania Hatziioannidi @ Mania for quilts

Gail Sheppard You are HERE

November 7: Island Zest

Megan Best @ BestQuilter.

Connie Kauffman @ Kauffman Designs

November 8:

Visit Island Batik blog for a Round-up and an opportunity to win a fat-quarter bundle of fabric!

Week 2:

November 12: Midnight Garden

Kim Jamieson-Hirst @  Chatterbox Quilts

Julia Schweri @ Inflorescence Designs

Lana Russel @ Lana Quilts

November 13: Misty Mornings

Brenda Alburl @ Songbird Designs

Denise Looney @ A Quiltery

November 14: Paradise Palms

Jane Hauprich @ Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting

Jennifer Thomas @ Curlicue Creations

November 15:

Visit Island Batik blog for a Round-up and an opportunity to win a fat-quarter bundle of fabric!

Week 3:

November 18: Peach Blossom

Susan Deshensky @  Lady Blue Quilts Studio

Preeti Harris @  Sew Preeti Quilts

November 19:

Renee Atkinson @  Pink Tulip Quilting Shadow Blooms

Brittany Fisher @ Bobbin with Brittany

November 20:

Leah Malasky @  Quilted Delights Tropical Bliss

Sarah Pitcher @ Pitcher’s Boutique

Suzy Webster @ Websterquilt Tropical Bliss

November 21:

Emily Leachman @ The Darling Dogwood Turtle Cove

Carol Stanek @ Stitch with Color

November 22:

Visit Island Batik blog for a Round-up and an opportunity to win a fat-quarter bundle of fabric!

Week 4:

November 25:

Victoria Johnson @ Forever Quilting for You Willow Creek

Sandra Starley @ Textile Time Travels

November 26:

Visit Island Batik blog for a Round-up and an opportunity to win a fat-quarter bundle of fabric!

Don’t Forget:

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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25 thoughts on “Island Batik: Dresden Plate Blog Hop”

  1. Pingback: Sunday Summary: November 10 | Quilting Gail

  4. This is a stunning quilt! I love the idea of the Dresden platess as flowers. I do hope you find a way/inspiration from the November challenge to use that other one you made. I hate when the don’t work out. I am thinking split it in quarters and use it that way?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks, Kathleen!!! I was looking at that piece today and wondering what to do with it. I really like the idea of splitting it into quarters … you’ve got me thinking now!!! Stay tuned for a possible future of that Dresden fail!

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  7. I love the way you used the Dresdens in your quilt Gail. Some of them are new to me. They make really beautiful flowers. Thank you for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

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