Double Dresden Delight - EZ Dresden Challenge

Welcome!!!  It's Day 7 of the EZ Dresden Challenge Blog Hop and I don't know about you, but there has been lots to inspire so far!!  I love this little ruler, it is just so easy to be so creative with it :)  So do you have some ideas percolating for your Challenge Entry??  There are some amazing prizes up for grabs!!  You can check out all of the entry and prize information here :)  


And now let's get to a little Dresden Inspiration via my little creation which I like to call Double Dresden Delight!!  I really love the look of a traditional Dresden so I wanted to create something that still maintained that traditional look but also spice it up a little bit.  This is what I came up with!!

Can you tell why I call it Double Dresden Delight??  You make the Dresden point on the inside as well as the outside. Don't they just look like beautiful spinning flowers :)

So, you want to make your own??  Here's how to do it . . .

Note - For a free Printable PDF pattern please go here :)

You will need 6 - 9 fat quarters.  (Or if you want a completely scrappy version you can do that as well.)  My Fat Quarters are mostly from Amanda Murphy's Veranda collection with a few additions from my stash.     You will also need 1 1/4 yards of a solid white or other neutral color and of course an EZ Dresden Ruler.

Start by cutting strips from the fat quarters.  Now you will notice that each of my "flowers" are different sizes.  That is because I cut each Dresden plate set a little different.  There is no set way of cutting these and your ruler does not have to be aligned along the top or the bottom.  Just make sure that all of the plates in each set (5, 10, or 20) are cut the same and I recommend not cutting any smaller than 1 1/2" and not doing a strip width smaller than 4" (it makes it hard to turn both ends otherwise).

Once you have your strip cut align your EZ Dresden ruler along the strip at whatever set measurements you decided on.  Cut along the side of the ruler.  Then just rotate the ruler to cut your next dresden plate. I cut 2 -3 dresden plates out of each fabric in each designated size.  (You need 20 dresden plates for a full circle, 10 for a half, and 5 for a quarter).

Now you are ready to start making your Double Dresden plates.  Fold each plate with right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam along the widest edge.  (I found it best to only work on one plate at a time as it is easy to confuse the sizes and mix them up :)

Chain stitch all 5, 10, or 20 plates along the widest edge.  Now, don't bother to cut them.  Just flip them over and chain stitch a 1/4" seam along the thinnest edge as well.

Now clip the threads between both ends of all of your dresden plates.

Finger press both of the seams open.  If you desire, you can clip away a little of the excess fabric at the point to help it lay flat, but just be very cautions not to clip your seam.

Turn the wedge right side out so that the seams are now hidden on the inside.  You can use a sharp ended tool to help press out your points so they are nice and crisp.

No press your turned edges being careful to keep the seams nice and centered.  They may want to shift on you a bit.  Try to make sure the seams are lined up :)

And now that the plates are all sewn you are ready to start sewing them together.  You always want to sew your plates in groups of 5.  So lay out your first five dresden plates.

Sewing them together is easy.  Just lay the second plate onto the first plate with right sides together.  Be sure to line up your folded edges along the top and bottom.  Sew a 1/4" seam along the edge.  (You don't have to pin but you can if you like :)  Continue in this fashion adding the third plate onto the first and second, and then the fourth, and fifth :)

Now if you are making a Corner piece you are done.  If you want to do a side piece, just go ahead and sew 2 sets of 5 together in the same fashion to make a half circle.

And of course to make a whole, you just take 2 sets of 10 and sew them together.  When you make a complete circle you will often get bubbles.  Don't stress, those are adjustable.  Just unpick the seam where the bubble is being formed and make the adjustment needed.  Larger seam if there is a bubble, smaller seam if there is a pucker :)  Adjust as many seams as necessary to get it to lie nice and flat :)

Now make as many corners, half's, and full circles as you like for your quilt.  I went with the ruler of 3's and did 3 of each.  Press your Neutral fabric yardage so there are no creases in it and trim the selvages and square it up.  (Appx. 42" x 42")  Then go ahead and lay your dresden pieces out shifting them around until you get a layout that is pleasing to you.  (I played with mine for quite some time :)  Once you have them all in place you need to secure them.  Do this by either pinning the top and bottom of each plate (Yes, it is a lot of pins but worth it to keep everything nice and flat) or use Steam a Seam 2 Tape to secure the top and bottom of each plate.

Now you are ready to secure stitch your plates to your background yardage.  I like to do an 1/8" seam so I use the edge of my presser foot as a guide and move my needle over as far right as it will go.  Then just stitch along the edge of the plates.  Go all the way around the inside first, and then repeat going all the way around the outside.

And once you have secure stitched all of your dresden plates you are ready to finish the quilt up.  I used a water soluble pen and a 1" ruler to mark on my quilting design.  It took a little while but I love the look of it :)  After quilting, you are ready to bind.  I used the remaining pieces of my fat quarters to make a fun scrappy binding that matched the Dresden Plates :)

Now just sit back and enjoy your beautiful Double Dresden Delight!!

As you can see, this little one is sure enjoying it :)

And here is a close-up of the quilting.  I alternated the colors in stitching just to all a little pop :)  I am thrilled with how the quilting turned out and really think it ended up adding to the overall effect :)

So that's it :)  I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and that it got your creative juices flowing for your own EZ Dresden ruler creation :)  Thank you so much for stopping by!! If you make your own version of the Double Dresden Delight I would love to see it.  You can add it to my  Inspired by Happy Quilting Flickr page.

And  be sure to check out all of the great Dresden Projects!!  So much inspiration, so little time :)

June 1 - The Sat Lake Modern Quilt Guild: www.slmqg.com/
June 2 - Lee:  freshlypieced.blogspot.com/
June 3 - Katie  www.fromthebluechair.com/
June 4 - Victoria:  bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/ and Tanya: www.squaresandtriangles.com
June 5 - Val:  howaboutpinkplease.blogspot.com/ and Leigh: leedledeedlequilts.blogspot.com/
June 6 - Amy:  amyscreativeside.com/ and Elisa www.stitchoutsidetheditch.com/
June 7 - Katie:  www.swimbikequilt.com/ and Emily: emsscrapbag.blogspot.com/
June 8 - Melissa:  happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com/ and Brooke: pitterputterstitch.blogspot.com/
June 9 - Nicole:   mamalovequilts.blogspot.com/ and Amy sukie.mt-wudan.com/
June 10 - Elizabeth:  www.dontcallmebetsy.com/ and Colleen: www.thebusybean.com/
June 11 - Faith:  www.freshlemonsquilts.com/ and Deonn: quiltscapesquilting.blogspot.com/
June 12 - Angela:  angelaflicker.com/ and Barbie: thequiltingmill.blogspot.com
June 13 - Amy:  www.diaryofaquilter.com/ 
June 14 - Jessica:  sewcraftyjess.blogspot.com/
June 15 - Salt Lake MQG: Wrap-up  www.slmqg.com/  

 A huge thank you goes out to the wonderful sponsors of the EZ Dresden Challenge.  Without you this wouldn't be possible :)