Thursday, May 9, 2013

Giant Dresden Plate Quilt - A Finished Quilt

I have finished my Giant Dresden Plate quilt.  Thank you for all of your suggestions with regard to appliqueing the Giant Dresden Plate Block onto a background fabric.  For a while there I thought perhaps that this giant block may remain a work in progress, and I spent quite some time agonizing contemplating the most suitable applique process for me - the no hand stitching route.


I started by tucking under the 1/4 inch seam allowance of the center circle by first pressing with a hot iron and then using fabric glue to ensure the seam stayed firmly in place.  I taped the white background fabric to the floor (in much the same way as when basting a quilt) and centered the circle on top.  


I then used basting spray to adhere the circle to the background fabric.  Now basting spray and I aren't the best of friends so I also basted the two layers by hand stitching long running stitches from the center out as well as right around the edge of the circle.


Once basted I top stitched the two layers (the white background fabric and the Dresden Plate Block) together by machine, stitching lines in concentric circles at regular intervals.  Happy that the two layers would  now not shift I basted the quilt top like you would a normal quilt - with batting and backing fabric.


I also made the decision to leave the outer tips of the Dresden Plates unsecured.  They add another dimension to the quilt as well as texture.


The quilting involved a lot of turning the quilt, stitching up to the edge of the circle - underneath the loose tips - turning the quilt around and stitching back to the quilt edge again.  Most of the quilting lines were marked onto the background fabric with a Clover Hera Marker as there were no existing lines on the quilt for me to use as a stitching guide.  More concentric circles were also quilted on the Dresden Plate Block.  I have used a walking foot for all of the quilting.

Dresden Plate Quilt - pre-binding.  
Drying on a delightful Melbourne Autumn day.


For binding fabric I have chosen a sunny yellow fabric from the Carnaby Street Collection by Pat Bravo.


And for backing fabric I have used a floral print from the Posy collection by Aneela Hoey; this one is a favorite!
Finished Quilt size:  41 inches x 51 inches
I have updated my Etsy Store and you will find this quilt listed here:  Giant Dresden Plate Quilt.
If you have any questions, please let me know and if appropriate I will answer them in reply to your comment.

The tutorial for the Giant Dresden Plate Block can be found here:  http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2013/04/giant-scrappy-dresden-plate-block-and.html

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

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56 comments:

  1. This is surely one of your best, Rita! I drooled all over it. :-)

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  2. I can see a bub doing some tummy time on this quilt playing with the loose tips of the dresden plate with their little fingers. Such a gorgeous quilt!

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  3. I absolutely adore this quilt. I have since the first pics you posted. Dresden styles like this have to be my most favourite.

    I think you should put an image of this in the header at the top even!

    I do have a side question though .. I notice you've placed this quilt in your shop .. How do you cope with making something only to sell it and never have it again? I'd want to hang onto them all!

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  4. That is just stunning, I love how bright and happy the colours are!

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  5. There there aren't many words beyond wow for this quilt.

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  6. Love it, absolutely gorgeous! This is one of my favourites too. You're a very clever lady.

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  7. Amazing! Love it so much.

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  8. Oh stop it!! you are just toooooo talented - this is a beauty indeed :)

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  9. You have made another awesome and stunning quilt. Thanks for sharing and you are so inspiring and creative quilter

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  10. This quilt is just absolutely exquisite. I could sit and look at each fabric you've used for hours. Lovely work!

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  11. Beautiful quilt.

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  12. This quilt is fantastic. I love it! LOVE IT!!!

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  13. W.O.W. this quilt is absolutely Fabulous!!

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  14. Gorgeous....I think I need to make this :)

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  15. Breathtaking! I'm speechless! WOW!

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  16. WOW - this is absolutely incredible....I LOVE it - I'm crazy about scrappy quilts & this fits the bill in a most delightful way!!! What a terrific job you did, I would love to give it a try but YIKES...such a challenge.

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  17. such a lovely finish

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  18. Really stunning! Hard to find the words! Totally amazing. Love the unstitched little flaps, the stitching, colors, white background and backing. Incredible work...

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  19. Oh my you've done it again! Beautiful : )

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  20. Ingenuious and wonderful!

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  21. Rita,
    This is beautiful! I love the dance of colors and patterns.

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  22. This is just beautiful. I love your modern take on a classic pattern (I'm not a fan of the classics for myself) but I love the way yours look brand new & fresh and so inviting!

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  23. This is absolutely beautiful thanks for sharing, I want to make one!!!

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  24. I have to confess that I'm not a fan of Dresden's, but this is lovely!

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  25. This is one of the coolest quilts EVER!!!! I love it!

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  26. THAT is really freakin' awesome!

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  27. Congratulations it looks lovely and I love al the bright colours with the white background.

    Take a bow, well done.

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  28. This is so amazeing. Oh how I love it.

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  29. This quilt is GORGEOUS! I finished a Dresden Plate quilt earlier this year and I chose to cut away the background fabric beneath my plates after appliqueing, because it was a baby quilt and I wanted to keep the soft, "smooshability" factor. With your giant plate, keeping the background fabric and stitching through both layers to stabilize is probably the best choice. So, question -- I notice you captioned the pre-binding photo "drying on the line." Why was the quilt wet before you bound it? Do you do a final wash prior to binding your quilts in case of shrinkage or for some other reason?

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  30. Love! Such beautiful work! Thank you for sharing!

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  31. I love it! Oh my, I can't stop looking at it! I think I need to make one! Love how you left the ends unsecured, my baby girl would love to play with such a thing :)

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  32. The finished quilt is just STUPENDOUS! Thanks for sharing this artwork.. I am a lover of hand quilting but LOVE how you expertly machine stitched this from applique to finished quilt and love the edges for dimension you left! Thanks for sharing :) Kathi

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  33. Absolutely gorgeous! I loved this as a WIP and the way you've chosen to finish it makes it even better as an FO.

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  34. Just beautiful, Rita! Thanks for explaining the process so well :)

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  35. My finger about fell off clicking the button so hard to see if this quilt already sold on your etsy store. it has :( Next time I will just have to be quicker. BEAUTIFUL quilt.

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  36. oh my gosh, this quilt is absolutely gorgeous. I've not yet been brave enough to try even a small dresden plate block. I am so amazed at this skill in piecing this, as well as appliqueing and quilting so beautifully! just WOW!

    -Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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    1. Hi - Be brave! Dresdens are super easy to make. One of the easiest quilts to do. Cheers. Lauren

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  37. Gorgeous quilt. I love the way you've quilted it and I love reading all about your process... thank you once again.. and thanks for the tutorial. Definitely one of my "to do's"!!

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  38. Awesome...really spectacular quilt!

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  39. Stunning quilt, love the colors.

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  40. Lovely. Great contrast in the quilting.

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  41. I just saw this at Superbuzzy! It is absolutely amazing!!! I picked up the ruler to make one myself!!! Thanks for the tutorial!

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