Dare to Dresden - Day 5

Welcome to England and thanks for stopping by! Make yourself comfortable while I share with you my Dresden adaptation.

But before I share with you what I have made for the blog hop, I have a little confession to make. I signed up for the blog hop early in January (while still away on holidays actually and dutifully added the button to the side of my blog). Christine of Quilt Monster in my Closet sent us an email with the plan for the hop and guided us through it around mid-January and then on Monday, she sent us this nice little reminder about our forthcoming spot on the hop. This is when I went into panic mode. I had all the best laid plans and was going to make my Dresden at the week-end ready to be blogged about before tonight.... apart that I completely forgot about it at the week-end and shortened a pair of curtains for Mr Cars instead. I had an idea of how I wanted to play with the blades since I signed up but I hadn't started to play yet... And yesterday I was out all evening because I was invited to a function at one of my neighbour. So there was tonight left to experiment and hope for the best and I was determined that I would have made my block and blogged about it before going to bed...
Nothing better than a tight deadline in life to get going. So thank you very much Christine for keeping me on my toes and reminding me that you were looking forward to my Dresden, I hope I live up to your expectations. I think that without your reminder email on Monday I would have missed the spot completely!

As I said I had an idea of how I wanted to play with my blades but up until tonight, it was "just an idea". I had made Dresden plates before so I wanted to experiment a little bit this time. Today hasn't been a particularly good day so I needed cheering up to unwind! I thought that a palette of pink would work well to that effect so I delved into my "pink" box to find an assortment of fabric to cut blades out off.
To make the blades, I used the easy and fast piecing method where the initial shape is a tumbler
that is folded in half and sewn across the top
before turning over to form the Dresden blades.
 When ironing the seam is aligned with the fold to get a lovely symmetrical blade.
And then instead of sewing my blades in a circular motion, I attached them to form a wavy pattern by alternating the blades in a more or less random fashion.
When I sew the blades together, I turned a tiny seam allowance under at the base of the blade so I didn't have a raw edge when I applique on the background.
I used a small stitch length (1.8) to applique my wave with a lovely bright pink thread that I received from my childminder when she cleared her Mum's house. A very special thread for a special project.
Well this little exercise has certainly taken my mind off other issues and I like how my block has turned out (if I can say so myself!) I will use it in my sampler quilt.

I might even make more for my fellow bees for the 4x5 Modern Quilt bee if they like it. Watch this space!

If you want a tutorial of how to make the blades with the same method, you can look up here. I didn't use a wedge ruler to cut my blade (as I don't have one! a very good reason not to use one I guess) but I drew mine on paper.

Well I hope you have enjoyed your visit and my take on Dresden. Now don't forget to hop over to my fellow "daring to Dresden" bloggers! Hope you have fun and try to play with Dresden in the near future too, if you haven't already been tempted.
Celine





Comments

  1. Love the colors and your unique layout that you used for you Dresden! Thank you for sharing.

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  2. What a fun layout! Great colours too. You've got me wanting to try this! lol

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  3. I love the way you laid those out! and of course the colors are wonderful! Good job! Glad you got to share with us!

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  4. Oooh I am in England too! Great layout you have achieved there and you are right nothing like a tight deadline to spur you on! Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Love the layout, ver cute. Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Amazing what can be achieved with a tight deadline. This is a lovely layout, I like your pretty fabrics

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  7. Your story sounds like something I would do - forget until the last moment! Nevertheless your block turned out well and I'm glad to have the tutorial! blessings, marlene

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  8. Cute fabrics and layout! It often takes a deadline to get me moving as I put things off to the last minute. Nice dresdens!

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  9. That would make a great border on a quilt too. Ideas, ideas!! :-)

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  10. Dancing Dresdens! Love this, going to do a little experimenting later today....Thanks for sharing! :)

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  11. Yes...dancing dresdens...a first...and so cute

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  12. I enjoyed your project. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. That is a fun layout! Too funny how life gets in our way when it comes to quilting.

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  14. It would be fun to put these on the corner of a quilt.. I loved the tutorial!

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  15. Your wave would be beautiful in the borders of a quilt! So pretty!

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  16. I agree with Linda.. fantastic border idea!

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  17. Very cute Dresden idea...love it! I agree with the above comments about it being a great border.

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  18. A wonderful story and a beautiful wave - can't wait to see the finished project. Thanks from Judy C

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  19. Hugs to you! Glad you were able to make your post! LOVE the Layout of the blades... I look forward to seeing your sampler! Thanks for the TUT too! Hugs and Happy Hoppin'

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  20. Very beautiful! Love them - and so glad you made it on time!
    hugs,
    Erin

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  21. What beautiful fabrics you chose for our project.
    conn_and_vans_mom(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  22. Cute wave idea. I like it, thanks for sharing.

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  23. I like the wave, that is really cute. Good job!

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  24. The colors are very cheerful. The wave is a clever idea. It would look great in a sampler quilt. Obviously, you work well under pressure. I'm glad you participated and are an inspiration to others.

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  25. These are wonderful- am looking forward to seeing the completed quilt!

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  26. Love your idea, we all come up with something unique we we are press for time. It is all yours, own it baby, because it is great.

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  27. Your layout is "sew" different ! Excellent job!

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  28. That is very clever! It would look neat appliquéd on a boarder of a quilt to add interest.

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  29. Love the look of your Dresdens....very nice.

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  30. I really like your layout. Very unique and colorful. Thanks for sharing. Robin

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  31. I think this is very cute. Love the colors and the layout. As I was looking at it I thought-What a great design to add on the border of a quilt! Thank you so much for sharing.

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  32. Different. I'll have to think about this. I think I like it.

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  33. I love your tumbling blades-so fresh and different. From CA, USA, thanks for sharing.

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  34. I love your dancing Dresdens So cute
    Thanks for sharing

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  35. You cannot go wrong using pink. Cute block.

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  36. Goodness, I had no idea you could make a dresden starting off with a tumbler!! Wow! Thank you so much for showing us that!

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  37. I love your layout for your dresdens...

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  38. I really, really like your design! Fantastic!

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  39. Lovely color and Dresden blade therapy. Hope it made you feel better. It made me want to try some.

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  40. here you are...did not go to the second page...had no idea, there was a second page...so glad you let me know...you are brilliant...I love your thought process

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  41. Very creative layout! Your colors are great! Thanks for sharing!

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  42. Ficou muito bom seu trabalho,parabéns!

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  43. Daring layout--I like those who think outside of the box! Well done!

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  44. That is such a cute little snake of dresden blades. :) Pink is my favorite color so it fits well with me.

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  45. I think it is a very nice adaptation for your Dresden! Good job :)

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  46. I can see using this as a stem for a big dresden sunflower. I think you work well under pressure!

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  47. Very unique perspective. Nice work. Thanks for sharing.

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  48. Very nice - great to see so many different ideas on the hop!

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  49. Rosemary B here:
    I love this idea! Thank you for showing how you made it too. Adorable!! Thank you for sharing today this is a super fun hop!

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  50. Great idea.It`s absolutely beautiful.Thanks you for sharing I enjoyed the hop and as usual I get many tips!!

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  51. You work well under pressure, hehe. I think your block is fun and looks like they are blowing in the wind. I hope Life is nicer to you and you have a great week! Thanks for sharing with us, super job!

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  52. What a neat lay out! Impressive effort for the last minute! :)

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  53. Your playing with the dresdens turned out to be sew pretty. Cute project.

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  54. You did a grrrrrreat job.....colors are pretty, and layout is fun! Thanks for sharin'! :)

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  55. I love that look and the colors are fantastic! Your schedule sounds like something I would do! Thanks for participating and sharing your unique Dresden layout with us! I'm a new follower!

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  56. I'm glad you were reminded to make your Dresdens. They are very pretty. Thanks for sharing.

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  57. that's a great layout, so modern and fresh!

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  58. What a great idea, I like the way you laid them out.

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  59. Great job on your Dresdens, it is amazing what you can accomplish in a short time. Thanks for sharing, happy stitching, Pauline

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  60. Hi!! Glad you got a reminder!!! I love the layout and the fabrics you used!! Turned out really pretty!!! Thank You

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  61. Grace under pressure! You did it! Love the pressing tip.

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