Susan R. Marth - Dresden Quilt Workshop: Tips, Tools & Techniques for Perfect Mini Dresden Plates

Publisher: Amy Marson Creative Director: Gailen Runge Editor: Monica Gyulai Technical Editor: Del Walker Cover/Book Designer: April Mostek Production Coordinator: Tim Manibusan Production Editors: Jeanie German and Alice Mace Nakanishi Illustrator: Kirstie L. Pettersen Photo Assistant: Mai Yong Vang Style photography by Lucy Glover and instructional photography by Diane Pedersen of C&T Publishing, Inc., unless otherwise noted Published by C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549 DedicationThis book is dedicated to my amazing family. First, to my husband, David, for working so hard to give us a comfortable life so that I could have the best job in the world: being a stay-at-home mom for Chloe, Blake, and Clare (which led me to this quilting life). Second, to our children, who have always been so easy to love. AcknowledgmentsThank you to my husband, David, and our children, Chloe, Blake, and Clare for putting up with quilts in all their stages all over our house. AcknowledgmentsThank you to my husband, David, and our children, Chloe, Blake, and Clare for putting up with quilts in all their stages all over our house.

Also, thanks for your help and encouragement. Thank you to my mom for giving me your love of fabric and for teaching me to sew. Thank you to my dad for teaching me to work hard and then to work some more. Thank you to C&T Publishing for helping me put my love of little Dresden plates into this beautiful book. Thank you to Moda Fabrics for generously providing me with beautiful fabric for the quilts in this book and for many other pattern samples through the years. ID ALSO LIKE TO THANK:Tamara Lynn, my machine quilter, for helping to make my quilts look wonderful. The Warm Company, for the Warm and Natural cotton batting that I insist on using in all my quilt-as-you-go quilts. Sulky of America, for wonderful cotton thread that enhances my designs, especially the appliqu. Quilt shops around the world, for helping to sell my patterns. And especially to all the quilters who purchase and sew my patterns, thanks! Introduction My mom taught me to sew as a child, first by hand with her scraps, then on her sewing machine making clothes for 4-H projects. And especially to all the quilters who purchase and sew my patterns, thanks! Introduction My mom taught me to sew as a child, first by hand with her scraps, then on her sewing machine making clothes for 4-H projects.

The first project might sound familiar to some of you: a straight, gathered skirt and a triangle scarf. I was nine years old when I made my ensemble and chose fabric that showcased my childhood star, Raggedy Ann. My sister Lori and I shared a bedroom with our moms sewing corner. On many a night, we were lulled to sleep by the whir of her machine. Her days were spent tending to us kids (Im number five of six) and doing farm chores. But she also sewed a lot of clothes for our familysometimes staying up all night to finish our holiday dresses.

As a child I thought that was crazy, but now I realize it was precious time carved away for creativity. Ready for the runway, complete with coordinating purse I went on to earn a bachelors degree in interior architectural design, and started quilting after I became a stay-at-home mom by watching quilting programs on PBS. One of those shows, Quilting from the Heartland, required an apple core plastic template. In my search to get that specialty tool, I discovered local quilt shopsalong with the end of life as I knew it! The applecore quilt that started it all Early on, I made a quilt top that was full of half-square triangles, and my mother-in-law arranged to have it quilted for me. I was congratulated by one of the quilters for doing a nice job for my first try. I was a bit offended! Years later I could see that many of the points of my half-square triangles were less than perfect.

I had no idea, back then, that points could be accurate or that there were tips and tricks for making them so. My points werent perfect at first! Eventually I joined a local quilt guild, started altering patterns, and developed my own designs. In 2003, I started Suzn Quilts and began selling patterns to local quilt shops. Now in my twenty-fifth year, quilting has become more of a marathon than the sprint of my younger days. I still love to quilt every day and my to-make list of quilts keeps growing. Ive developed techniques to achieve precision, and am excited to share them with you here.

While making the quilts for this book, I took the time to investigate every little step in detail so that I could convey each of those steps to you. I have developed little tricks and found just the right tools to make little Dresdens. No matter how many of these little gems I sew, my brain keeps dreaming up new designs. These little blocks will steal your heart and they can be addictive. Indeed, Dresden plate quilts have been around for a very long time but these projects are not your grandmas Dresdens. Perfect Tools for Perfect Little Petals Heres a list of supplies that make it easier to produce precise little Dresden plates.

Ive been using some of these tools for years, while others are recent discoveries. In addition to the listed products, I also recommend a sewing machine with a blind hem stitch that can be tweaked in terms of stitch length and width. If you can shorten the length and narrow the width, you can easily sew a practically invisible, tiny stitch that resembles hand sewing. A. Mary Ellens Best Press When working with small fabric pieces in particular its very important, if not imperative, to add stability to the fabric. This is true even for top-quality quilt shop fabrics.

Mary Ellens Best Press adds body to fabric without making it stiff. I recommend having it in both the hand and single-finger pump bottles. For detailed usage instructions, refer to Best Press Dos and Donts. B. Suzn Quilts Templates Suzn Quilts Tiny Dresden Plate Template #216 and Mini Dresden Plate Template #186 are optional. You can make your own templates from the paper patterns included in this book.

However, I have manufactured plastic templates to make cutting the Tiny and Mini Dresden petals more accurate and much faster. Cut up to 8 layers of cotton fabric at once with a rotary cutter and these templates. C. Collins Fabric Grips Stick Collins Fabric Grips to the back of plastic templates to keep them from slipping when cutting. They are especially helpful when cutting small pieces such as Dresden petals. D.

Sulky 30-Weight Cotton Thread Sulky 30-weight cotton in color #733-1180 is my favorite thread for sewing and appliquing Dresden plates. This neutral taupe color blends with most every color of fabric I use and is a great choice when there are multiple petal colors in one plate. Surprisingly, it blends well with both lighter and darker colors. If Im sewing plates with just a single fabric, I may select a thread thats a perfect match, though I often just stick with the taupe since it blends so well.